MacGibbon resigns as head of ACSC
In a surprise development, Alastair MacGibbon — National Cyber Security Adviser and head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) — has resigned from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and will return to the private sector.
MacGibbon has been with ASD since January 2018 after Prime Minister Turnbull made the ACSC a part of ASD appointed MacGibbon as its head. MacGibbon’s final day in the role will be 28 May.
“During his time both as the National Cyber Security Adviser and as the Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), Alastair has been a fierce advocate for the importance of cyber security for the community, businesses and governments,” said Mike Burgess, ASD Director-General in statement.
“He is indeed the face of cyber security in Australia and, through his leadership, helped raise the nation’s cyber security standards.
“I’d like to thank Alastair for his work in standing up the new centre including the transition of other parts of government into ASD,” added Burgess.
“I’d also like to recognise and thank Alastair for his tireless work in tackling the challenge of helping those we serve to better understand how to identify and manage the nation’s cyber security risks more effectively.”
Burgess cited MacGibbon’s work in response to the recent compromise of the Australian Parliament’s computer network is a “good example of how Alastair and his team have made an important, practical difference to cyber security in Australia”.
MacGibbon has previously served in a variety of other government cyber-related roles, such as being the founding director of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre in the early 2000s and inaugural eSafety Commissioner commencing in April 2015.
LTGEN John Frewen, Principal Deputy Director-General of the ASD, will take on leadership of the ACSC until the role is permanently filled.
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