Why Ben swapped corn kernels for Linux kernels
Chef Ben Riles used to prepare dishes, now he prepares against digital threats.
Ben Riles decided to trade his chef whites to be a white hat hacker after 15 years at some of the country’s best restaurants, including time at Melbourne’s Rockpool Bar & Grill and most recently, Society.
“I lost $1000 to a scammer many years ago, and that got me interested in online security,” said Ben. “I like science and tech and when I got scammed, I was like, OK, what is all this about? I started reading up on it and thought maybe I could get a job in this to help beat scammers.”
After carefully researching suitable courses, Ben enrolled as a vocational education and training (VET) student at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. He also took the brave step of going part-time as a chef.
Valuable workplace experience
“As Swinburne has close ties with industry, I heard about the Deloitte Cyber Academy which helps people become world-class cyber professionals, no matter where they are in their careers,” he said.
“I applied for it and lucky for me, I got it. So instead of going to university for three years and then applying for a job, I joined the Academy.” His time on the course included valuable industry-based learning with Coles Group. Coles then offered him and another Deloitte Cyber cadet a job as a Security Analyst.
“In two years, I’ve gone from having limited knowledge and skills in cyber security to now being employed and thriving in it. It’s been an amazing experience,” he said. “Cyber security's dynamic nature presents fresh challenges daily, a stark contrast to the repetitive nature of some culinary tasks.”
Though he cherishes his time in the hospitality sector and has always respected the hospitality industry and its demands, he is now enjoying the luxury of free weekends. He adds that it is heartening to see the recent positive moves the hospitality world is taking to improve the workplace.
“Cyber has put me in a great position for a good work-life balance. It’s made me more relaxed and helped me to grow as a person,” he said.
Self-worth and education
For those contemplating a similar career shift, Ben underscores the importance of thorough research. "Dive deep into information security. Familiarise yourself with the plethora of pathways, opportunities and programs on offer."
He says self-worth and dedication are instrumental. "In digital security, it's not about being a genius but finding passion and commitment. Most people already possess transferable skills suitable for a tech role; the challenge lies in recognising and utilising them."
He also emphasises his new role isn't super technical. “Tech doesn’t have to be techie. It's been about my analytical and interpersonal skills that have softened the blow of a late-career change!”
Deloitte Cyber Academy
The Cyber Academy is an exciting, inclusive, one-of-a-kind program co-designed by industry, education, and government to fast-track students into a career in the cyber industry and boost Australia's sovereign cyber capabilities. We are looking for students and employers looking to be part of this exciting initiative.