Press Release: Sun Con Returns to the Sunshine Coast in 2026
Sun Con Returns to the Sunshine Coast in 2026: Surfs Up Again at UniSC!
The Sunshine Coast’s premier cybersecurity event, Sun Con, is set to make its highly anticipated return in 2026, bringing together the region’s brightest minds in cyber for another unforgettable day of action, learning, and community.
Building on the sold-out success of Sun Con 2025, Sun Con 2026 will expand its reach to welcome around 200 participants from leading companies, government, and academia. Surf’s up again for 2026! The event will kick off with a morning surf, setting the tone for a vibrant, locally inspired experience where cyber meets coast.
Sun Con 2026 will be fully catered, ensuring attendees enjoy delicious food and refreshments throughout the day while networking, learning, and sharing ideas.
Why Sun Con Matters
As cybersecurity threats continue to grow in scale and sophistication, the need for awareness, collaboration, and shared learning has never been more critical. From the rapid evolution of AI, to increasingly capable adversaries and real-world cyber incidents impacting organisations of all sizes, cybersecurity is no longer a niche concern—it’s a shared responsibility.
Sun Con brings the local cybersecurity community together to openly discuss challenges such as AI and cybersecurity, threat intelligence, adversary tradecraft, and incident response. By creating space for practical conversations and cross‑industry collaboration, Sun Con helps lift the cyber maturity of the Sunshine Coast and strengthens our collective resilience.
First Keynote Announcement: Jana Dekanovska
We’re proud to announce our first keynote speaker for Sun Con 2026 — Jana Dekanovska, a Sunshine Coast local and Counter Adversary Operations Practice Lead at CrowdStrike.
Jana brings deep frontline experience tracking and countering some of the world’s most advanced threat actors. At Sun Con 2026, she will deliver a keynote on:
AI‑Enhanced Threats: Understanding Generative AI’s Impact on Cyber Operations
As generative AI reshapes the threat landscape, adversaries are moving faster, scaling attacks, and lowering the barrier to sophisticated cyber operations. Jana will explore how AI is being leveraged by attackers, what this means for defenders, and how organisations can adapt their detection and response strategies in an AI‑driven world.
Reflecting on the importance of local collaboration, Jana shared:
“Cybersecurity is a team sport. No single organisation or individual has the full picture—especially as adversaries adopt AI at speed. Bringing professionals together on the Sunshine Coast to share knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned is critical to strengthening our collective defence.”
What to Expect
Attendees can look forward to:
• Dual streams covering Cyber Leadership and Cyber Technology
• Keynotes and technical sessions from industry leaders
• Deep dives into AI, threat intelligence, insider threat, adversary behaviour, and real-world cyber incidents
• Networking opportunities with professionals, students, and sponsors
• Fully catered, with networking drinks and dinner to close out the day
Sun Con is more than a conference—it’s a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the thriving cybersecurity community on the Sunshine Coast. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring student, Sun Con 2026 promises fresh insights, meaningful connections, and a day where cyber truly meets surf.
Stay tuned for more speaker announcements and tickets are now on sale.