In a first for the National Press Club, Andy Penn's address will be a hybrid event. Andy will be addressing the Club remotely from Victoria, with attendees and journalists attending the event in person in Canberra. Tune in live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0g4h9pzh-4
Connected technologies are at the heart of the lives of most Australians and central to the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery and long-term competitiveness. But while our lives are increasingly online, more abundant and better resourced cyber-criminals, cyber-activists and increasingly emboldened state actors mean Australia is quite literally under constant cyber-attack.
Meeting that challenge requires Australia’s cyber defences to be strong, adaptive and built around a coordinated, integrated and capable strategic framework – now known as the 2020 Australian Government Cyber Security Strategy. Telstra CEO Andrew Penn chaired the Industry Advisory Panel that provided expertise and guidance in developing the strategy and now chairs the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) advising on its implementation. The IAC will issue a landmark annual report on the first anniversary of the strategy, providing an update on the committee’s work since it was established.
Mr Penn’s NPC address will include an update on the cyber threats Australia currently faces and an overview of the progress being made in bolstering Australia’s cyber defences necessary to create a more secure online world for Australians, their businesses and the essential services upon which we all depend.
Andy Penn became the CEO and Managing Director of Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, on 1 May 2015. At Telstra Andy is leading an ambitious change program transforming
Telstra to be positioned to compete in the radically changing technology world of the future with 5G at its core.
Andy has had an extensive career spanning more than 4 decades across 3 industries - telecommunications, financial services and shipping. He joined Telstra in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer. In 2014 he took on the additional responsibilities of Group Executive International. Prior to Telstra, Andy spent 23 years with the AXA Group, one of the world’s largest insurance and investment
groups. His time at AXA included the roles of Chief Executive Officer 2006-2011 AXA Asia Pacific Holdings and Chief Financial Officer. At AXA, Andy was instrumental in building one of the most successful Asian businesses by an Australian company sold to its parent in 2011 for more than A$10bn.
Other Directorships/Appointments:
Chairman of the Australian Government’s Cyber Security Industry Advisory Committee; Chairman of the Business Council of Australia’s Digital Economy Committee; Board Director of the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) and Chairman of its Business Advisory Group; Member of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria; Patron, on behalf of Telstra, of the National and Torres Strait Islanders Arts Awards (NATSIAA); Life Governor of Very Special Kids and an Ambassador for the Amy Gillett Foundation. He also serves on the advisory boards of both The Big Issue Home for Homes and JDRF.
Recognition and Qualifications:
Andy has a national diploma in business studies (with distinction), is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, holds an MBA from Kingston University and is a graduate of Harvard’s Advance Management Program. In 2008 Andy was recognised as Insurance Executive of the year in the Australian Banking and Finance Awards and in 2016 he was made an honorary fellow of the Australian Institute of Project Management. In 2018 Andy was named by the Financial Times among the top 10 male leaders globally HERoes list supporting women in business. In 2019 he was named by the Australian Financial Review as among the top 10 most powerful people in business. In 2020 Andy was awarded the Creative Partnerships Australia Business Leadership Award for an exceptional contribution to Australia’s cultural life through engagement between Business and the Arts.
