Melbourne Innovation Series - Earning Digital Trust, AI & Cyber for SMEs

Earning Digital Trust: AI & Cyber for SMEs: Your 90‑Day Plan to Protect Revenue & Grow

Thursday 30 April 2026 11.45am – 2.00pm

Location: Federation University Australia, Level 7, 470 Bourke Street, Melbourne

In partnership with: EY, Committee for Melbourne, Australian Information Security Association (AISA) & Australian Computer Society (ACS)

In 2026, digital trust has become a commercial requirement for SMEs. Customers, suppliers and government buyers increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate good cyber security practices and responsible use of artificial intelligence — often as part of tenders, onboarding and due‑diligence checks.

This isn’t a technical problem. It’s a revenue, risk and reputation issue.

Recent industry events including MRE 2026 and BSides Ballarat 2026 highlighted just how quickly expectations around cybersecurity and AI are changing. This session is the practical translation of those insights — focused on what SMEs should do now, what can be done quickly and affordably, and how to reduce risk without slowing innovation.

This event is designed specifically for business owners, executives, operations leaders and managers who are not cyber specialists. There is no technical deep dive. Instead, you’ll leave with a clear, realistic 90‑day action plan, practical templates, and pathways to hands‑on support if you choose to take the next step.

Featured Speakers

Sam Pritchard – Associate Partner, Technology Consulting, EY
25+ years in IT delivering pragmatic cybersecurity, privacy and risk solutions.

Sam Mackenzie – Co‑Chair, Cybersecurity SIG, Australian Computer Society (ACS)
A senior cyber leader with 25 years’ experience across critical infrastructure and enterprise environments.

Ryan Jukes – Chair, AISA Victoria
IRAP assessor with deep expertise in governance, risk and compliance.

Associate Professor Muhammad Imran – Federation University Australia
Internationally recognised researcher in cybersecurity, IoT and cloud computing.

Moderator:

Professor Bhavna Antony – Federation University Australia
AI and computer‑vision researcher with strong industry engagement.

What You’ll Learn

By attending, you’ll gain practical guidance to help your business:

• Stop common threats such as invoice fraud and email compromise

• Use AI safely with a clear, SME‑ready AI Use Policy

• Reduce cyber risk with a structured 90‑day plan

• Understand buyer and tender expectations heading into 2026

• Protect cashflow while still leveraging digital and AI opportunities

• Access Federation University Co‑op students, capstone teams and applied research support

Who Should Attend?

This session is ideal for:

• SME owners and directors

• CEOs, COOs and CFOs

• Operations, risk and compliance leaders

• Anyone responsible for customer trust, data, or digital tools

No technical background required.

What Happens Next?

Participants will also be introduced to practical next steps, including:

• A free SME Cyber & AI Support Pack

• Opportunities to work with Federation University Co‑op students

• Optional advisory conversations with ICSL and CeRDI

• Ongoing SME‑friendly cyber and AI sessions through ACS Victoria

• Future events in the Federation Innovation Series across Melbourne and regional Victoria

Why Attend?

If your business needs to win work, protect revenue, and maintain trust in an increasingly digital environment, this session will give you a clear starting point — and a plan you can actually implement over the next 90 days.