AJCCA Advances Trusted Cybersecurity at 3rd Annual Conference in Bangkok, Honors ACRA 2026 Awardees and Expands Regional Partnerships

Conference addresses emerging challenges in the Agentic AI era, recognizes cybersecurity excellence across ASEAN and Japan

BANGKOK, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA) successfully held its 3rd Annual Conference at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park, bringing together government officials, cybersecurity leaders, industry representatives, academics, and cybersecurity communities from across ASEAN, Japan, and beyond.

Under the theme "Advancing Trusted Cybersecurity through the Agentic AI Era and Regional Collaboration," the conference highlighted the importance of trusted partnerships and collective action in addressing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The event also celebrated outstanding cybersecurity contributions through the AJCCA Cyber Resilience Award (ACRA) 2026 and highlighted AJCCA's expanding industry partnerships, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI).

The conference was hosted by the Thailand Information Security Association (TISA), one of AJCCA's founding communities, and co-hosted by Chulalongkorn Business School, Chulalongkorn University.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Rudi Lumanto, Chairman of AJCCA, emphasized the profound impact of artificial intelligence on the global cybersecurity landscape.

"We are entering a new era where artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool that answers questions. AI is becoming more autonomous. It can make decisions, perform tasks, and take actions with limited human intervention," he said.

While recognizing the opportunities AI presents for innovation and productivity, Dr. Lumanto warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to accelerate attacks, identify vulnerabilities, and automate malicious activities.

"The speed of cyberattacks is increasing, and our defense must become faster, smarter, and more collaborative," he emphasized.

He also stressed that technology alone cannot guarantee cybersecurity resilience.

"We need skilled people. We need strong institutions. We need cooperation between governments, industries, academia, and cybersecurity communities."

The conference featured distinguished speakers from major national and regional cybersecurity institutions, including Thailand's National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), Indonesia's National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), Japan's National Cybersecurity Office (NCO), and the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO).

Experts from government agencies, Chulalongkorn University, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and leading technology and cybersecurity organizations also shared their perspectives on emerging threats, agentic AI, and regional cybersecurity preparedness.

A major highlight of the event was the AJCCA Cyber Resilience Award (ACRA) 2026, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to cybersecurity leadership, technical excellence, capacity building, and community development across ASEAN and Japan.

The award recipients were announced during the conference and formally recognized at the AJCCA Awards Night Dinner held later that evening.

Dr. Lumanto emphasized that cybersecurity contributions extend beyond technical expertise to include leadership, education, and community building.

"Cybersecurity contributions come in many different forms. Some are technical contributions from people working behind the scenes to protect our digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity capabilities. Others demonstrate outstanding leadership by inspiring people, driving initiatives, and creating positive change," he said.

The ACRA 2026 recipients were:

• Brunei: Mr. Shamsul Bahri Haji Kamis — Interim Commissioner, Cyber Security Brunei
• Cambodia: Mr. Sophat CHY — Digital Content Creator, ICT Trainer, and Lead Organizer, BarCamp Cambodia
• Indonesia: Drs. Nugroho Sulistyo Budi, M.M., M.Han. — Head of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN)
• Japan: Mr. Itsuro Nishimoto — CEO, D.ry2 Co., Ltd.
• Laos: Mr. Khamla Sounnalat — Director General, Department of Cyber Security, Ministry of Technology and Communications
• Malaysia: Ts. Mohd Shahril Bin Hussin — Head, Cyber Threat Management, Bank Negara Malaysia; Vice-Chairman, MCCO; and Co-Founder, rawSEC
• Philippines: Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz — Co-Founder, Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT)
• Singapore: Mr. YUM Shoen Yih — Technical Expert, CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre
• Thailand: Dr. Mahatana Ampornpisit — President, Government Housing Bank
• Vietnam: Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc — Founder and CEO, CyRadar Information Security Joint Stock Company

A Special Award was also presented to Asst. Prof. Taninnit Leerapun, M.D., Director of Sriphat Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, in recognition of his contributions.

Through ACRA, AJCCA aims to celebrate cybersecurity achievements, encourage knowledge sharing, and inspire future generations of cybersecurity professionals and community leaders.

In addition to recognizing cybersecurity excellence, AJCCA further strengthened its regional network through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI).

The partnership aims to promote closer cooperation between cybersecurity communities and the ICT industry, creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange, technology collaboration, joint initiatives, and business partnerships across ASEAN and Japan.

Ms. Kobkanjana Veerapongpradit, Vice President of ATCI, emphasized that cooperation should extend beyond cybersecurity awareness and information sharing to include practical partnerships and business opportunities at regional and global levels.

Dr. Lumanto noted that the agreement represented AJCCA's third MoU signed in 2026, reflecting the Alliance's continued expansion of its strategic partnership network.

With the ATCI partnership, AJCCA has established relationships with six global partners, further strengthening its international network for cybersecurity cooperation and capacity building.

The partnership also complements AJCCA's Business Matching initiative, which connects cybersecurity challenges with relevant technologies, expertise, services, and potential business partners.

Dr. Lumanto explained that Business Matching works alongside AJCCA's Threat Intelligence Working Group to help organizations translate identified cybersecurity needs into practical solutions.

"Threat intelligence identifies the need, while business matching helps mobilize the capability," he said.

By connecting organizations seeking cybersecurity solutions with companies and experts capable of addressing those needs, AJCCA aims to bridge the gap between information sharing and practical implementation.

The 3rd AJCCA Annual Conference demonstrated the Alliance's growing role as a platform connecting cybersecurity communities, governments, industries, and academia across ASEAN and Japan.

Through high-level discussions, the recognition of cybersecurity leaders, strategic partnerships, and practical industry collaboration, AJCCA continues to strengthen regional cyber resilience and promote trusted cybersecurity cooperation.

As artificial intelligence and digital technologies continue to evolve, AJCCA remains committed to developing cybersecurity capabilities, fostering trusted relationships, and encouraging collective action toward a safer, more resilient, and more trusted digital future across ASEAN and Japan.

About AJCCA

The ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA) is a regional alliance of cybersecurity communities dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity cooperation between ASEAN and Japan. AJCCA promotes collaboration among cybersecurity professionals, industry organizations, academia, and government stakeholders through capacity building, threat intelligence sharing, strategic communication, cybersecurity recognition, and business collaboration.

Website: https://ajcca.net/

Contact: 
AJCCA Secretariat
[email protected]

SOURCE ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA)