Redefining Security: Navigating the Future of AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems
November 11 - 12, 2025
| UCX, Canberra University
Professor Dr. Olaf Manuel Maennel
School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering a University of Adelaide
Professor Olaf Maennel holds the Defence Science and Technology Group - University of Adelaide Joint Chair in Cyber Security. He joined the University of Adelaide in 2023, previously holding faculty positions at Loughborough University (UK) and Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) where he led research at the Centre for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity and established the Centre for Maritime Cybersecurity. His research spans computer network security, cyber defence technical exercises, and critical infrastructure protection, with a focus on vulnerabilities to adversarial attacks and targeted influence operations against human security operators. As well as collaborating with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, he has chaired numerous conferences and working groups such as ACM SIGCOMM, ACM Internet Measurement Conference, and European Cyber Security Organisation.
Wednesday, 12th November | Conference Day Two
2:15 PM Panel Discussion | Protecting Intelligent Systems from Cyber Threats
- How can we secure the complex web of interconnected sensors, AI systems, and cloud platforms that underpin autonomous technologies against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks?
- What steps can organizations take to mitigate supply chain risks, especially when critical RAS components are sourced from third-party vendors with varying levels of cybersecurity maturity?
- How do we protect the integrity of training and operational data used by AI-driven autonomous systems from manipulation or poisoning by cyber adversaries?
- Where should we draw the line between cybersecurity and operational continuity—especially in time-sensitive environments like healthcare, energy, or defence?
- As autonomous systems proliferate, how must cybersecurity strategies evolve to defend against emerging threat vectors and adaptive adversaries?
Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Professor Dr. Olaf.
Download The Latest Agenda
