PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

06 November 2024, JOONDALUP – Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega visited Joondalup, Western Australia in October 2024 to explore potential collaborations aimed at strengthening cybersecurity capacity building. Ambassador met with Joondalup City CEO James Pearson and cybersecurity experts from the WA CyberWest Hub and the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre at the Edith Cowan University. The visit underscored the growing importance of cybersecurity resilience amid evolving digital threats, with Joondalup emerging as a key regional hub for technological innovation and cybersecurity expertise. Joondalup is Western Australia’s home of innovation.

Joondalup officials and cybersecurity experts emphasized the city’s strategic focus on becoming a center for cybersecurity talent and technological advancement. Collaborative projects discussed during the visit included cybersecurity training programs, educational exchanges and joint research in cyber and critical technology-related cooperation.

The Ambassador toured Joondalup’s state-of-the-art cybersecurity facilities and recognized the local expertise and creative innovation especially in cybersecurity education which could serve as a model for future collaborative projects between the Philippines and Australia under the Strategic Partnership. The visit underscored the need to expand cybersecurity cooperation in view of the shared priority of building robust defenses and expertise, safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring secure digital ecosystems for the region.

The Philippines and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation in February 2024 to enhance information-sharing and best practices on cybersecurity and critical technologies, foster cyber skills development, support the digital economy, and advance multilateral coordination on emerging cyber issues. - END