Giovanni Russello Inaugural Lecture

Any digital system that is connected to the Internet is intrinsically insecure. Yet numerous organisations in New Zealand, both public and private, treat cybersecurity as an optional aspect of their digital infrastructure. In this presentation, I will share some insights and experiences gained over the past 10 years of working in this field within Aotearoa, highlighting the critical importance of addressing cybersecurity challenges.

Giovanni Russello is a Professor and serves as the Head of the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland. With a rich background in academia and industry, Professor Russello has made significant contributions to the field of cybersecurity.

Notably, he holds the position of Director of the Cyber Security Research Programme, a prestigious project funded by MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.)

Furthermore, Professor Russello is the founding Co-Director of the Cyber Security Foundry. This pioneering centre represents the first multi-disciplinary centre for cybersecurity in New Zealand, focusing on bridging the gap between industry and academia.

He served as the CEO of a start-up between 2013 and 2014. This venture was dedicated to addressing the pressing security concerns in the smartphone market, demonstrating his commitment to practical applications of his research.

His research interests encompass a wide range of areas within cybersecurity. He is particularly focused on human-centred cyber security, policy-based security systems, privacy and confidentiality in cloud computing, smartphone security, and applied cryptography. Through his extensive research efforts, Professor Russello seeks to address critical challenges in the field and develop practical solutions to protect individuals, organizations, and systems from cyber threats.