Jacqui Kernot

Jacqui is one of Australia’s most experienced cyber security and risk professionals, with a career spanning nearly three decades.  She is currently leads Accenture’s Security business for Australia and New Zealand.  Prior to taking on this role as head of one of the largest security services businesses in Australia, she was a partner at EY, working with financial services clients.  Prior to this she led Telstra’s cyber security business and previously held various leadership roles in startups and larger technology companies such as IBM and HP both here and in the UK.

Jacqui is an advisory board member for UNICEF and Coco, both organisations with a powerful intent and ability to make the world a better place for less privileged people.  She also regularly briefs board members on cyber security and risk and has been closely involved with training and uplift programmes for non executive directors in these areas. 

Jacqui is a passionate supporter of Inclusion and Diversity, and Chair of Australia’s largest and longest running network for women in IT and telecommunications, FITT.  She is a founding member of the CyberShift Alliance, a group of senior industry experts working to implement cultural change around the experience of working in the cyber industry for women and diverse minorities. She is a founding member of the Better CyberSecurity Coalition, a global organisation committed to changing the way businesses approach cybersecurity challenges.

Jacqui is often asked to speak on current events in cyber and industry dynamics by the media and at cyber conferences here and globally..  She has been involved in several confidence building measures and country to country engagement initiatives.  In 2019, she was recognised for her industry contribution as an inaugural Fellow of the Australia Information Security industry, the peak body for cyber and risk professionals in Australia.  Jacqui began her career as a military intelligence officer.