The Diana Initiative 2022

The information security industry is facing a skills crisis, a cultural crisis, and a diversity crisis. Studies have found that this industry is facing one of the highest workforce shortages and facing a lack diversity within the workforce. The shortage of talented and motivated members is felt globally, with online safety something all members of our countries desire. This leaves many wondering: How can we address these crises and bridge that gap to engage, interest and empower the younger generations?
 
This talk focuses on youth community engagement and introduces Kids Securiday. We’ll discuss our experience bringing cyber security education to youth in Papua New Guinea (PNG), an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. This country is known for its vibrant wildlife and rich diverse culture. However, women are disadvantaged in PNG socially, culturally, economically, and politically. The prevalence of violence against women and girls is one of the highest in the world. Highlighting the benefits, an overview of the education delivery model will be presented. We’ll cover how the workshops were formulated and share feedback from the participants and tutors. These insights can help those wishing to consider outreach activities to the younger generations and educators in areas where formal pathways may not be available.
 
Kids Securiday, established in Australia in 2017, has been running events for students all around the world. The program was recognized with Australian Information Security Association's "Best STEM Program" award in 2021. These events focus on being fun and inspirational – with the intent to share knowledge with passion. We will share this inspiration with attendees, along with ideas and information on how to education the next generation.