UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / December 30, 2025 / A Bexley security researcher has been granted Australia’s exclusive 858 National Innovation visa after hacking a live system operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) during the application review period. With no obvious route for someone in his field to show the calibre of excellence required for the visa, Jacob Riggs provided evidence the only way cybersecurity truly allows - by identifying and reporting a critical weakness, giving the government a concrete image of his contribution to security.

The 858 visa, formerly known as the Global Talent visa, is granted to fewer than 1% of applicants worldwide. It’s invitation-only and requires applicants to show internationally recognised achievement - the kind usually associated with Nobel Prize winners, Olympic medallists, or leading researchers. The assessment process is rigorous, and for cybersecurity professionals, meeting that standard can be difficult without traditional accolades to draw on.

Riggs, who notes that cybersecurity has no tangible equivalent to an Olympic gold medal, faced the challenge of trying to prove years of research, self-directed study, hands-on leadership, entrepreneurial projects, and public-interest contributions, all without a formal ‘trophy’ to point to.

He strengthened his submission by offering real-time proof of what he brings to the field, responsibly identifying and reporting a major issue within a government system. The discovery underscored both his capability and his dedication to helping bolster Australia’s cyber defences.

“In cybersecurity, mastery is invisible unless you can show its impact,” said Riggs. “If the 858 asks for anything, it’s evidence that your efforts to master yourself have meant something. For me, that meant demonstrating the value of my work in a way the system could actually recognise: by helping protect the nation assessing my application.”

Rigg’s ethical hacking takes place at a time when cyber threats are accelerating across Australia, with both government agencies and private organisations under increasing pressure to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. Riggs has now been formally acknowledged by DFAT for his discovery, with his name added to the department’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program honour roll.

Now holding full residency rights, Riggs is preparing to move to Sydney on a full-time basis to continue the mix of research, leadership, and public-interest cybersecurity work that shaped his application; work he hopes will play an important role in strengthening Australia’s ability to respond to digital threats.

For more information, visit jacobriggs.io