Vishwanath Nair, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at BaptistCare, and Chirag Joshi, Founder and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of 7Rules Cyber, have been named among Australia’s top cybersecurity leaders at the CS030 Awards.
The CSO30 Awards, held annually in Sydney alongside the CIO50 Awards, celebrate leading cybersecurity professionals and teams for their innovative and impactful work in safeguarding businesses.
The awards recognise transformation and innovation, driven by 50 CIOs and 30 CSOs from across Australia’s diverse industries.
Nominees are evaluated based on their contributions to cybersecurity and resilience within their enterprises, as well as their influence on stakeholders and the broader cybersecurity community.
Nair took top honours in the Business Value category for his proactive cybersecurity initiatives during his tenure at the NSW Electoral Commission. He was recognised for implementing forward-thinking strategies to safeguard electoral systems from cyber threats.
Reflecting on the achievement, Nair said in a statement on LinkedIn,
“I am incredibly honoured to have been named among the Top 30 honourees, alongside esteemed colleagues and friends. To my great surprise, I was further recognised as the winner of Top Award for Business Value—a moment I will never forget!”
Nair attributed the success to his team’s collaboration and the trust placed in him by his superiors. “This award is a testament to the trust and collaboration of my incredible team, as well as the confidence my seniors placed in my abilities,” he shared, emphasising his belief that cybersecurity is essential to business success.
Nair highlighted the significance of cybersecurity in a digital-first world, where risk management is key to driving commercial success. “Businesses thrive when they can rely on cost-effective, consistent, and forward-thinking cybersecurity practices that enable risk-aware decisions,” he added.
“It reaffirms my belief that cybersecurity must be seen as a Business Value Creator—not just a service provider.”
He also expressed gratitude to the judging panel for recognising his contributions and thanked his family for their unwavering support. “This award is as much theirs as it is mine,” Nair said, looking forward to continuing his work and sharing knowledge within the cybersecurity community.
Joshi has once again been named among Australia’s top cybersecurity leaders – his third consecutive year recognition.
Joshi, known for his impactful work in the cybersecurity field, expressed his gratitude and excitement in a LinkedIn post, calling the recognition a milestone that reflects the trust and belief placed in him by key industry stakeholders.
“It’s so fulfilling to be recognised again among Australia’s top cybersecurity leaders, this time with my third consecutive CSO30 Award! Doing it once was hard enough, twice was amazing, and words don’t do justice to the three-peat!”
Joshi highlighted how each award has been special, particularly as it marks his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship.
Joshi’s achievements underscore his extensive influence across a range of sectors, including government, critical infrastructure, and financial services.
“This achievement is definitely not just a personal milestone—it reflects the ongoing trust and belief placed in me by executives, boards, and decision-makers across multiple sectors,” he said, acknowledging that their support has driven his success.
Joshi also extended his thanks to the CISO community, his family, and IDC Foundry Events Asia Pacific for their work supporting the cyber industry.
Despite the accolades, Joshi remains grounded and focused on the challenges ahead.
“I’ll give myself a few moments to celebrate, knowing fully well that the work continues, and collectively we’ll tackle the exciting challenges ahead as we continue to shape the future of cyber resilience.”
The event also recognised emerging talent in the cybersecurity field, with Kiran Bangalore as a finalist in the Next CISO Award category.
As Australia’s cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, leaders like Vishwanath Nair, Chirag Joshi, Kiran Bangalore and the other awardees are playing an essential role in shaping a resilient digital future.
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