Pouya Ghotbi (He/Him)
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
Visionary cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience, specialising in cloud security, digital transformation, and enterprise risk management. Demonstrated expertise in delivering strategic security initiatives for public sector and enterprise organisations, leveraging cutting-edge cloud technologies to create innovative, scalable, and secure solutions.
Renowned for combining technical excellence with executive leadership, enabling organisations to navigate complex cloud adoption journeys while strengthening security postures and driving business agility. A collaborative approach inspires high-performing teams, strategic partnerships, and the development of future cybersecurity professionals.
Committed to making a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity world and in people's lives, with a focus on helping Australia become the most cyber secure nation globally. Pursuing senior or executive security leadership roles to lead transformative security programs that safeguard critical assets, foster resilience, and support the advancement of a secure digital future.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Security ANZ - Professional Services
Amazon Web Services
08.2022 - Current
- Acted as a strategic cloud security advisor for public sector organizations across various verticals, including Health, Education, National Security and Defence, as well as Federal, Local, and State agencies, ensuring compliance with key frameworks and enhancing cloud security postures.
- Served as Business Development Manager for the Professional Services Security practice, driving growth by identifying new opportunities, developing service offerings, and securing engagements with public sector clients.
- Guided customers through the IRAP process by leveraging deep cloud security expertise, helping them navigate requirements, prepare for audits, and implement necessary controls for certification.
- Delivered high-quality security consulting engagements, including risk assessments, cloud migration strategies, and security architecture design, aligning with regulatory and operational requirements.
- Represented AWS Professional Services and cloud security initiatives at internal and reputable industry events, participating in public speaking engagements, panel discussions, and sharing thought leadership on public sector cloud security trends.
- Contributed to public-facing assets, including writing for public blogs, creating AWS Prescriptive Guidance content, and developing open-source security tools to support cloud adoption and security best practices across the industry.
- Managed and mentored a team of security consultants, focusing on people development, practice planning, and resource management, ensuring consistent, scalable delivery of cloud security services across multiple projects.
- Spearheaded the creation of reusable assets, technical roadmaps, and proof-of-concept projects to improve cloud security postures and support client security initiatives.
- Contributed to practice management by overseeing operational efficiency, shaping internal security offerings, and aligning service delivery with evolving client needs, regulatory changes, and industry trends.
Senior Solutions Architect
CyberArk
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Client-Centric Leadership: Partnered with executives of ASX-listed organisations and other enterprises to deliver innovative identity security solutions, addressing challenges in cloud, DevSecOps, and automation.
- Pre-Sales and Strategy: Directed strategic pre-sales activities, including technical demonstrations, proof of value (PoV), and stakeholder alignment workshops, ensuring customer success and long-term partnerships.
- Industry Leadership: Established as a trusted voice in ANZ region, delivering keynote speeches, facilitating workshops, and contributing to thought leadership in identity security.
- Cross-Border Collaboration: Worked with global teams on high-stakes opportunities, open-source initiatives, and competitive analysis to enhance CyberArk’s market presence.
- Achievements: As a pre-sales technical lead at CyberArk, responsibilities included driving strategic identity security solutions across diverse industries such as BFSI, Energy, and Telecom. Expertise in cloud, DevSecOps, and automation supported the successful conversion of complex opportunities into major wins through innovative architectures and technical ingenuity. The role involved engaging with prospects, clients, channel partners, and managed service providers throughout the sales lifecycle, delivering tailored demos, workshops, and proof-of-concepts. Recognised as a public-facing representative in ANZ, contributions included presenting at APJ conferences and collaborating globally on opportunities, open-source initiatives, and training. Developed technical resources for global teams, ensuring consistent success in high-pressure scenarios.
Principal Security Consultant
Shelde
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Project Leadership: Managed high-profile security projects for top-tier organisations, including Big Four banks and major government entities, delivering on time and within budget in agile environments.
- Client Relationship Management: Built long-term relationships as a vendor-neutral trusted advisor, aligning security initiatives with business priorities.
- Operational Excellence: Contributed to 30% year-on-year growth by delivering exceptional results in cybersecurity consulting and application security.
- Team Growth and Mentorship: Supported organisational scaling from 20 to over 100 employees, mentoring junior consultants and instilling a culture of excellence.
Head of IT
Total Lubrifiants
01.2003 - 01.2009
- IT Leadership: Directed all IT operations for Total Lubrifiants, ensuring alignment of technology initiatives with business objectives and delivering measurable outcomes to support organisational growth.
- Strategic IT Planning: Developed and implemented the organisation's IT strategy, focusing on infrastructure modernisation, system scalability, and aligning IT capabilities with evolving business needs.
- Team Management: Built and led a multidisciplinary team of IT professionals, fostering a collaborative environment and mentoring team members to enhance their skills and contributions.
