Champions preparing for WorldSkills Lyon 2024 are already shaping our world

From online banking to cloud storage of personal documents, many of our day-to-day tasks are shifting online. As our digital behaviours increase, so do the cyber risks. That is why industries are turning to people like Kai and using his skills in identifying and countering cyber threats.

Kai’s interest in cyber security began when he attended a workshop for home-educated students at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia and he found himself energized and enthused by the idea of being on the front line in the war against cyber-crime. So he enrolled at TAFE, one of Australia’s leading Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers.

He went on to compete in Cyber Security at WorldSkills Australia’s national competition in 2023, bringing home a gold medal. His sights are now firmly set on Lyon in September, when he’ll be taking part in his first ever international competition. While he trains for WorldSkills Lyon 2024, he also works as a Cyber Security Operations Centre Analyst helping businesses safely navigate new digital technologies.

Kai was just 16 when he was offered a role as a Security Analyst at a global energy firm, following a personal recommendation from his lecturer. He became the youngest analyst on the team. He explains, “My work in cyber security has me reacting and stopping live cyber-attacks every day. I love that my role allows me to constantly learn new things and take on new challenges, such as developing automated threat assessment tools that increase efficiency and accuracy in live cyber threat detection and response.”

Kai is motivated most by the chance to make a positive impact every day. He says he is always looking for opportunities to develop his skills to meet the needs of his clients and stay on top of the fast-evolving technology. He is even putting his skills to good use as a teacher. He says, “I am taking every opportunity to promote cyber security, mentoring new cyber security professionals, and showcasing TVET as a pathway to a successful career.”

Outside of his core industry capabilities, Kai says his WorldSkills Australia experience has given him a sense of self-belief and improved interpersonal skills, which come in useful in his day job when he is surrounded by seasoned professionals. He reflects, “Being part of the WorldSkills community has given me the confidence to take on leadership opportunities and handle stressful incident response situations. Working closely with my WorldSkills Australia teammates during the nationals showed me the importance of good communication.”

Kai will no doubt be drawing on his exceptional technical and life skills when he competes with other talented Champions from around the world at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. Learn more about the excitement and anticipation around WorldSkills Lyon 2024.