Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School alumni reunite for joint dialogue in Singapore

At the 10th Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW 2025), the e-Governance Academy (eGA) and Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA) co-hosted an interactive, scenario-based dialogue that put cyber diplomacy to the test.

Dialogue with International Cyber Fellows: Navigating Critical Dependencies in the Digital Age brought together 75 participants from the Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School and the United Nations–Singapore Cyber Fellowship, along with heads of delegations and representatives of international organisations attending SICW. It was co-organised by the European Commission (DG INTPA), the e-Governance Academy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).

A realistic crisis with diplomatic pressure

Facilitated by Dr Camino Kavanagh, Visiting Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and Mr Ang Leong Boon, Programme Co-Director of the UN–Singapore Cyber Fellowship and Head of IT Security at the National University of Singapore, the 90-minute simulation placed participants in the middle of a fast-moving cyber crisis.

The scenario focused on a large-scale ransomware attack that disrupted a national healthcare system and quickly affected other countries through connected digital networks. As patient data was leaked and hospital systems went offline, governments had to act fast to protect people and keep public confidence.

Participants faced difficult choices: whether to talk to the attackers, how to coordinate with international partners, and how to communicate clearly while the situation was still unfolding. The exercise showed how easily global connections — from supply chains to shared digital platforms — can make one cyber incident spread wider. It also highlighted how much trust and cooperation matter when responding to crises that cross borders.

A space for shared learning

“Few experiences demonstrate the power of collaboration as clearly as this one,” said Ene Višnev, Progamme Director of the Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School. “The exercise brought cyber diplomacy to life, showing how nations and experts can work together under real pressure. Our partnership with Singapore once again proved how much can be achieved when trust, professionalism, and shared purpose come together.”

Opening remarks were delivered by Mr Artis Bertulis, EU Ambassador-Designate to Singapore; Ms Helen Popp, Estonia’s Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Diplomacy; and Mr Dan Yock Hau, Assistant Chief Executive (National Cyber Resilience) at CSA.

“In an interconnected world, no nation can ensure cybersecurity alone,” noted Helen Popp. “It’s through shared experiences like this that we turn frameworks into friendships and translate international norms into practical cooperation.”

A model for international cooperation

The Dialogue with International Cyber Fellows showed how capacity-building efforts from Europe and Asia can strengthen each other through hands-on collaboration. Estonia and Singapore, both recognised leaders in digital governance and cybersecurity, demonstrated that meaningful cooperation is built through shared practice by testing ideas, learning together, and continually improving.

As cyber threats become more complex and fast-moving, exercises like this help create a common culture of preparedness and trust. These are essential foundations for maintaining stability in today’s highly interconnected digital world.