Meet Bastien Treptel
Bastien Treptel is a former black-hat hacker turned trusted cybersecurity leader. At just 16, he infiltrated one of Australia’s largest banks. Today, he is one of the country’s most sought-after experts on how businesses can protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated digital threats. As founder of CTRL: Cyber, a company valued at over $100 million and acquired in 2021, Bastien has advised leading enterprises on securing their systems from internal and external attack. His new venture, Ironclad ID, addresses the fastest-growing threat in cybercrime: social engineering. His mission is to eliminate identity-based breaches across Australian organisations. Bastien’s keynotes are fast-paced, eye-opening and highly practical. He combines insider knowledge with compelling real-world cases to help audiences understand how hackers think, where vulnerabilities lie, and what actions leaders must take to reduce risk. He hosts CyberHacker, a podcast with more than 100,000 subscribers, and works with startups and business leaders to build a safer digital future.
My Why
"My passion for helping others grow, learn, and become educated in cybersecurity stems directly from my own journey. I've seen the digital world from both sides – as someone who exploited vulnerabilities and as someone who now builds defenses. This dual perspective has given me an acute understanding of how easily individuals and organisations can be compromised, and the devastating impact that can have.
What truly drives me is the desire to prevent others from experiencing that vulnerability. I want to demystify the 'dark arts' of cybercrime, especially with AI now amplifying these threats, and empower people with practical, actionable knowledge. It's about shifting from a reactive, fearful stance to a proactive, confident one. When I speak, I'm not just sharing information; I'm sharing a mindset, a way of thinking that can fundamentally change how people approach their digital safety. My mission with Ironclad ID, to end social engineering in Australia, is a direct extension of this. I believe that by equipping people with the insights I gained from my past, we can collectively build a more secure future, one where everyone feels empowered to protect themselves and their communities."
My Accomplishments
Building and Selling a Multi-Million Dollar Cybersecurity Firm: I co-founded CTRL: Cyber, an information security firm dedicated to protecting businesses from cyber risk. This wasn't just a business; it was a mission to safeguard organisations, and its success is a testament to the effectiveness of our proactive security methodologies.
Pioneering the Fight Against Social Engineering: My latest venture, Ironclad ID, is driven by a clear mission: to end identity-based breaches across Australian organisations by tackling social engineering, the fastest-growing cyber threat.
Educating and Empowering Thousands: As the host of the CyberHacker podcast series, with over 100,000 subscribers, I bring complex cybersecurity concepts to a wide audience, making them accessible and actionable.
Competitive Motorsport Driver: Beyond the digital realm, I'm a competitive driver in the Australian Drivers' Championship, pushing the limits in high-performance Hyper Racer X1 cars.
Fun facts
Pizza-Fueled Hacking: His early hacking exploits, which led to police involvement at age 16, were partly driven by his love for pizza. He used accessed credit card information to send $12 pizzas to his friends' houses and even his own home! Number 2 Spot in the Australian Drivers Championship Masters Series. Bastien races Hyper Racer X1 Bastien also has a love of motorbike riding.
How I can help
Empowering people and organisations to confidently navigate cyber threats through practical strategies, stronger awareness, and smarter defence
Transforming cyber risk into resilience by sharing real-world hacker insights, demystifying threats, and empowering people as the first line of defence
Empowering teams to outsmart cyber threats with hacker insights, AI awareness, and human-led defence
More from Bastien Treptel
Watch Bastien Treptel in action ↗
Bastien Treptel Speaker Reel ↗
Bastien Treptel is a former black-hat hacker turned trusted cybersecurity leader. At just 16, he infiltrated one of Australia’s largest banks. Today, he is one of the country’s most sought-after experts on how businesses can protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated digital threats. As founder of CTRL: Cyber, a company valued at over $100 million and acquired in 2021, Bastien has advised leading enterprises on securing their systems from internal and external attack. His new venture, Ironclad ID, addresses the fastest-growing threat in cybercrime: social engineering. His mission is to eliminate identity-based breaches across Australian organisations. Bastien’s keynotes are fast-paced, eye-opening and highly practical. He combines insider knowledge with compelling real-world cases to help audiences understand how hackers think, where vulnerabilities lie, and what actions leaders must take to reduce risk. He hosts CyberHacker, a podcast with more than 100,000 subscribers, and works with startups and business leaders to build a safer digital future.
How AI could change the way we go to the hospital ↗
Bastien talks all things AI on the medical front
Profile information supplied through Cuppa’s talent directory. Availability and suitability are confirmed on enquiry.