Melbourne, Australia – 22 July 2025 Slipstream Cyber, a specialised provider of 24/7 cyber defence and advisory services, today announced two key leadership appointments. The new hires strengthen the company’s capabilities and position it to support expanding its customer base amid increasing demand for expert cyber security services.

David Kaplan has been appointed General Manager – Cyber Security, responsible for leading the company’s Active Defence, Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR) and Consulting teams.

With over 25 years of experience in Cyber Security/IT services, and delivery, David most recently served as Principal Practice Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and previously held senior roles at Dimension Data. Based in Sydney, David has been working closely with the Slipstream team since March and has already made a significant impact across delivery and consulting functions.

Joining as Director – Cyber Security Practice, Steve Macdonald will lead Slipstream’s Commercial, Partnerships, Customer Success, and Pre-Sales teams. A highly regarded cyber industry leader, Steve brings extensive experience from Telstra, where he led the Global Managed Security Services, focus on cyber defence. He has also held customer-facing leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Check Point, Balbix, and Dimension Data. Based in Melbourne, Steve further strengthens Slipstream’s national leadership presence.

Both leaders will join Slipstream’s senior leadership team, reporting to Nick Scholefield, Interactive’s Chief Operating Officer.

“These appointments mark an important step in our growth journey,” said Scholefield. “We’re strengthening our leadership to meet the market’s increasing demand for trusted cyber partners, while positioning ourselves to deliver greater value and innovation to customers across Australia. This is a clear step forward in our Unite28 strategy, our three-year plan to make Interactive the tech company of choice in Australia for customers, partners, and top talent.”

The appointments come amid a sharp rise in data breaches across the country. In 2024 alone, more than 1,000 notifiable data breaches were reported to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), a 25 per cent increase on the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for expert guidance and proactive cyber defence.

In today’s climate, experienced leadership is essential. Strategic cyber leadership ensures Slipstream Cyber is not only keeping pace with the threat landscape, but helping customers stay ahead – translating insight into action, building resilience, and responding decisively. These appointments reinforce our commitment to lead from the front, combining human expertise with AI-driven insights to make security a business enabler, not just a defensive necessity.

“Strong leadership is critical in today’s dynamic cyber landscape,” said Scholefield. “Threats are evolving fast, and so must we. We’re investing in leaders who can cut through complexity, move at speed, and help our customers build lasting resilience.”

David Kaplan said “I’m thrilled to help drive Slipstream’s next phase of growth and ensure we remain the partner of choice for cyber resilience. As we head into FY26, I’ll be focused on leading our Active Defence, Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR), and Consulting teams at a time when proactive, expert cyber response is critical – integrating these capabilities to help customers stay ahead of threats and respond swiftly when it matters most.”

Steve MacDonald built upon this partnership focus saying, “It’s an exciting time to join Slipstream. With increasing demand for trusted, outcome-driven cyber partners, I’m focused on leading our Commercial, Partnerships, Customer Success, and Pre-Sales teams to deepen connections and deliver real, measurable value for our customers.”

Slipstream Cyber remains dedicated to strengthening its capabilities through continued investment in people, partnerships, and product innovation, responding to the evolving security needs. Operating a true 24×7, sovereign Security Operations Centre, we deliver services to customers across Australia.

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About Slipstream Cyber

Founded in 2017, Slipstream Cyber is a specialist firm providing comprehensive, 24/7 cyber defence solutions. Its services include an Australian-based Security Operations Centre (SOC), managed detection and response, and penetration testing.

Founded by a former industry Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), our mission is to build a business to meet the needs of other CISOs. Our core principles are robust process, investment in people, enablement with world-class technology, and a focus on flexibility.

Slipstream Cyber is a business of Interactive which allows us to offer multi-disciplinary perspectives on the challenge our customers face.

Operating a true 24×7, sovereign Security Operations Centre, we deliver services to customers across Australia and internationally.

To find out more visit: slipstreamcyber.com