About us

Established in 2021, PrivSec Consulting is committed to helping organisations do what they do best in the most secure manner possible. PrivSec aim to provide concise, accurate, and right-sized cyber security and privacy advice to New Zealand organisations.

Who are We?

We differentiate ourselves from the pack by our focus on working with you to meet your needs and ensuring our services are tailored to deliver the right security outcome for your business.

Our consultants hold qualifications such as CISSP, CCSP, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CCSK, PCIP, OSWE, OSEP, CA and OSCP.

PrivSec Consulting are Approved Suppliers within the AoG Consultancy and Professional Services Marketplace panel for the for the following services:

•  Information Security Risk Management and Assessment
• Information Security Governance and Strategy
• Information Security Assurance
• Source Code, Application Review and Technical Testing

Our Principles

We are here to help you. Our key principles include:

• Pragmatism - If there is an easier way to get to an outcome we will suggest that.
• Simplicity - We want you to understand the work we are doing. We keep away from technical jargon in our deliverables when it doesn't need to be there, to make your life easier.
• Honesty - We call a spade a spade. If there are issues you need to be aware of, we will highlight these to you as soon as possible.
  
• Being the Experts - We are easily approachable, eager to share knowledge, and up skill regularly to ensure we are at the forefront of our field.
  

Our Team

Peter Jakowetz
Managing Director and Principal Consultant

With experience in risk, audit, privacy and technical testing, Peter brings professionalism and pragmatism to all engagements, with an in depth technical knowledge. Peter demonstrates experience in a wide range of technologies and systems and has worked in both government and commercial organisations through New Zealand in a range of roles.
Before starting a new adventure with PrivSec, he was involved in building and managing a security function within a large NZ Government agency. Prior to this he worked as a principal security consultant providing assistance to a large number of Government agencies and private organisations.
During this time he had a particular focus on assisting organisations to meet All of Government security requirements for services including IaaS and TaaS.
He has also held roles as a penetration tester and security architect, rounding out his skill set.

Aleisha Hoult
Consultant

With her experience in Governance, Risk and Compliance in the NZ Banking industry, Aleisha is one of PrivSec’s key resources to perform risk assessments and assist our clients on their cyber security assurance journey.
In the past she has been involved with contract negotiations, providing security specialist advice, onsite assessments, team coordination, intern mentoring, alongside managing a function independently.
She is currently undertaking a ISC2 Certification and is continuously looking to increase her knowledge. She enjoys traveling (albeit limited), sports, cooking and anything animals outside of the job.

Julius Staufenberg
Consultant

Having graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Computer Science, Julius is now specialising in Cyber Security. He has a large interest in technology and enjoys the challenge of the fast paced Cyber Security environment. Through his passion for IT, Julius is always looking to extend his knowledge and apply his skillset to provide quality results. He holds an ISC2 CC certification.
In his spare time he enjoys getting out into the outdoors, keeping fit, and learning new skills.

Yannick Devos
Principal Consultant & Practice Lead

While his academic background was initially in telecommunications, Yannick quickly shifted to network security and then information security, being part of the core team at the first information security dedicated consultancy in France in 2002. Over the last seven years, Yannick held a variety of roles in New Zealand Government agencies and security consultancies, focusing on risk management, assurance and security governance. His most recent position in the Government Chief Digital Officer’s security team allowed him to demonstrate a delivery mindset, ensuring the right outcomes for customers were delivered while respecting the service provider’s constraints. His key achievements being the successful implementation of security assurance processes over the Marketplace and annual audit assurance for TaaS suppliers.
When he wants to reset and refocus, Yan is either transmitting morse code with his HAM radio peers over the world, or enjoying shifting winds and tight lies on a golf course around Wellington.

Matt Haselton
Consultant

Matt has a background in accounting, having held roles in a big four, mid-tier and government departments. Transitioning from being an accountant to a cyber security professional has been a longstanding interest to Matt, having a knack for numbers and a passion for technology.
He brings a unique perspective to the table; his financial background gives him a strong eye for detail and a deep understanding of protecting sensitive data.
Matt holds a degree from the University of Otago and completed his Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA). He is also a Charted Accountant.
Matt enjoys being active, from the gym to CrossFit and enjoying new adventures.

Georgia Stewart
Admin Assistant

As the administrative assistant at PrivSec, Georgia ensures the smooth running of day to day operations. In this role, she not only contributes her administrative skills but also seizes the opportunity to delve into the world of information security, gaining valuable insights from our team of experts along the way.
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys getting outside, traveling to new locations, hitting the gym, and time at the beach.

Matt Dekker
Senior Consultant

Matt is a security consultant with a background in penetration testing, code review, host and configuration reviews. Prior to his time working as a consultant he worked as a software developer which has shaped his focus on application and mobile security. Matt has a Masters in Cyber Security, and also holds OSCP, OSEP and OSWE certifications.

Kent Wolstenholme
Consultant

After completing two years at Victoria University working towards his BE in Cyber Security, Kent has joined the team to gain some real-world work experience. He is passionate about the industry and is looking forward to new experiences. By thinking out of the box, Kent has proven to be a real asset in all the engagements he has been involved in.
Outside of work, he spends his time building, tuning and racing cars and motorcycles.

Leo Oliver
Consultant

Leo has a Masters in Cyber Security and a Bachelor in Computer Science. He is driven to leave the world a better place and hopes to do that while pursuing his passion for Cyber Security. Leo is fascinated by technology, and enjoys continuously learning how different technologies work in depth. His focus is in offensive security, a field that allows him to exercise his creative problem solving skills and allows him to consistently learn and grow. He is currently pursuing the OSCP certification.
Leo is a keen surfer and in his spare time you can either find him in the surf, out travelling and exploring nature, or at home working on electronic music.

Sponsorships and Events

PrivSec proudly support a number of security events throughout New Zealand. We have recently sponsored:

• Canterbury Hacker Camp
• Kawaiicon 2022

We welcome expressions of interest from organisers of security events that aim to uplift New Zealand’s maturity in privacy and cyber security.