Greg van der Gaast

Named the World’s Top 5 Most Infamous Hacker, Best-Selling Author of ‘Rethinking InfoSec’, Chief Technologist Officer at CDW & Managing Partner of Sequoia Consulting

Greg van der Gaast’s Biography:

Greg van der Gaast is an internationally recognised cyber security expert, former hacker, author and technology strategist who has spent more than two decades at the forefront of information security. Named one of the World’s Top 5 Most Notorious Hackers, Greg first gained attention for successfully breaching a nuclear weapons facility before going on to work covertly with the US Department of Defense and the FBI. His extraordinary journey from hacker to trusted security adviser has made him one of the most compelling speakers in the cyber security industry. Drawing on first-hand experiences from both sides of the security landscape, he delivers engaging presentations to audiences ranging from university students to Fortune 200 boardrooms.

Greg’s career has evolved through a series of influential leadership positions across government, academia and the private sector. Beginning as a consultant for US Government agencies in 1999, he progressed through senior security roles with Ordina, CGI and QVC before founding Method-One Consulting Services in 2007. He later established Creative Minds Consulting Group and went on to hold positions including Head of Information Security at the University of Salford, Associate CISO of the Francis North Group, and CISO & Advisor at Scoutbee. He also served as Chief Technologist of Security for CDW UK and is currently Managing Director of Sequoia Consulting, while continuing to advise organisations on cyber resilience and security strategy.

Alongside his consulting and leadership work, Greg is a respected author and thought leader. He published the best-selling book ‘Rethinking InfoSec’ in 2020, followed by ‘What We Call Security‘ in 2023. His expertise has been recognised through appearances in Wired Magazine, CNN and numerous leading technology and business conferences. He has also contributed to the Cyber Expert Group of the Cyber Resilience Centre for Greater Manchester and served as a Strategic Security Advisor to several organisations.

Today, Greg is regarded as one of the industry’s most insightful voices on cyber security, risk management and organisational resilience. Whether discussing cyber warfare, digital transformation or security leadership, Greg provides audiences with practical lessons and a unique perspective that few speakers can match.

Why Hire Greg van der Gaast?

Greg is hired as a speaker for his rare ability to explain cyber security through the lens of lived experience. Having operated as both a hacker and a trusted adviser to governments and global organisations, he offers audiences an authentic understanding of how threats emerge and how organisations can respond effectively. His presentations blend compelling personal stories with actionable security insights, making complex topics accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences. With experience speaking at major technology events and corporate conferences worldwide, Greg consistently delivers thought-provoking and memorable keynote presentations.

Greg van der Gaast‘s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Greg van der Gaast’s remarkable career:

  • 2024 – Served as Security Advisor to the Office of the CTO at CDW UK, helping shape strategic cyber security initiatives.
  • 2023 – Published the book ‘What We Call Security’, challenging traditional approaches to information security.
  • 2023 – Held the position of Chief Technologist of Security for CDW UK, advising organisations on security transformation.
  • 2021 – Became a Navigator for Bloor Research, contributing expertise on technology and cyber security trends.
  • 2021 – Appointed Strategic Security Advisor for Clearco, supporting security and risk management strategies.
  • 2020 – Published the best-selling book ‘Rethinking InfoSec’, establishing himself as a leading industry thought leader.
  • 2020 – Served as CISO & Advisor for Scoutbee, overseeing cyber security leadership and governance.
  • 2019 – Held dual leadership roles as Head of Information Security at the University of Salford and Associate CISO of the Francis North Group.
  • 1999 – Began consulting for US Government agencies following his work with the US Department of Defense and FBI on security-related operations.

“Greg had a great story to tell – it sounded like the script to a Hollywood movie. He gave the audience plenty to think about as he told his amusing tale of misspent youth to a top tech consultant. For security professionals and those who just want to look at problems from a different perspective, Greg gave us food for thought.” – Jamie, Learning Programme Manager, Ministry of Defence

“Greg is an inspirational leader. His principle of information security being a quality function across all areas of the business allows for not just risk reduction, but organisational improvement and cost savings that ultimately lead to better products and services, and happy customers. Greg doesn’t just think at the departmental level, he understands and considers every aspect of business, company culture and customer needs.” – Mike, Information Security Manager, Scoutbee

“Greg had a great grasp of the industry we operate in and extensive knowledge to share. He presented incredibly well, in a way we could all understand. For future years we would want someone a little more energetic and more high level in terms of content for an opening keynote, but for the time he had to create his presentation he did an exceptional job.” – Katherine, Senior Global Events Manager, Ingram Micro