The Investigative Mindset

Learn how investigative mindset beats box-ticking by questioning assumptions and adapting to evidence.

Event Synopsis

While it is easy to focus on following a checklist, effective investigative work depends more on a person's mindset than on the specific procedures they follow. This session explores why "ticking boxes" is often insufficient and outlines how to develop a practical investigative mindset. This talk aims to focus on the importance of maintaining a level of skepticism and being willing to adjust a strategy when the evidence contradicts an initial theory. By shifting focus toward this way of thinking, both experienced professionals and newcomers can avoid common mental traps like "expert blindness" or procedural anxiety. The goal is to move beyond finding a quick answer and instead learn how to properly verify information to reach the actual facts of a case.

Meet our Speaker: Gabriel Micallef

Gabriel Micallef is a specialised Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) professional who anchors his work in a disciplined, investigative mindset. Having managed over 100 diverse investigations, Gabriel makes use of a practical approach to uncovering digital evidence that extends beyond basic toolsets to focus on critical thinking and root-cause analysis.

He holds the GCFA (GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst) certification, reflecting a technical foundation in advanced forensics and memory analysis.

Parallel to his reactive work, Gabriel has led and executed numerous audits within the ISO 27001, NIS2, and DORA frameworks. This experience in regulatory compliance and governance provides him with a broad view of how an investigative perspective can be applied not just to incident recovery, but to building and verifying long-term organizational resilience.