Cybersecurity in Action: Charles Sturt Shines at Splunk Capture the Flag Challenge

This blog post is authored by Dr Sabih Rehman  | Edited by Dr Kath Herbert

Hands-On Learning Through Industry Partnerships

Pictured above: Participants in the Splunk Capture the Flag Cybersecurity challenge, held in Port Macquarie. Photo credit: Dr Sabih Rehman

I recently had the privilege of coordinating Charles Sturt University’s participation in the Splunk Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity challenge, hosted by Essential Energy and Splunk in Port Macquarie. This event was a fantastic example of how industry partnerships can create transformative learning experiences for our students. This event brought together teams from across the region, including Charles Sturt and the University of New England, for an exciting, real-world cybersecurity experience.

Our Charles Sturt team delivered an outstanding collective performance, maintaining strong competition throughout the day. Individual achievements were equally impressive, with several students ranking among the top performers.

A special shout-out to BIT student Adam Ragg,  whose exceptional performance during the event was widely recognised by Splunk. Adam has now completed his degree with the University Medal, a remarkable accomplishment.

These results reflect the depth of talent and commitment nurtured within our Information Technology programs.

While the scores were commendable, what truly matters is the learning, collaboration, confidence-building, and industry exposure that this event provided. All teams demonstrated exceptional skills in threat-hunting and incident response, delivering a standout performance collectively and individually. The students embraced every aspect with enthusiasm and professionalism, skills that will serve them well in their future careers.

What Are Capture the Flag Competitions?

CTF is a cybersecurity competition where participants identify vulnerabilities in systems to uncover hidden “flags.” First introduced at DEF CON in 1996, CTF has become a global standard for teaching and testing cybersecurity skills in both industry and academia.

Acknowledgement

A heartfelt thank you to:

  • Blake Abrahams, Brad Flanagan, and David Archer from Essential Energy for hosting us at their Port Macquarie premises.
  • Pradeep Viswamohan and Olivia Chung from Splunk for their platform, support, and expert guidance.
  • Jonathan Cook (Charles Sturt University) for his exceptional contribution in mentoring and ensuring smooth preparations.
  • Matthew Parisi, Dr. Samrah Arif, and Fahad Zaman Chowdhury (Charles Sturt University) for their active involvement and support.

This event showcased the power of collaboration between universities and industry partners to create authentic, hands-on learning experiences. It was a privilege to witness our students’ engagement and growth in such a dynamic setting.

Want to be part of the next big challenge?

Explore our Information Technology programs and discover how Charles Sturt University can help you build the skills and confidence to thrive in the tech industry.