Nick Ellsmore
Founder of two acquired cybersecurity companies. SVP at a global enterprise. Partner at Australia's largest private IT firm. Now focused on boards, acquisitions, and helping founders exit well.
Built, scaled, and sold
I've founded, built and sold two of Australia's leading cybersecurity companies — Stratsec, acquired by BAE Systems Australia in 2011, and Hivint, acquired by Trustwave in 2018, delivering investors a ~20x return in under four years.
Following the Hivint acquisition I joined Trustwave as part of the leadership team, ultimately serving as SVP, Worldwide Consulting & Professional Services — a direct report to the global CEO, managing a USD$50M P&L and a team of approximately 250 people across APAC, EMEA and the Americas. Most recently I served as Partner and Head of Cyber at Mantel Group, Australia's largest privately held IT services business, again as a direct report to the CEO.
Over 25 years I've operated at every level of the governance stack — as a founder making board and investor decisions, as a CEO navigating acquisitions, and as an SVP operating inside a large global organisation with full accountability to an executive team and board.
I bring to a board an entrepreneur's mindset, deep operational credibility, and the ability to translate cybersecurity risk into language that resonates with a commercial board — without losing the technical depth that makes that perspective valuable. In an era when cyber is one of the top three risks on most boards' agendas, that combination is critical.
Credentials & qualifications
What I bring to your board
A perspective that very few independent directors can offer — the intersection of deep technical cybersecurity knowledge and genuine executive and commercial credibility at the highest levels.
Cyber risk fluency
The ability to translate complex cybersecurity risk into commercial language that a board can act on — without losing the technical depth that makes that perspective valuable.
Operational credibility
I've run a USD$50M P&L, led teams across three continents, and reported directly to global CEOs. Board advice grounded in genuine accountability — not theory.
Founder's mindset
Having built and sold two businesses, I understand the founder's perspective at a board table — the tensions, the risk appetite, and the horizon thinking that drives long-term value creation.
Career timeline
Non-Executive Director and Advisory Board engagements for cybersecurity and technology businesses. Micro-private equity acquisition and accelerated growth. M&A advisory for founders preparing for exit.
Direct report to the CEO at Australia's largest privately held IT services business. Led the cybersecurity practice across the group.
Joined Trustwave post-acquisition and rose to SVP — a direct report to the global CEO. Managed a USD$50M P&L and a team of approximately 250 people across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
Founded and built Hivint into one of Australia's leading cybersecurity consultancies. Acquired by Trustwave in 2018, delivering investors a ~20x return in under four years.
Acquired by Trustwave, 2018Helped build Stratsec into a company with 400+ clients — including 70% of the ASX 20 and all major Federal Government agencies — with projects delivered across 20+ countries including for the United Nations and APEC. Recognised as Telstra Business of the Year (2010), AISA Employer of the Year (2012), and BRW Fast 100 (2008).
Acquired by BAE Systems Australia, 2011Board & advisory positions
In addition to formal GAICD governance training, Nick has served on boards and advisory forums across industry, government, and academia.
Career highlights by numbers
Interested in working together?
Board appointments, M&A advisory, and acquisition enquiries welcome. All discussions held in strict confidence.
Get in Touch