Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy School of Information & Communication Technology Institute of Integrated & Intelligent Systems (IIIS), at Griffith University explores the cybersecurity challenges and opportunities facing Brisbane 2032, offering a thought-provoking look at how Queensland can prepare for the world’s biggest sporting event. With a background that spans IT consulting, applied ethics, and cybersecurity education, he combines technical insight with a focus on the broader social impact of technology, including artificial intelligence and its effect on employment.

Dr. Tuffley makes it clear: protecting the Games will require early investment, cross-agency collaboration, and unprecedented cooperation between government, industry, and international partners. The stakes are high, but so is the opportunity to set a global benchmark for Olympic cyber resilience.

Key Themes

• Adequate Funding Upfront – Cybersecurity investment must be prioritised now, with upfront uplift programs and hardened infrastructure forming the foundation of Olympic readiness.

• Collaboration & Governance – Strong cross-agency governance and regular joint exercises will be essential, bringing together government, industry, and Games organisers.

• Threat Intelligence Sharing – Open, consistent intelligence exchange is vital to anticipate and respond to attacks in real time.

• Industry Partnerships – Leaders are called on to co-invest in resilience technologies and partner with government for collective defence.

• Olympic Cyber Insurance – Exploring tailored insurance products to cover incident response during the Games.

• Global Threat Landscape – Nation-states, cybercriminals, and advanced actors are likely to target the Olympics, demanding rigour, speed, and resilience.

Why It Matters

The Brisbane 2032 Games will attract unprecedented global attention—not just from spectators, but also from cyber threat actors. Success will depend on leveraging the seven-year preparation window to build the most secure Olympics infrastructure in history. With optimism, Dr. Tuffley stresses that Australia can rise to the challenge—if preparations are sustained, coordinated, and proactive.