Friday 4 August 2023: Government representatives and cyber sector leaders from across  the globe will unite at the inaugural Pacific Cyber Capacity Building and Coordination Conference (P4C) held from 2 to 4 October 2023.  

To be held in Nadi, Fiji, the P4C represents a new, coordinated approach to addressing and  advancing cybersecurity capacity building (CCB) in the Pacific.  

This unique capacity-building conference will provide an opportunity for key regional  stakeholders to discuss the status of CCB, develop a structure to inform future strategies  and agree on the appropriate approaches and policies to meet the region’s long-term  objectives. 

The conference is being jointly funded by Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and  the United States through the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP), a recently formed  multilateral coordination mechanism designed to boost regional cooperation and deliver  better results for the Pacific.  

The P4C is being organised by Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC) and the Global  Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), two trusted regional cybersecurity development partners  with over a decade of combined experience advancing cybersecurity resilience in the Pacific. 

Over the last 10 years, cybersecurity has emerged as a strategic focus area for the Pacific.  Along with technology and connectivity, it has been identified as a priority area for the region  by the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security and 2050  Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. This has led to significant investments in CCB  networks and programs; however, these have not always been successful.  

“As the methods used to lift cybersecurity and resilience have evolved, the Pacific has  started to transition to a new phase of CCB that is evidence-based and informed by the  region’s unique context and needs,” said Cameron Boardman, Director, OCSC.  

“We have developed the P4C in line with this focus and will use the event to highlight Pacific  voices and experiences and provide stakeholders the opportunity to communicate their  cybersecurity priorities directly to donor governments.” 

The conference’s various sessions and workshops will explore best practice cyber  governance, Pacific perspectives on regional CCB, and methods to improve CCB  operational results.  

Drawing on regional expertise, the P4C will ensure future CCB efforts are designed in the  context of the Pacific and contribute to established regional objectives. 

“The P4C aims to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity between Pacific partners and  establish a collaborative, best-practice approach to future CCB efforts,” said Saia Vaipuna,  Pacific Hub Director, GFCE. 

“It is widely acknowledged that there is an oversaturation of cyber assistance and support in  the region from a variety of parties, with varying impacts on capacity. Instead of continuing to  repeat the same actions and expecting a different outcome, it is time to take a new  approach. This involves recalibrating and realigning the needs and aspirations of the Pacific  with the policies and strategies of development partners, thus propelling us forward more  effectively. 

“The P4C will provide an opportunity for stakeholders in the region to meet and discuss what  is working, what is not and why, while planning concrete actions that work for the Pacific  context to sustainably strengthen capacity for the future.”  

For more information on the P4C, please visit: www.pacificcyberconference.com.  ENDS 

About the Oceania Cyber Security Centre 

The Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC) is a not-for-profit cybersecurity assessment,  evaluation and research organisation that conducts evidence-based cybersecurity capacity  building in the Indo-Pacific. Jointly owned by eight Victorian Universities, the OCSC is  focused on building regional capabilities through a mix of national cybersecurity capacity  assessments, independent evaluations, localised research, and educational programs. 

About the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise  

The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) strengthens international cooperation on  cyber capacity building by connecting needs, resources, and expertise and by making  practical knowledge available to the global community. The current focus of the GFCE is  three-fold: coordinating regional and global cyber capacity projects and initiatives; sharing  knowledge and expertise by recommending tools and publications; and matching individual  needs for cyber capacities to offers of support from the community as a clearing house  function. 

About the Partners in the Blue Pacific 

The Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) is a newly formed intergovernmental cooperation  mechanism between the governments of Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand,  the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The objective of the  Partners in the Blue Pacific is to deliver results for the Pacific more effectively and efficiently,  bolster Pacific regionalism, and expand opportunities for cooperation between the Pacific  and the world.

Media contact 

Joe Fulwood, Marketing and Communications Manager, Oceania Cyber Security Centre.  Phone: +61408777576, email: info@ocsc.com.au.