What's your job about?
As a Cybersecurity consultant at KPMG, I help clients to understand what the most critical part of their business is and how to best secure it from risks. The internet has led to vast expansion for us as a human race, with limitless amounts of information at our fingertips. Giving us the ability to learn anything and everything, unfortunately not everyone uses this information for good, hence why we need cybersecurity people. As a consultant, my work can vary from day to day as we work with a range of clients across the private and public sectors. My specialisation is cyber defence, I enjoy the challenge of learning about a new business and implementing controls to combat hackers.
What's your background?
I was born in Invercargill, a small town at the bottom of the Te Ika a Maui, but I and my whānau moved to Tamaki when I was 5 and I have been here ever since. After tearing the ligaments in my wrist playing rugby and not being able to work for nine months, I had to think about my life and what I wanted out of it. After decisions with my whānau, I decided to head to AUT to complete my BCIS Majoring in Networks and Cybersecurity.
In my final semester of uni, I attend a Kiwa Mentoring information session. Kiwa mentoring is a three-month course run by KPMG to assist Māori and PI students to bridge the gap between the university and the corporate environment. With the tautoko (support) of my mentor Carlos Talataina I applied for a role and was accepted into the graduate program for 2022.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Cybersecurity is a vast and ever-evolving field, to work in this field you have to be willing to keep learning, personal study and on-the-job learning. I believe anyone could join this field. I start my BCIS without ever owning a laptop. I came into study at 21 after various trades, my previous roles had a wide range of transferable skills that I utilize every day. From taking extra time to understand the client, time management and an understanding of different risks. I would encourage anyone interested in the field to give it a go.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
What I love most about my job is the opportunity to learn and grow every day, and I get to work alongside incredible people from all around the world. There isn’t a day or situation that is the same and I find it challenging and exciting.
I am grateful and honoured to be a part of the Kiwa network here at KPMG. The network is comprised of Māori and PI staff from around the organisation. Kiwa has provided me with the opportunity to reconnect with my Māori and continue to develop my skills within Te Ao Māori.
What are the limitations of your job?
The biggest challenge to our field is people. The opportunity is to help people understand the risks and help reshape organisations to understand that it is a matter of when, rather than if they have a breach/attack. Assisting organisations to remove the blame and fear of incidents will allow us as cybersecurity personnel to solve issues quicker and save the company money.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...