Rachael Falk MAICD

Rachael Falk is one of Australia’s leading experts on cyber security and regulation.

She is a Partner with Ashurst Risk Advisory advising organisations on their cyber readiness and response.

As former CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CSCRC) in Australia for over six years, her advice has been sought by global companies and organisations, governments, parliamentarians and peak bodies. She frequently comments in the media on cyber security, critical incidents, regulation and policy.

Rachael has played a central role in the collaboration between government, industry and research institutions aimed at lifting Australia’s cyber security capability and capacity. She has been at the forefront of the response to recent major cyber security incidents, including leading the Independent Review of the Australian Government's response to two of the country's largest cyber incidents which resulted in the introduction of a raft of legislative changes including Australia's new Cyber Security Act.

She was also the co-author, together with Ashurst Risk Advisory partner John Macpherson, of the Australian Institute of Company Directors' comprehensive Governing Through a Cyber Crisis Guidance. She also co-authored both editions of the AICD's Cyber Governance Principles as well as several policy papers on ransomware, cyber insurance, artificial intelligence and IoT cyber security.

Rachael has a background in telecommunications, litigation and commercial law, practising as a lawyer for more than a decade in top-tier firms in Australia, the UK and with Telstra.