Hey, I’m Francois
From the kelp forests of Cape Town to the digital frontlines of financial crime — my path to cybersecurity has been anything but conventional. Today, I work at an e-money institution tackling FinCrime, but the journey here has shaped exactly why OSINT and threat intelligence feel like home.
A Varied Journey
Roots in the Ocean
I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, where the cold Atlantic waters and towering kelp forests sparked a lifelong fascination with the natural world. Surfing those waters as a kid, I developed an appreciation for ecosystems that would later define a significant chapter of my life.
Building Câr-y-Môr
In 2019, I co-founded Câr-y-Môr — Wales’ first community-owned regenerative ocean farm, cultivating seaweed and shellfish. What started as a vision became a movement. Over four years, I led the digital marketing efforts that helped grow our community and raise awareness about regenerative ocean farming.
One of the proudest moments was partnering with Patagonia on their campaign to stop bottom trawling in the UK — combining environmental advocacy with compelling digital storytelling.
Crowdfunding & Digital Marketing
My time at Crowdfunder UK — first as Head of Prize Draw Fundraising, then as Affiliate Account Manager — taught me how to tell stories that move people to action. Combined with my background in web development and SEO, I learned to blend technical skills with human connection.
From FinCrime to Cybersecurity
Today, I work at an e-money institution where I deal with financial crime — investigating suspicious activity, identifying patterns of fraud, and protecting people from those who would exploit them. It’s investigative work that requires patience, attention to detail, and connecting dots that others might miss.
This is exactly what drew me to OSINT and cybersecurity. The puzzle-solving. The investigation. The satisfaction of piecing together fragments of information to reveal the bigger picture.
What I’m Learning
I’m building a solid foundation while pursuing areas that genuinely excite me:
Certifications in Progress:
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Network+
Focus Areas:
- OSINT & Threat Intelligence — My primary interest. The investigative nature fits perfectly with my FinCrime background
- Penetration Testing — Understanding offensive techniques to build better defences
Hands-On Practice:
- Working through TryHackMe learning paths
- Practising on OverTheWire war games
- Documenting Bellingcat OSINT challenges
Why It All Connects
Looking back, every chapter makes sense:
- Marine conservation taught me to see systems and interconnections
- Community building taught me to tell stories and rally people
- Digital marketing gave me technical skills and an analytical mindset
- FinCrime sharpened my investigative instincts
Now, cybersecurity — and OSINT in particular — brings it all together. It’s investigation with purpose. Pattern recognition with impact. Puzzle-solving that protects people.
This Site
This portfolio serves as:
- A learning journal — Documenting what I learn and how I learn it
- A project showcase — Write-ups from OSINT challenges, labs, and CTFs
- A resource for others — Helping fellow career transitioners on similar paths
Let’s Connect
I’m always interested in connecting with others in the security community, whether you’re a fellow learner, a seasoned professional, or someone on their own unconventional path.