Navigating Career Transitions in Cyber - CyberShift

Jim Boekel is a highly accomplished leader and cyber security professional with over two decades of experience spanning Government, Defence, and Industry. His journey in the field began in 2001, and in 2019 he co-founded Bluerydge, a successful and award-winning cyber security and technology company that has grown through looking after its people and delivering high-quality outcomes to its clients.

As the CEO of Bluerydge, Jim has exhibited exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Under his guidance, the company has earned prestigious accolades, including the 'Prime Minister's National Veterans’ Employment Employer of the Year', 'Australian Small Business Champion' and recognition as a finalists in the ‘Telstra Business Awards’, ‘Australian Cyber Security Awards’ and 'Australian Defence Industry Awards’.

With a military background that saw him serve for over 15 years in the Australian Defence Force, Jim remains an active contributor to the veteran community, drawing upon his extensive Defence and industry expertise. He sits as a Committee Member of the Veterans Employment Program Industry Advisory Committee.Before co-founding Bluerydge.

Jim held various management, cyber security and IT roles, including Cyber Security Lead for Lockheed Martin Australia. His extensive skill set encompasses executive leadership, cyber security, governance, risk management and technology.

Belinda Paterson is a cyber security professional at Bluerydge with 7 years of consulting experience across Government, Defence and the Higher Education sectors. She has an eclectic background with her journey into the cyber security field the result of an unexpected, but fortunate, opportunity. 

As an avid supporter of continuous education both in herself and others, Belinda acknowledges the role that curiosity and learning plays in the improvement of outcomes both for her clients and for her teams. She continues to seek opportunities to learn, with her Masters of Cyber Security completed in 2022, CISM and CISSP qualifications obtained and the next opportunity currently being sought. Education is not just for the individual and Belinda seeks to share her experience and knowledge with those around her, offering up mentorship and learning opportunities to those she works with.

Belinda takes pride in applying her cyber security knowledge and experience when working with clients, with a focus on delivering excellence and acting with integrity. Her ‘soft’ skills and professional approach focuses on collaboration and team building, effective communication, creativity and problem solving to deliver high-paced projects and critical outcomes for her clients. 
 

Charlie Hutchins is an accomplished leader with a diverse portfolio of expertise encompassing law enforcement, Defence, and cybersecurity. Boasting over two decades of operational leadership in Policing, Charlie concluded his career with the New South Wales Police Force as a District Inspector at the Monaro Police District in 2022.

In 2023, Charlie made a strategic career transition to the technology sector, joining Bluerydge as a Cyber Security Consultant. Leveraging his extensive background in governance and security, Charlie now focuses on delivering state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions for the Department of Defence.

Before his tenure at Bluerydge, Charlie led emergency management activities during critical events such as the 2019/2020 Bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been a member of the Australian Army Reserve for over 15 years. His eclectic experience makes him particularly adept at multidisciplinary risk assessment and mitigation.

A staunch advocate for continuous education, Charlie has earned multiple graduate and post-graduate qualifications. He is currently concluding a Master of Cybersecurity (Operations) at UNSW Canberra, which is complemented by several cybersecurity certifications, including CISSP and CISM.

Moreover, Charlie is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity talent. He serves as a mentor in the Australian Defence Force's Cyber Gap Program and is actively involved with Purple Team Australia. Additionally, Charlie frequently shares insights and advice on LinkedIn, and extends his mentorship to guide first responders in their career transition to IT and cybersecurity.Not merely a technician in his domain, Charlie also embodies essential soft skills such as teamwork and effective communication. These attributes are developed in all first responders and are invaluable for fostering cross-departmental collaboration and ensuring the timely and efficient completion of high-stakes projects.