Silvio is the first consultant recruited by the SQUAD Australia subsidiary. With 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, he has contributed to major transformation projects on behalf of the Australian federal government and for industries in Australia and abroad. Interview with a cyber expert Down Under, who has been living in Australia for many years.
Can you please introduce yourself in a few words? What led you to become an IT security specialist?
I am an IT Security specialist with over 30 years of experience in the IT industry. I have always enjoyed solving complex logical puzzles and challenges, and I find IT security to be one of the biggest puzzles in my life—a puzzle that requires knowledge of so many different fields.
How long have you been living in Adelaide? In Australia? Been working in IT?
I have been living in Adelaide since June 2004 after skilled immigration from Europe. I have been in the IT industry since 1987 when I started as an Oracle V developer. I realized quite soon that the challenges and diversity I was after came from the security field, initially in physical security and then IT security.
In my early career, I felt like a black panther at times – the same as the others but slightly different with my insatiable appetite for learning and understanding how all the pieces of the IT puzzle fit together.
How did you meet Squad? Why did you join Squad Australia? What is the scope and framework of your position?
While working at NGA, I’d established good relationships with Squad people even before I knew they were Squad members.
I’m really excited with the challenge that joining Squad has given me, and that is to be one of the first to establish foundations and see Squad presence grow in Australia.
My position with Squad is Chief Information Security Officer, currently out-posted to secure the design and building of the first Australian-French submarines.
What is your favorite animal? Why?
My favorite animal is a black panther, which is a melanistic color variant of any Panthera, particularly the leopard and the jaguar.
It is believed that melanism gives a selective advantage – it is more common in dense forests where light levels are lower, thus helping the animal to ‘camouflage’ itself.
In my early career, I felt like a black panther at times – the same as the others but slightly different with my insatiable appetite for learning and understanding how all the pieces of the IT puzzle fit together.
You have met and worked with a few "Squadians." How would you describe the "Squad spirit" so far?
I have met and communicated with a few Squadians so far, and I found them all to be helpful, friendly, eager to learn, and willing to share their knowledge. I am currently helping one of them with his English skills, while he is helping me with my French.
At SQUAD, we are always recruiting IT experts. What could you say to a young student to convince them to pursue a career in cybersecurity?
If you are looking for a challenging, exciting, and ever-changing job whose demand will keep increasing in the job market, then Cybersecurity is for you!
What is your vision of the future of Security?
In the future, I would love to see cybersecurity taught in elementary schools so that younger generations grow up with good security habits and awareness. Then, they can teach their parents and families what they should have done to protect themselves :)
… [Feel free to add more questions or ideas if you want].
I enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle—cycling, scooting, dancing, parkour, healthy food, and spending every free minute playing with my two kids.
My 7-year-old daughter describes me in a few words: “Daddy! You are the silliest daddy in the whole world and you will NEVER grow up!”
