Preparing for 2026:
Cybersecurity Resilience in an Era of Escalating Risk

As organisations plan for 2026, CISOs are navigating a threat environment shaped by accelerating change, expanding digital ecosystems, and rising expectations from boards and regulators alike. Many of today’s material risks span multiple systems, teams, and external dependencies.

This closed-door roundtable brings together Australian CISOs for a candid, peer-led discussion on how security leaders are strengthening resilience in the face of these pressures. Drawing on Mastercard’s global exposure across complex digital environments, the session will be lightly guided prompts designed to encourage open sharing of experiences, approaches, and lessons learned.

The focus is not on predictions or prescriptions, but on how CISOs are positioning their organisations for the years ahead.

Discussion themes may include:

• Which emerging risks are most likely to test organisational resilience over the next 12–24 months?
• How are AI-enabled and automated attacks changing assumptions about detection and response?
• Where do third-party, SaaS and cloud dependencies create the greatest uncertainty?
• How are CISOs approaching longer-term threats?
• What resonates most with boards and executives when discussing resilience, readiness, and, importantly, investment?