George Hlaing is a seasoned cyber security leader with over 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors. As a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), he brings deep, practical expertise in cyber strategy, data governance, audit and assurance and national security risk grounded in hands-on program delivery and aligned with strategic policy objectives.

George has advised key Australian federal government agencies including Services Australia, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His work covers cyber strategy development, regulatory compliance, AI governance, and risk management across complex, high-impact national initiatives.

Internationally, George has held executive and leadership roles across the Asia–Pacific region with organisations such as Thomson Reuters, DFS Group (part of LVMH), and QBE Insurance Group. His global career provides him with a comprehensive perspective on cyber policy, risk and operational resilience across both commercial and government domains.

George holds a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Western Australia. He also holds top-tier certifications such as Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from EC-Council, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).

A committed thought leader and mentor, George serves on cyber advisory committees for ISC2 and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Business and Government Professional Interest Council. He also contributes to next generation talent development as a cybersecurity mentor for ISACA and EC-Council and serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra.

His cross-sector experience and strategic insight position him at the forefront of cyber resilience, national security, and public-interest governance.