Dr Xu Wang recognised at Defence & National Security Workforce Awards 2026

The Global Big Data Technology Centre (GBDTC) recognises the achievement of Dr Xu Wang, who has been named Best Cyber Technician or Specialist Under 35 at the Defence & National Security Workforce Awards 2026.

The awards ceremony took place on 23 April 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, bringing together professionals from across Australia’s defence and national security sector.

At the University of Technology Sydney and GBDTC, Dr Wang has led the development of the UTS Cyber Precinct, bringing together advanced cyber technologies with research and training environments.

He has also led several initiatives within GBDTC focused on applying research in operational settings for industry and government. His work has advanced AI-based approaches to cybersecurity and strengthened how organisations detect, understand and respond to complex threats.

Two examples illustrate the applied impact of this work.

The Secure Multi-Org Data-Sharing (SMODS) Platform, supported by the Connectivity Innovation Network (CIN), enables secure, real-time data sharing between organisations that would otherwise be unable to access each other’s systems. Designed for emergency response contexts, it supports coordination and situational awareness by enabling controlled access to critical information across organisational boundaries, while maintaining robust privacy and security safeguards.

CASPER AI, developed as part of CIN’s AI for Network Security System project, applies a context-aware approach to cybersecurity. By analysing inputs from network activity alongside organisational data, the system can identify and respond to potential threats earlier, supporting more informed and timely decision-making.

This work brings together academia, industry and government to address shared cybersecurity challenges, with a focus on practical deployment.

GBDTC congratulates Dr Xu Wang on this recognition and looks forward to his continued contributions to cybersecurity research, education and industry engagement.