Australian Security Research Centre

25/09/2026

Foreign intelligence services are not planning a single event. They are running campaigns designed not to cross the threshold that triggers an organisation’s processes.

These campaigns can develop slowly through people, suppliers and service providers, often without any single activity appearing to be an incident. By the time something does, the work may already be done.

At PSG Conference 2026, Marc Ablong PSM, Managing Partner, Geostrategic Risk Partners, will deliver a keynote presentation on:

Australia's Intelligence Picture: Espionage, Foreign Interference and the Protective Security Challenge

Australia’s protective security framework has caught up with the targeting. The harder question is whether organisations can recognise a foreign intelligence campaign while it is still running — when nothing announces itself and no single person in the organisation can see the whole picture.

Marc’s keynote will explore what protective security capability actually looks like when organisations cannot wait to be told.

Marc left the Australian Public Service in 2024 after a 31-year career that culminated as a Deputy Secretary within the Department of Home Affairs, where he held responsibility for national security policy, intelligence, cyber security policy and national resilience, among other portfolios. Prior to Home Affairs, he served 25 years in the Department of Defence in senior roles spanning military strategy, Defence strategic policy and capability planning, including as Chief of Staff of the 2009 Defence White Paper Team and leading the 2016 Defence White Paper. He is a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and The Alliance Futures Initiative, and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018.

Join senior leaders from government, Defence, national security, law enforcement, critical infrastructure and industry at PSG Conference 2026, taking place on 7–8 October 2026 at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra.

Driving Protective Security Capability Where It Counts.

🔵 Learn more and register: PSG Conference 2026 — Driving Protective Security Capability Where It Counts
For sponsorship enquiries, please email [email protected].

28/04/2026

🎤 Panel Discussion | Protective Security Summit NSW 2026

We are pleased to present Critical Infrastructure, Consequence and Systemic Resilience at the Protective Security Summit NSW 2026.

This panel will examine how organisations can strengthen system resilience, manage interdependencies, and prepare for high-impact events that test operational capability. Bringing together leaders from across security, emergency management, and critical infrastructure, the discussion will explore the cascading consequences of infrastructure disruption and the importance of coordinated resilience planning.

Panellists:
Tony Vizza — Founder & Managing Partner, Novera
Grant McKay — Head of Protective Security & Emergency Management, Sydney Water
Steve Limebeer — Head of Security, Ausgrid
Facilitated by Dave Cohen — CEO, Risk 2 Solution Group

8 May 2026 | UNSW Sydney

Register now: asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

24/04/2026

🎤 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

We are pleased to welcome 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, to speak at the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲｡

In this keynote, Jim Henry will explore the role of whole-of-government assurance in strengthening protective security outcomes, with a focus on aligning policy, performance, and accountability across government. This session will offer valuable insight into how coordinated assurance frameworks can support stronger operational capability and public sector resilience.

𝟴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄: asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

23/04/2026

🎤 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

We are pleased to welcome 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲, to deliver the Opening Keynote at the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

In this session, Darren Bark will provide frontline insight into the current threat environment facing New South Wales, including emerging risks, evolving tactics, and the operational challenges confronting law enforcement and security agencies. His keynote will offer a practical perspective on how threat intelligence translates into real-world protective security responses.

𝟴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄: asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

22/04/2026

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲

This session will explore how intelligence, technology, and operational coordination must work together to strengthen national threat response capability.

Drawing on lessons from real-world incidents, the discussion will examine how agencies and organisations can better close critical gaps between information, decision-making, and action in complex, high-pressure environments.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀:
• James Blakely, Director – Head of Government Relations, Atmos
• Matt Riley, Global Security, Toll Group
• Chief Superintendent Stephen Leahy OAM, Zone commander, North Western Zone, NSW State Emergency Service
• Facilitated by Dr Kayleen Manwaring, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs (Law), UNSW Law & Justice

📍 8 May 2026 | UNSW Sydney

Register here:
https://asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

22/04/2026

🎙 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

We are pleased to welcome Professor Paul Andon, Dean of UNSW Business School, to deliver the Opening Address at the Protective Security Summit NSW 2026.

In this session, Professor Andon will formally launch the Summit and outline the vital role of collaboration between academia, government, and industry in strengthening protective security capability. His address will set the tone for the day by highlighting the strategic context shaping today’s security environment and the importance of turning shared insight into operational impact.

𝟴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

22/04/2026

We’re excited to welcome Michael (Mick) Morris OAM CF, Deputy Commissioner Field Operations, Fire and Rescue NSW, to the stage at PSS NSW 2026.

Drawing on extensive frontline emergency response experience, Mick will share lessons on coordination, command, and decision-making that strengthen readiness when response systems are tested at scale.
�📍 𝟴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

20/04/2026

Missed the live session? The recording is now available.

Our recent webinar, 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸, brought together researchers and practitioners to examine what this incident reveals about preparedness, coordination and response in crowded-place environments.

The discussion reinforced a critical insight for modern security and resilience: recognising risk is not enough. Outcomes are shaped by how quickly organisations translate awareness into operational readiness and decisive action.

If you were unable to attend, you can now access the full recording and explore the supporting research below.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴:
https://youtu.be/9zB5Pjbl-TU?si=yU6CBiptA9z2ms_I

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
https://asrc.com.au/publications/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/260326_ASRC-Report_Bondi-Beach-Terrorist-Attack-Dec-2026_SUMMARY.pdf

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
https://asrc.com.au/publications/the-bondi-beach-terrorist-attack-dec-2025-analysis-research-report/

For organisations seeking a deeper, practical discussion tailored to their operating environment, executive briefings are available.

𝗘𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴:
[email protected]/s/f6cLdO13CkqV8gFpZJtsWw2?ismsaljsauthenabled" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/s/f6cLdO13CkqV8gFpZJtsWw2?ismsaljsauthenabled

Continue the conversation in person

Join leaders from government, law enforcement, emergency management and industry at the upcoming:

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆

This full-day event will focus on the operational realities of strengthening protective security capability where strategy meets ex*****on.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁:
https://asrc.com.au/protective-security-summit/pss-nsw-2026/

From Indicators to Action: Lessons from the Bondi Beach Terrorist Attack

07/04/2026

Today we release a major new research report examining one of the most significant security incidents in recent Australian history.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 (𝗗𝗲𝗰 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) provides a structured, evidence-based examination of the incident through a systems and governance lens, focusing on threat context, preparedness posture and operational response dynamics.

This research does not seek to attribute blame or pre-empt formal inquiries. Its purpose is to identify structural patterns, capability gaps and practical pathways for strengthening preparedness, coordination and response capability across organisations and communities.

The findings highlight a critical reality for leaders responsible for safety and resilience: outcomes in high-risk environments are shaped not only by prevention, but by the speed, coordination and effectiveness of disruption once an incident enters the ex*****on phase.

This report is intended for decision-makers across government, critical infrastructure, industry, and the security and risk profession who have responsibility for protecting people, assets and operations in an evolving threat environment.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
https://asrc.com.au/publications/the-bondi-beach-terrorist-attack-dec-2025-analysis-research-report/

Organisations seeking deeper insight into the findings and implications can also request a structured briefing for executive teams or boards.

The Australian Security Research Centre remains committed to advancing practical, evidence-based research that strengthens preparedness, informs decision-making and supports safer, more resilient communities.