University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“I have an interest in regionalism and regional politics, and, with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am keen to understand how social media platforms have become the dialogue forums for many people on many burning issues and the risks, challenges and opportunities it poses. With more than 50% of Fiji's population defined within the youth category, the advent of fake media, news and information during elections is another interesting topic to look at with Fiji's election due in 2022.”-Abdul Mufeez Shaheed, Fiji 🇫🇯, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program?fbclid=IwAR29Bz5dQ6BLD_PxGETK4STLbKkM2FAmyEGeqZbe-UPvuuGGENSjsc0cBcU

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative
embassy suva

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“Today, the major threats facing every nation in the world are digital in nature. In response, most countries develop and enhance security controls by focusing on people, processes and technology to counter online threats and safeguard sensitive data. Recent developments to expand Internet connectivity and accessibility within the Pacific region have led to a greater need for smaller island economies to address their cybersecurity shortcomings. The Pacific island countries have been able to undertake ICT development and international engagement. However, there is a need to develop equivalent cybersecurity standards and regulation.

I'm excited to be part of the Young Leaders in Cybersecurity for the Pacific region (YLCPR) Program! Thanks to the U.S. Department of State & University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy for the opportunity."-Vineet Prasad, Fiji 🇫🇯, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative US Embassy Suva Vineet Prasad

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

"Cyber Security is important as Climate Change is for Pacific Island Nations. We cannot avoid Cyber Attacks. Pacific Nations must be capable in responding and being resilent to Cyber Attacks. We must start by practicing good cyber hygiene for the betterment of our National Security Sectors"-Seijama Horibary Koito, Solomon Islands 🇸🇧, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative U.S. Embassy - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“FSM is currently in the process of creating cybersecurity laws. Recently FSM did the National Cybersecurity Capacity Review and FSM needs help. I would like to join this program so that I can gain more experience to contribute to my country's needs. It took us years to convince our leaders how important it is to consider cybersecurity. By being a part of this program, we young leaders would have a support for what we voice.” -Derrick Iehsi, Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative US Embassy Kolonia

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“The internet grows rapidly and it will continue to grow in all major areas and security concerns add to the complexity. Therefore in order to assure the system’s reliability and data , it is important to insure data integrity, availability and privacy. Cybersecurity, therefore, is not a matter of device self-defence. What is needed is a systemic approach. Identify underlying patterns. We need to move from the existing culture of compliance in cybersecurity to developing a culture of excellence in mitigating Cyber threats"-Darryl Farshid Ikbal, Tuvalu 🇹🇻 YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative US Embassy Suva

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“The YLCPR program presents an amazing opportunity to meet other young leaders in cyber and build the ideas needed to foster an open and democratic cyberspace in the Indo-Pacific. Cyberspace has presented states with a raft of transformative challenges, which have overwhelmed existing governance systems both in terms of scale and frequency. Existing cyber governance structures have failed to engage with cyberspace as a global techno-social space. Clearly, a new approach fit for a post-national cyberspace is needed.

My research examines how we might think of cyber stakeholders such as Facebook, WallStreetBets, 4chan and WeChat as 'net states', which are internet-enabled, state-like actors. Net states exist primarily in cyberspace, but can challenge state authority both in material and social terms.” -Callum Harvey, Australia 🇦🇺, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative U.S. Embassy Canberra

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“Cyber security is an ever-growing issue for the Pacific region, with very few countries in our region having implemented national cyber security strategies. The Pacific is an ideal environment for cyber criminals to thrive in due to high digital connectivity, contrasted with low cyber security awareness, growing cross-border data transfers and weak regulations. Not only this, cyber spaces can very well be turned into cyber terrorism in the region such as ours. Young professionals within the region must be equipped with adequate training and resources to ensure that national cyber security strategies, including specific cyber security legislations are implemented in the very near future.”
-Aneet Kumar, Fiji 🇫🇯, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative
US Embassy Suva

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“Cyberspace is a domain that is mostly unfamiliar to small island developing states like the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). However, there are a handful of individuals within the local tech industry that are making strides in the right direction, and I'd like to consider myself as [one] of these individuals. As the FSM National Government’s first ever Cyber Operations Officer, I intend to leverage the experience gained in the YLCPR program to add value to my country's cybersecurity initiatives.”-Adam Caldwell, Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative
US Embassy Kolonia

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“Throughout my law degree, I developed a particular interest in the intersection between international law, national security and cyberspace. I recently wrote my law thesis on the development of customary international law regulating State cyber conduct. This research revealed that strong international cooperation is necessary for the rules of State responsibility to respond to rapid technological advancement and provide a framework for the promotion of the peaceful use of cyberspace. I am excited by the opportunity that the YLCPR program creates to engage in such cooperation at a grassroots level, to hear different perspectives on cyber issues from participants from across the Pacific Region, and to learn from subject-matter experts about how to best move forward in this important but challenging domain." -Lauren Abrahams, Australia 🇦🇺, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative U.S. Embassy Canberra

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“The area of cyber security is a newly growing area and at the same time is of great concern to Solomon Islands and the pacific islands. I would want to learn from other members’ countries on what their country has been up to on their National cyber security law and policies.”-Ronnie Raraihuru, Solomon Islands 🇸🇧, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative U.S. Embassy - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“Australia has a crucial role in promoting security in the Pacific region. ‘Security’ is a broad paradigm, covering military, food, health, environmental, personal and political security. Arguably, ‘cybersecurity’ may straddle every such aspect of security, due to the potential for deficiencies or breaches in national cybersecurity to impact upon many areas of a state or region. Equipping young people with a solid understanding of cybersecurity, both within Australia and across the Pacific region, is extremely important as the next generation of policy makers and leaders emerge.

I am eager to be part of the Young Leaders in Cybersecurity: Pacific Region (YLCPR) Program, to build on my existing knowledge of cyber security, apply my understanding of policy to this area, understand the shared challenges facing our region, and network with my Pacific and US counterparts to build a strong foundation for collaboration and information sharing in the future. The YLCPR Program is wonderfully unique, in that I would have no opportunity for direct research collaboration with emerging industry leaders, without this program.”-Grace Manahan, Australia 🇦🇺, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative U.S. Embassy Canberra

Thank you to We Are Young Pacific Leaders for highlighting some of our current YLCPR program participants!

“I wish to enhance my understanding of cybersecurity to assist my work in analyzing UN resolutions and conventions on cyberspace and compiling political briefs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I currently work on ocean-related issues and I am a part of the Maritime Boundaries Committee assisting in the national negotiations on our maritime zones. I feel that many disregard cybersecurity in maritime, and are further unaware of the potential and emerging cyber threats in this area. Maritime security is one of the cornerstone issues coming from a Small Islands Developing State however how cybersecurity l can affect maritime and other traditional security areas is one I wish to learn more about.”-Marissa Toomata, Samoa 🇼🇸, YPL Cybersecurity Delegate 2021

We highlight Marissa's today to celebrate Earth Day and International Girls in ICT Day!

Read more about our YPL in Cybersecurity Program here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/research-impact/centers-institutes/cyber-policy-initiative/young-leaders-cybersecurity-pacific-region-ylcpr-program

University of Chicago Harris Cyber Policy Initiative US Embassy Apia, Samoa