In this episode, we sit down with Chris Peake, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Vice President of Security at Smartsheet, as he explores what lies ahead for cybersecurity in Australia and its impact on businesses in 2025. Chris discusses the evolving role of AI—both as a tool for cyber adversaries and as an advantage for defenders—and highlights how AI-driven attacks are likely to decrease the time to exploit vulnerabilities. Chris also shares insights on communicating business enablement and risk with executives, the shift towards integrating security across all business functions, and the need for organisations to use security as a foundational business strategy in order to drive growth and customer confidence.

Chris Peake is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Senior Vice President of Security at Smartsheet. Since joining in September of 2020, he is responsible for leading the continuous improvement of the security program to better protect customers and the company in an ever-changing cyber environment, with a focus on customer enablement and a passion for building great teams.

Chris holds a PhD in cloud security and trust, and has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity during which time he has supported organizations like NASA, DARPA, the Department of Defense, and ServiceNow. He enjoys biking, boating, and cheering on Auburn football.