Ben Kereopa-Yorke
A trailblazer in AI security and governance, 2025 Alumni Award Winner for Professional Excellence recipient, Ben Kereopa-Yorke is shaping and protecting Australia’s digital future. Driven by a deeply personal connection to technology as an equaliser, he is determined to ensure AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, securely and equitably.
“Being born deaf and relying on hearing aids from an early age, I have firsthand experience of how technology can be both empowering and vulnerable,” Ben says. “The intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity particularly captured my imagination because it represents the frontier where human creativity meets technological capability. The ethical implications, the mathematical complexity, and the real-world impact all aligned with my desire to work on problems that truly matter.”
Ben worked with Telstra before taking on one of Australia’s first specialist AI security roles with nbn in 2025. He bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation strategies to protect critical national infrastructure from emerging threats and build organisation-wide AI and cybersecurity capacity.
He also co-leads the OWASP Machine Learning Security Top 10 project, developing the ‘three pillars’ AI security framework and establishing critical security benchmarks adopted by major cybersecurity agencies in Australia, the US and the UK. Alongside his industry work, Ben has built a strong academic profile across research, publication and editorial leadership, enabling him to influence both practical and theoretical advancement in AI security globally.
Ben’s journey to professional excellence is unconventional, entering the Charles Sturt Master of Cybersecurity without a prior bachelor’s degree. He describes the decision as a challenging but deeply rewarding turning point in his career and life.
“My Master of Cybersecurity completely transformed my trajectory. At Charles Sturt, I discovered my passion for AI security and developed the foundational knowledge that would define my career. I also gained the confidence to believe that someone like me, born deaf and coming from a non-traditional path, could contribute meaningfully to the cybersecurity and AI fields.”
Ben has also completed postgraduate degrees in cloud computing and in terrorism and security studies at Charles Sturt, committed to building the interdisciplinary expertise so vital in the ever-shifting threat landscape. He is a dedicated mentor and industry thought leader, and champions the technologies, people and skills critical to Australia’s future as a member of ACS’s Professional Standards Board.
“I’m constantly reminded that our work in cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting systems, but people’s livelihoods, privacy and digital futures. Every day brings new challenges in AI security, and I get to help shape how Australia responds to these evolving threats.”
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