The Australian Government announced on Nov. 10 the appointment of Tobias Feakin as the country’s first Ambassador for Cyber Affairs.
The announcement came from a joint statement released by the offices of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security Dan Tehan.
The Australian government first decided to establish this position as a principal initiative of the $175 million Cyber Security Strategy which encourages collaboration among Australian government, business, academia, and communities to improve cybersecurity.
Freakin is set to head the country’s international cyber effort while working with the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cyber Security.
The government also said the ambassador will support cyber capacity building in the region, advocate against state censorship of the Internet, and promote Australia’s view that Internet opportunities should be available for all.
“Cyber threats are not bound by national borders so it is important we work with other countries to strengthen the global response to cybercrime,” the statement said.
Freakin was previously a member of the Independent Panel of Experts that supported the Australian Cyber Security Review to produce Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy. He has served as the Director of National Security Programs at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute since 2012 and established its International Cyber Policy Center.
Freakin has also held research and advisory positions at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), the Oxford University Global Cyber Security Capacity Center, the Global Commission on Internet Governance and the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace.