Just a little bit about the list administrator.
 
I have been very fortunate to "go walkabout" throughout our wonderful world, usually this happens as a result of various work related activities.
 
For better or worse I have experienced many events significant and insignificant first hand. I have visited many sites, locations and seen many truly remarkable wonders. Interacting and meeting people along the path as we all do, I have met many amazing and interesting people. I have seen my fellow human beings behaving at their absolute worst and I have also seen them perform their very best when faced with adversity and seemingly impossible odds.
 
My professional journey of over 26 years experience covers various disciplines of modern science including:  Electronics / Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Process Control, Communications / Telecommunications Engineering, and Physical & Electronic Security. My roles have seen me thus far working directly or in-directly for government, defense and law enforcement agencies in Australia and abroad.
 
Somehow, along this journey I somehow managed to acquire practical experience in: Project Management, Design, Installation and Maintenance of SCADA and Systems for Critical Infrastructure and Mission Critical Systems and Field Operations.
 
I am honoured and proud to be a Subject Matter Expert, (SME) for the Department of Homeland Security (USA) Control Systems Security Program. http://www.us-cert.gov/control_systems/
This largely means that I actively participate in the review of recommended practices, industry focused security standards and best practice guides.
 
Presently I manage my time between my activities as the Telemetry Officer for a Water Utility in South East Queensland {Australia,} the place I affectionately refer to as "The Salt Mine" and various other activities, interests and occasional pastimes.
 
 
To keep my skills and knowledge current I perform various consultancy roles and support activities for industry leaders such as:
Lofty Perch http://www.loftyperch.com/
 
I usually spend many long hours researching numerous topics of interest.
 
 
Associations:
I am also a member of the SCADA Community of Interest http://www.scadacoi.com.au
(Part of the Trusted Information Sharing Network TISN)
 
 
 
This year as part of the Lofty Perch education and awareness program, I will be devoting some effort and energy into supporting the community through activities such as the Critical Infrastructure and Control Systems Security Course {CICSS} being hosted by the University of South Australia. See Below.
 

·         Critical Infrastructure and Control System Security  (22-26 March 2010) Lecturer - Ron Southworth

 

Critical Infrastructure and Control System Security

The course designed to provide knowledge and understanding of the key policy issues and technologies underlying Critical Infrastructures (CI) in the various industries and the design considerations for process control systems in light of threats of natural or man-made catastrophic events with a view to securing such critical systems.

 

Course Content:

Critical Infrastructures (CI)and their vulnerabilities, the role of CI in the economy, security policy and procedures; risks management and strategic planning; Fundamentals of SCADA systems : hardware, software and communication systems -Ethernet, TCP/IP, security protocols; Security Engineering Principles : opportunities and limitations of  engineered solution to the CI with primer on technologies employed, their historic content and current key issues; Enterprises network securities:  security roles, system connections, secure remote maintenance, system communication protection, perimeter protection; System monitoring tools and techniques ; Incident Management and response and Escalation: Research approaches and current best practices in process control systems security.

 
 
 
RON SOUTHWORTH
F Inst. M Sci. EEng.

Copyright© 2010 Ron Southworth