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The NSW government last night hosted some of Australia's best known companies and some of the state's best and brightest students at a speed networking event aimed at attracting graduates to help combat the growing threat of cyber crime.
The ‘Cyber Security Pitch@Parliament’ brought together 25 companies – including defence leaders BAE Systems Australia and Thales – together with more than 130 leading students from eight of the state’s universities in a high-powered career event.
NSW Minister for Industry Niall Blair said the interactive event served a serious purpose — "to help some of our brightest students consider future careers in the fast growing field of cyber security."
"Strong cyber security will be fundamental to our growth and prosperity in the global economy as well as our national security," said Minister Blair.
There is growing demand for cyber security professionals and the NSW government in conjunction with Data61’s job matching service Ribit and leading companies will come together with students — almost half of which will be at Masters or PhD level — to consider our future workforce.
A Harvard University study recently estimated malicious cyber-attacks cost the Australian economy more than $17 billion each year. Cyber crime is also reported to cost businesses globally more than $2 trillion each year and expected to exceed $6 trillion by 2021.
Tuesday night’s event will see the 25 companies pitch their strengths as an employer before the students pitch to their preferred companies. It is hoped the event will lead to work experience and internship as well as future career opportunities.
NSW has 80 per cent of Australian businesses in cyber security and leading strengths in information technology including startups, financial services and defence.
The NSW government is building on these strengths by developing a Cyber Security Industry Development Strategy to grow the industry and its capabilities and encourage investment and export potential.
Students that participated in the event were from University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney, University of NSW, Macquarie University, University of Wollongong, University of Newcastle and the University of Western Sydney.
The event comes on the back of another successful Pitch@Parliament in March where 138 students from NSW universities had the opportunity to promote themselves to Australian defence primes.
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