Ep. 25 Building Australia's Cyber Civilian Reserve with Kersti Eesmaa

We're joined by Kersti Eesmaa, a former Estonian diplomat and current advocate for cyber resilience in Australia. Kersti shares her journey from diplomacy to becoming an ambassador for Estonia in Australia, and her transition to a new life and career Down Under. She opens up about her unique voice, the result of a childhood health crisis, and how it has become her trademark in public speaking.

The discussion covers the concept of cyber reserves in Estonia and Australia's potential for adopting a similar model. Kersti highlights the importance of community service in cyber security, the challenges, and the need for collaboration across various sectors. 

The conversation also touches upon the significance of digital identity, online elections, and how digital solutions can help vulnerable communities, offering lessons from Estonia's advanced digital infrastructure. The episode is a blend of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and a vision for a digitally resilient future.

Cyber Civilian Reserve:
https://www.verticalscope.com.au/cyber-civilian-reserve

Cyber Volunteer Report:
https://bond.edu.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/CyberVolunteerReport2025FIN.pdf

Australia Needs a Civilian Cyber Reserve:
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-needs-a-civilian-cyber-reserve-state-emergency-services-are-the-model/

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