Sydney Inspired Conversations - Behind the Data

Join our expert panel unpacking Cybercrime Victimisation in Australia, our report with Sekuro on gendered harm and underreporting. Behind the Data: Cybercrime Victimisation in Australia Hosted by Sekuro Cybercrime is one of the most common crimes in Australia, yet it remains one of the least understood and least reported. Behind that headline number is a deeper reality: when cybercrime turns personal, targeted and sustained, women carry a disproportionate share of the harm, and these are the crimes we hear about the least. Behind the Data brings together voices from law enforcement, legal, eSafety and lived experience to unpack our new report, Cybercrime Victimisation in Australia, launched in partnership with Sekuro. Together they'll answer the question too many Australians are left to work out alone: what happens when you're targeted, and why does it feel so hard to be heard? Meet the Panel: • Kate Bell, Subject Matter Expert, a cybersecurity awareness advocate who brings lived experience of technology-facilitated abuse to her work • Noel Allnutt, CEO, Sekuro • More panellists to be announced soon Facilitated by Anne-Louise Brown, Head of Policy, Strategy and Insights, Akin Agency Key Themes • The scale of the problem: what the data actually shows Cybercrime is now one of the most common crimes in Australia, yet the majority of victims never report it. This theme unpacks what our national survey of more than 2,000 Australians reveals about who is targeted, how often, and by what kind of crime. • Why harm is gendered, even when victimisation isn't Headline rates of cybercrime look similar across genders, but when the crime turns personal, including coercive control, stalking, image-based abuse and sexual extortion, women carry a disproportionate share of the harm. This theme looks at why targeted, sustained cybercrime looks so different depending on who it happens to. • The silence in the data: why so few victims report Shame, confusion about who to contact, and low confidence anything will be done keep most victims silent, especially those experiencing the most severe forms of abuse. This theme looks at what is actually stopping people from coming forward, and what would change that. • AI, scams and the changing threat landscape From more convincing scams to AI-enabled impersonation, the tools available to offenders are evolving fast. This theme grounds the conversation in what's actually changing, and what individuals and organisations can do about it. • Frontline response: policing and legal pathways For victims who do come forward, the system that receives them matters. This theme covers what's improving, and what's still falling short, in how police and the legal system respond to technology-facilitated abuse. • What needs to change: recommendations for a safer system From reporting pathways to platform accountability, our report sets out a clear set of recommendations. This theme moves from data to action, covering what governments, platforms and organisations can do next. What Attendees Will Walk Away With • A clear picture of how gendered cybercrime shows up in Australia today, backed by nationally representative data • A better understanding of why underreporting happens, and what would make reporting feel safer • Real insight from people working in cybersecurity, regulation and lived experience Event details: Location: Sekuro, Level 5, 727 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Date: Thursday 29 October, 5.30pm to 7.30pm Inclusions: Networking & panel and light refreshments General Admission: $30 + Fees & GST (non-members) WID Members: Free (members-only)* * This discount is available to all Women in Digital Members who have an active membership with Women in Digital. You can learn more about our Membership Packages here. Event format: 5:15pm Doors open 5:30pm Networking 6:00pm Panel commences 7:00pm Audience Q&A 7:30pm Event close 💡 Have a question, feedback or suggestion for our future meetups? Send us an email at [email protected] We welcome all champions of diversity, manbassadors included! If you're looking to connect with like-minded diversity-championing humans, expand your network and learn from other professionals in the digital industry, this is the place to be!