Nuclear Cyber Engineering

Speaker: Mitchell Hewes.

Webinar hosted by ANA.

12 noon AEST, Wednesday 24 June 2026.

Cost: Free

Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w6ae_4SkQRuAIVY850tUpQ

Abstract

This talk explores the international nuclear community’s response to escalating cyber-physical capabilities, through research to the establishment of global norms, guidance, standards, and training. A cyber-physical attack is a security breach that potentially could affect operations, damage property or otherwise impact the physical environment. Mitchell will look at Australia’s leading contribution to this effort and outline the implications for other critical infrastructure industries making the necessary leap from compliance to functional assurance.

Mitchell Hewes

About Mitchell Hewes

Mitchell is the Executive Officer for the IT group portfolio at ANSTO, supporting IT, OT, and Cyber Security. With over 15 years of experience in nuclear security engineering, he previously spent seven years at the IAEA helping establish its information and computer security support programme under the division of nuclear security. Mitchell has served as a scientific secretary driving the development of international cyber security standards, guidance, coordinated research projects, and training.

The Australian Nuclear Association Inc (ANA) is an independent incorporated scientific institution which promotes the education, knowledge and practice of the peaceful, safe and effective use of nuclear science and technology to benefit people, science and the environment.

ANA supports the use of nuclear science and technology in Australia, including nuclear techniques in research, industry and medicine; research reactors as a source of neutrons for research and production of radioisotopes; nuclear power plants to produce electricity and the use of nuclear power for marine propulsion.

ANA strongly supports the use of nuclear power plants as reliable, affordable and low carbon generators of electricity and as a low carbon source of heat for industry. Adding nuclear energy to Australia’s energy future would help meet our international obligations on carbon emissions, improve energy security and contribute to our economic future. Australia can benefit from current and emerging advanced reactor designs as well as from the considerable international experience accumulated in regulating and operating nuclear power plants, taking into account safety, environmental, technical, economic and social factors. Federal and State legislative nuclear prohibitions should be repealed so that nuclear energy can be considered on its merits.

ANA strongly supports establishment of a national radioactive waste management facility for the management of intermediate level radioactive waste and the disposal of low level radioactive waste from all Commonwealth agencies as well from the States and Territories.