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Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) CEO Cath Hart has been named as a finalist in two categories at the Australian Cyber Security Awards 2024.
Hart has made cyber security a key advocacy priority for REIWA, and her work has been recognised with two nominations for the awards, which are set to be presented by REB’s sister site, Cyber Daily, at Canberra’s National Convention Centre on Thursday, 20 June.
Shortlisted in the categories of Cyber Security Professional of the Year – Professional and Financial Services and Female Cyber Security Leader of the Year, Hart said she is “proud to represent REIWA on the national stage at the 2024 Australian Cyber Security Awards”, and commended the work of her team for helping the organisation stand out for its efforts.
REIWA’s cyber security initiatives have been wide ranging, and include a five-year collaboration with Edith Cowan University’s Security Research Institute to support Western Australian real estate businesses manage cyber risks.
The organisation also hosted its first Cyber Security Forum in late 2022, and made cyber security a key theme during its annual Connect Conference in June 2023.
REIWA has also advocated for industry-wide policy measures that strengthen security among consumers, such as by pressing for tenants to lodge bonds directly with the Bonds Administrator. It actively flags scams with scamnet, and conducts sophisticated phishing tests at REIWA to ensure organisational vigilance.
Hart has framed the organisation’s work as an obligation of the body, given that cyber threats can be catastrophic for the small businesses that make up its membership.
“The real estate industry has been a clear target for cyber criminals given members’ high volume of financial transactions,” Hart remarked.
“REIWA has been proud to lead in this area by providing support, education and information to our members, regardless of the size or scale of their business,” she said.
Regularly meeting with the state’s minister for commerce, minister for housing, the Premier, the Treasurer, consumer protection and Landgate, Hart has worked to keep the issue front of mind in real estate and beyond.
“It is vital that the wider community is also well-informed regarding cyber threats and that governments are also aware of the role they can play to reduce cyber vulnerability for everyone by adopting fit-for-purpose systems and requirements from industries of all types,” she said.
“While threats are constantly evolving, our vision is to support our members and the public by providing them with advice and tools to reduce risk, protect themselves and their clients and, equip them to respond in the unfortunate event of an attack,” Hart added.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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