ASX Creates Deputy CISO Role

Summary

The ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) announced in late August 2026 that it had created a new deputy chief information security officer (deputy CISO) role, appointing Hanlie Botha as the first holder of the position. The move strengthens the exchange operator's senior cyber security leadership as it continues work to harden critical market infrastructure.

Details

Botha steps into the deputy role with responsibility for helping to steer the ASX's security programme, reporting alongside the exchange's CISO. The appointment adds dedicated senior capacity for the operational security of trading, clearing and settlement systems, which are designated critical infrastructure in Australia and subject to the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act and APRA CPS 234 expectations. The creation of a deputy CISO post reflects the growing breadth of the security function at major financial-market operators, where cyber risk is now treated as a board-level operational concern.

Assessment

While the announcement is a governance and resourcing development rather than a response to a known incident, it is notable for the Australian market: it signals continued institutional investment in cyber security leadership at a systemically important financial entity. It also reinforces the wider Australian trend of dedicated, named senior security roles across critical-infrastructure operators. No incident was associated with the appointment.