- Digital Transformation: Spearheaded digitalisation of critical business processes, streamlining operations, and introducing efficiency gains through innovative technological solutions.
- Vendor and Stakeholder Management: Negotiated and managed relationships with technology vendors and service providers, optimising costs while maintaining high service quality.
- Risk Management and Security: Established and maintained robust security protocols to protect sensitive business data, including developing incident response procedures and overseeing their execution during security events.
- Budget Oversight: Managed IT department's budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost-effective decision-making.
- System Implementation: Directed deployment of ERP systems, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows and minimal disruption to operations.
Senior Security Engineer
Hansen Technologies
01.2011 - 01.2015
Senior Security Consultant
IPSec
01.2015 - 01.2015
Security Engineer
e-Secure
01.2011 - 06.2011
Support Engineer
System Group
01.2000 - 01.2003
Education
M.D. - Computer Science (Networking and Security)
01.2011
Bachelor of Science - Software Engineering
01.2005
Skills
- Strategic Vision: Shaping and executing cloud security strategies aligned with business goals
- Executive Communication: Delivering impactful communication with stakeholders and in public forums
- Leadership & Mentoring: Inspiring teams and mentoring future cybersecurity professionals
- Relationship Management: Building trusted, long-term partnerships with senior stakeholders
- Cloud Security Strategy: Driving secure cloud adoption across public sector verticals
- Framework Compliance: Ensuring adherence to IRAP, ISM, and Essential Eight standards
- Risk and Compliance Consulting: Mitigating risks and navigating complex compliance processes
- Go-to-Market Strategy: Developing strategic service offerings for security practices
- Sales Lifecycle Management: Leading end-to-end sales cycles for high-value engagements
- Partner Alliances: Building and managing key strategic partnerships
- Demand Generation & Marketing: Driving campaigns to establish robust pipelines for services
- Creative Problem Solving: Delivering innovative solutions to complex security challenges
- Critical Thinking: Applying strategic analysis to achieve scalable, impactful results
- Project Management: Leading high-stakes projects with precision and effectiveness
- Value Selling & Storytelling: Communicating tailored value propositions with impact
- Public Speaking & Presentation: Representing organisations as a thought leader in forums
Leadership and Advisory
Cloud Security Expertise
Business Development and Growth
Problem Solving and Strategic Execution
Engagement and Value Communication
Academia
Extensive experience in academia includes leading the development and delivery of an accredited online master’s program in cybersecurity as Cybersecurity Program Director at St. Bonaventure University. Advanced courses such as Secure Software Design, Advanced Cybersecurity, and Cloud Security were designed, and mentorship was provided to faculty and students to support academic and professional growth. At RMIT University, responsibilities as a Sessional Lecturer and Lead Cybersecurity Mentor involved teaching networking, software engineering, and cybersecurity, contributing to curriculum development, and organising workshops to promote hands-on learning. Academic roles have consistently combined rigor with industry relevance, fostering the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and leaders.
Professional Development
- Certified Senior Speaker / AWS / Melbourne
- Presentation with Impact / 3Things / Sydney
- Advanced Speaker Training / Bart Queen / Singapore
- Sales for Techies / Carpe Diem / Melbourne
- Regular Toastmasters / Toastmasters / Melbourne
Certification
- RSA CISO Bootcamp 2024
- AWS Solutions Architect - Professional
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty
- IRAP Assessor Training
- ISACA - CISA
- AWS Solutions Architect – Associate
- GIAC Cloud Security Automation(GCSA)
- CISSP
- Cisco CCIE – R&S(written)
- Cisco CCDP
- Cisco CCNP – R&S
- MS Azure Fundamentals
- Check Point CCSE
- Check Point CCSA
- F5 BIG-IP Administrator
- FireEye FJSE
- Microsoft MCSE
- Microsoft Azure Security Technologies
Hobbies and Interests
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Yoga – Ashtanga, Bikram and Vinyasa
- Martial Arts – Brown Belt Bushidokan
- Fine Wine and Whiskey Enthusiast
Timeline
Head of Security ANZ - Professional Services - Amazon Web Services
08.2022 - Current
Senior Solutions Architect - CyberArk
01.2018 - 01.2021
Principal Security Consultant - Shelde
01.2015 - 01.2018
Senior Security Consultant - IPSec
01.2015 - 01.2015
Senior Security Engineer - Hansen Technologies
01.2011 - 01.2015
Security Engineer - e-Secure
01.2011 - 06.2011
Head of IT - Total Lubrifiants
01.2003 - 01.2009
Support Engineer - System Group
01.2000 - 01.2003
RMIT University - M.D., Computer Science (Networking and Security)
Azad University - Bachelor of Science, Software Engineering
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