Denis McGrath
Cyber Security Specialist (Awareness and Education Lead)
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Denis McGrath is the Cyber Security Specialist for Awareness and Education at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he leads global security capability uplift across 60+ diplomatic missions. With more than 20 years’ experience across technology, government, and education, Denis specialises in translating complex cyber challenges into strategies, behaviours, and culture that people can understand and act on. His career includes driving DevSecOps adoption at Xero, designing national election readiness frameworks, and strengthening analyst capability for New Zealand’s national security system. Denis is passionate about human-centred cybersecurity, resilience, and building environments where people - not just systems -become the strongest defence.
SESSIONS
Day 2
12.20
Peer-to-peer roundtable discussions
Delegates will split into peer-led groups to discuss key challenges within the digital and security world under Chatham-House rules. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend 2 x 30-minute interactive sessions of their choice
A: Assuring digital service providers: Implementing security baselines, metrics and onboarding frameworks
Adwin Singh, Cybersecurity Domain Lead – CISO Office, Inland Revenue NZ
B: Building security understanding and culture across the organisation and the executive team
Denis McGrath, Cyber Security Specialist (Awareness and Education Lead), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
C: Reimagining the role of AI, from personal productivity to organisation-wide transformation
Milica Zivanovic, Chief Information Officer, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
D: Making change management work for digital transformation leadership
Anne Columbus, Chief People Officer, General Manager Corporate Services, Christchurch City Council