Mike worked as New Zealand’s foremost Computer Forensics specialist for 20 years. Undertaking 700+ forensic cases, he has appeared as an Expert Witness before the courts over 300 times. During this time Mike also acted as the Guest Lecturer in Computer Forensics at the University of Auckland.

Mike holds a Computer Science degree (UK) and a Masters degree in Forensic IT (New Zealand). He has extensive experience in presenting complex IT issues to non-IT audiences in an informative and entertaining manner.

Mike was head of New Zealand Police IT for the 1999 APEC world leaders meeting held in Auckland. This meeting included the attendance of US President Bill Clinton. Holding a Top-Secret security clearance, Mike’s role involved a multimillion-dollar budget for design, development and implementation of a range of IT and communications security projects for the event. It also involved extensive liaison with international Police and Intelligence Agencies from the 21 attending countries, including the CIA and US Secret Service.

He has many interesting stories to divulge from his global collaboration in the protection of 21 world leaders, including the US President. In May 2023 Mike published a fiction novel based around his experience of the APEC 1999 meeting.

1. Computer Forensics. CSI Separating Fact from Fiction
As an independent Computer Forensics specialist, Mike will demonstrate the answer with both serious and humorous examples from his caseload of over 700 investigations and 300+ court appearances as an Expert Witness.

2. Computer Forensic Cases and the Role of an Expert Witness
Giving evidence in court as an Expert Witness is a serious undertaking and not for the faint-hearted. Like IT, Expert Witness testimony has had to evolve from the early days when a mouse was a small furry creature, a Blackberry was a fruit and a megabyte was a large mouthful.

3. Protecting US President Bill Clinton on New Zealand Soil. Fact and Fiction.
When US president Bill Clinton and 20 other world leaders visited New Zealand, Mike, who held a Top-Secret security clearance, was appointed as NZ Police’s Head of IT and Communications. This talk will look at the two-year planning and execution of the event, including working with the alphabet soup of intelligence organisations around the world including SIS, GCSB, CIA, NSA and the US Secret Service.

4. The Next Human Revolution - Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing
Mike proposes that the Information Revolution is just finishing and that the AI/Quantum Computing Revolution is about to take its place. So, what are AI and Quantum Computing and how will they affect you?

5. Being Safe Online in a Digital World
Accessing your bank account and online shopping are here to stay and are safe…. if you know what you are doing! This talk takes a practical look at how you can stay safe when undertaking financial transactions online.

6. Scams, Phishing, Vishing, Malware and Ransomware. What are the Bad Guys up to?
If you don’t know what the online threats are it can be rather scary and difficult to spot them. This talk will demystify some of the online threats that affect all internet users, making it much clearer to identify who is friend or foe.

7. Executing Search Warrants - When people do not want to give you what you want!
Mike has collected digital evidence from over 50 search warrants including, ironically, two in the offices of lawyers. He will explain what search warrants are and what they are not, incorporating some of the most interesting and humorous search warrants he has undertaken.

8. New Zealand’s Largest Public Sector Fraud. Better than CSI fiction.
How did one person successfully create 123 different identities to defraud the NZ Government? Mike will give a first-hand account of the role of computer forensics in this fraud and the search warrant process at which, amongst other things, gold bars were discovered under the shower tray.

9. Bitcoin and Crypto Currency. What is it and Why has it Emerged?
What is Bitcoin? Should I buy into it and why are so many people involved in Crypto Currency going to jail?

10. Social Media – Trends, Direction and your Personal Security
Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter/X, YouTube - love them or hate them they are a part of modern life. This talk will look at the evolution of Social Media, its strengths and weaknesses, and how Governments around the world are struggling to deal with it.

Azamara Onward Presentations

8 Feb 24 Computer Forensics, CSI separating Fact From Fiction.

10 Feb 24 Being Safe Online in a Digital World.

13 Feb 24 The Next Human Revolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing.