In early December 2025, I had the privilege of traveling to Canberra to participate in the ADF Cyber Skills Challenge, an invitation-only capstone event and Capture the Flag (CTF) competition hosted by the Australian Defence Force.

Held from the 1st to the 5th of December, the event was a massive convergence of top-tier cyber talent. It brought together a diverse group of participants representing the ADF, the Australian Public Service (APS), industry leaders, government agencies, academia, and various international partners. Being surrounded by such a high caliber of professionals made the environment incredibly competitive and deeply collaborative.