Industry connection takes students from classroom to career

What began as an event collaboration has evolved into a meaningful pathway that helps students build practical skills, expand their professional networks and, in some cases, secure future employment opportunities.

At the heart of the partnership is Cyber in Motion Founder and Managing Director Angela Champion, whose passion for creating opportunities for emerging cyber professionals is helping students turn their studies into career momentum.

Cyber in Motion supports individuals, businesses, community organisations and industry sectors to strengthen their cyber security and resilience through advisory services, hands-on exercises, immersive experiences and practical challenges.

As a session-based model, Cyber in Motion allows individuals and businesses alike to participate in various sessions to increase skills and knowledge, which are stackable to create an entire personal development or cyber uplift program.

The partnership began in 2023 when Angela approached TAFE Queensland to host the Queensland leg of the national PECAN+ Capture the Flag (CTF) competition for Year 10 to 12 students at the South Bank campus. PECAN+ CTF 2026 is a national competition by Edith Cowan University.

Unlike other states and territories that take a site-by-site approach, Cyber in Motion leads PECAN+ across Queensland through a state-wide activation model, made possible through its strong partnership with TAFE Queensland and the Australian Computer Society. Along with local industry and local sponsors in each location.

This approach has been highly successful, with TAFE Queensland providing access to campuses across Queensland as venues for PECAN+ and other Cyber in Motion events, while also serving as a vital connection point for educators and students keen to get involved.

Cyber in Motion offers sessions designed for everyone from beginners to experienced challenge competitors, offering varied challenges, mentorship, training and access to industry-standard facilities.

While PECAN+ CTF is aimed specifically at year 10 to 12 secondary students, it is now considered a key challenge event on the yearly calendar.

Cyber in Motion events bring together TAFE Queensland, industry and students to tackle real-world cyber challenges in a supportive environment.

A powerful example of this impact is Year 10 student Jack Ledger, who attended PECAN+ CTF in 2024 with no prior knowledge of Capture the Flag competitions and ended up on a national-winning team.

Inspired by the experience, Jack later enrolled in TAFE Queensland’s cyber security course, highlighting the important role industry-connected events play in shaping future study and career pathways.

A key part of Cyber in Motion’s model is the Cyber in Motion Crew - a team of individuals, student and graduate volunteers who support the development and delivery of various experiences, exercises and challenge sessions.

The CIM Crew provides students with valuable hands-on experience in cyber and IT-related operations, networking, leadership, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

“Our goal is to create a pathway for students to gain skills in addition to their formal education that they can include on their resumes and speak to with prospective employers,” Angela said.

In addition to the Cyber in Motion Crew (CIM Crew), each year Cyber in Motion identifies eight students or individuals who demonstrate enthusiasm, initiative and the strong foundational skills needed by industry during the sessions.

These individuals are awarded CIM CTF Pioneers status and have future opportunities to progress into the Cyber in Motion Crew.

One standout success story is Alasdair Hayes, who first took part in PECAN+ CTF as a Year 11 student while completing his TAFE at School Certificate III in Information Technology (Foundation) (ICT30120).

Travelling from the Sunshine Coast to compete at South Bank, Alasdair has since graduated, was identified as a 2025 CIM CTF Pioneer, is now part of the CIM Crew and has been put forward by Cyber in Motion for consideration as an Australian Computer Society Tech Ambassador.

His journey highlights the power of this strong industry partnership in helping students transition from study into meaningful career opportunities.

By connecting students with live industry experiences, mentors and real-world event delivery, the partnership between TAFE Queensland and Cyber in Motion is creating clear pathways into one of Australia’s fastest-growing industries.