Cybersecurity vanguard to meet in Ballarat

THE mysteries and community behind the critical practice that is cybersecurity will be on display this month when Ballarat hosts back-to-back industry conferences.

Industry experts and emerging practitioners will travel to Ballarat for the Malware and Reverse Engineering Conference (MRE) and BSides Ballarat 2026.

About 22 speakers will address both conferences about issues such as security infrastructure, AI and online safety.

The MRE, which has moved from Melbourne to Ballarat this year, presents an insight into cybersecurity for industry professionals.

Now in its second year, BSides caters to those interested in pursuing study or a career in the industry.

Federation University’s Internet Commerce Security Laboratory is hosting the events.

Dr Paul Black from the ICSL said the conferences would draw people from outside Ballarat, with about 150 people expected to attend.

The MRE, he said, would provide a detailed look at the analysis of malicious software.

“We get a lot of technical people together to talk about different aspects of how to analyse malware, or we might talk about particular strains of malware,” he said.

“It’s grown into quite a good, mature technical conference.”

Dr Black said BSides offered those interested in cybersecurity the chance to see the passion and collegiality behind the industry.

“The interesting thing about cybersecurity is there’s a lot of jobs in it,” he said. “Companies are keen to find staff with skills. It provides that entry point, BSides, for students.

“So it reinforces the importance and gives them that sense of community, that they are not in it by themselves.”

The MRE will run on 26-27 February, and BSides on 28 February and 1 March.

Both events will be held at the Emerging Technologies Hub at the university’s SMB campus on Lydiard Street South.

Tickets are $20 for students and $60 for adults.

For more information about both conferences, visit federation.edu.au

Tickets are available through Eventbrite.