Brief Biography
Michael is a seasoned professional in the field of digital forensics and cybersecurity, began his journey in Australia, where, in the mid-80s, he was recruited as the youngest investigator with the Australian Telecommunications Commission. Subsequently, he has worked as a licensed private investigator in Australia, The United States and Europe.
Michael worked with law enforcement agencies around the world, including the US Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and police from Switzerland to Australia. His expertise proved invaluable in criminal investigations, and led to convictions, particularly in identifying anonymous internet users and assisting in arrests and convictions. Michael’s work has also proven the innocence, and release from jail, of falsely accused defendants, in three separate cases.
In 2003, Michael founded Mile2.com, an IT security training company that quickly became a benchmark in the industry. Mile2’s certifications in counter-hacking and digital forensics were recognized by various organizations including the US Air Force, United Nations, Australian Defense Force Signals Directorate, and many law enforcement agencies. Under Michael’s leadership, Mile2 was awarded sole-source contracts with the US DoD and played a significant role in the training of various military and law enforcement personnel.
After selling Mile2 in 2008, Michael shifted his focus to Rexxfield, a digital forensics investigation business unit that further solidified his status as an industry leader. His experience in identifying internet users engaging in illegal online activities grew extensively during this time.
Over the years, Michael has appeared as an expert witness in civil litigation cases and as a general witness in criminal cases in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. His extensive experience in unmasking bad actors using communication technologies to commit crimes has made him an indispensable resource in the field of digital forensics and cybersecurity.
Recent Career Highlights:
2023: Secured the release and vindication of two women, in unrelated cases, who had been both falsely accused and wrongly convicted of transmitting terrorist threats by text message. Michael’s work has proved that the accusers sent the messages to themselves.
2023: Unmasked a vicious troll who had severely impacted the business, family and social life of a Harvard Law School graduate. Michael’s work helped secure a USD6.7Million civil damages award.
2021: Secured a criminal conviction and almost USD900,00 in civil damage for Billionaire Business influencer, James Watt, founder of Brewdog Beer.
2020: Solved what FBI Special Agent described as “an unsolvable case” by defeating VPN and ProtonMail obfuscation attempts by a vicious pedophile, and inadvertently uncovered an international ring of at least four offenders.
2013: Michael was engaged as a civilian agent in a foundering, multi-agency, 2-month national manhunt for a murder fugitive. He located the suspect in just 73 minutes, leading to his arrest by U.S. Marshals.
2012: Secured the release of a man, who had been held in jail for 12 days, for allegedly sending electronic death threats. As part of a sting operation, Michael was able to prove that the death threats were actually conveyed by the so-called victim in order to frame the client.
2003-2008: Designed and coordinated digital forensics and counter-hacking training for the U.S. Air Force, Marines, Army & Navy. Other clients include NATO, Australian DoD and the United Nations, to name just a few.
Consulted for private and law enforcement clients. Clients range from bullied school children, celebrities, prosecutors, CEOs and Heads-of-State.
Michael was described by one investigative journalist as: “… an absolute secret weapon for any serious reporter.”