In this episode, Vannessa Van Beek, Global CISO at Fortescue, joins Tom Finnigan and Jason Murrell to unpack what it takes to lead cyber security at the intersection of AI, mining, and innovation at scale.
She shares her unconventional journey to becoming CISO, her early adoption of AI inside security operations, and how Fortescue is using emerging tech to drive both resilience and cost-efficiency across its global footprint.
Vannessa opens up about leadership in high-pressure environments, the importance of psychological safety, and how tools like LEGO Serious Play help her team think more clearly, connect more deeply, and solve more complex problems, faster.
🔑 Key Takeaways
AI is already cutting incident response time, but trust and governance are still catching up.
The CISO role is evolving fast, especially in industrial environments like mining.
LEGO Serious Play helps break down silos and unlock team creativity.
Psychological safety is the foundation for innovation.
Great leadership often means asking better questions, not having all the answers.
The future of work is fluid: “Work doesn’t always happen at work.”
Creativity looks like frustration, but it’s where the breakthroughs are born.
AI isn’t a silver bullet—but it’s becoming as essential as electricity.
Insider threats and deepfakes are rising, but the real risk is misalignment with people.
đź—Ł Soundbites
“I stumbled across LEGO series play. It democratised the meeting.”
“Work doesn’t always happen at work.”
“AI is like electricity.”
“Creativity looks like frustration.”
“Psychological safety lets people speak their truth.”
“AI probably won’t replace your role, but someone using AI might.”
⏱ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Mining, AI and Cyber security at Scale
02:55 – Vannessa’s Journey to CISO
06:04 – Using AI to Accelerate Incident Response
09:02 – Fortescue’s AI Strategy
12:04 – What AI Means for Cyber Leadership
14:54 – Redefining the CISO Role in 2025
18:03 – Psychology, Team Dynamics and Safety
20:56 – LEGO Serious Play in Cyber security Teams
24:04 – Creativity, Frustration and Flow State
27:03 – AI, Risk and Real-World Challenges
30:01 – The Future of Work and Human-AI Partnership
34:19 – Insider Risk, Deepfakes and Data Governance
40:00 – Final Reflections: Resilience and Adaptation
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.