Learning by building, testing, and breaking things in virtual labs.
Kia ora! I'm Alex Gavin. I'm a penultimate-year student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) studying Networks & Cybersecurity, with minors in Artificial Intelligence and Management & Leadership. Aspiring towards cybersecurity analysis and penetration testing.
Driven by curiosity, practical labs, and real teamwork.
I don't claim to be an enterprise cybersecurity director with 20 years in the trenches. I am an enthusiastic, hands-on penultimate student who genuinely loves figuring out how systems communicate, why networks fail, and how attackers exploit misconfigurations.
My weekends often involve configuring switch topologies in Cisco Packet Tracer, troubleshooting VMs in VirtualBox and UTM, writing Python and Google Apps Script bots to automate repetitive admin chores, or attending industry events like OWASP® New Zealand Day 2026.
Beyond the keyboard, I serve as an Officer Cadet in the New Zealand Cadet Forces (previously Warrant Officer and Flight Commander). That journey has taught me calm communication under pressure, youth mentorship, and disciplined logistical planning.
Networking & Lab Topologies
Configuring VLANs, trunking, STP, subnets, and routing protocols. Digging into Packet Tracer and Wireshark traces to see packets move.
Cybersecurity & Pen Testing
Exploring access control, Active Directory fundamentals in Windows Server VMs, port enumeration, threat mitigation, and web application security.
Applied AI & Automation
Writing Google Apps Script and Python pipelines to automate tedious workflows, integrating LLM REST APIs, and training scikit-learn models.
Leadership & Cadets
Mentoring youth in aviation & survival skills, coordinating weekly parade nights, and managing inventory for 120+ squadron personnel.
Undergraduate Study at AUT
Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (BCIS) • Feb 2025 – Nov 2027
Networks & Cybersecurity
In-depth coursework in network protocols (OSI & TCP/IP), network routing & switching, information security principles, threat analysis, cryptosystems, and Linux administration.
Artificial Intelligence
Studying foundational machine learning concepts, heuristic search, predictive regression & classification, neural networks, and modern LLM API orchestrations.
Management & Leadership
Organizational behavior, project scheduling, ethics, team dynamics, and cross-functional leadership — directly paired with practical experience in the NZ Cadet Forces.
Student Projects & Virtual Labs
Things I've built, labbed, scripted, and tested myself.
Automated Leave Management System
Designed an automated leave and personnel management system with custom HTML dropdown interfaces to streamline request processing across No. 3 Squadron ATC.
Gemini-Powered Inbox Triage & Calendar Bot
Scripted an automated Gmail triage pipeline calling Google's Gemini API to summarize announcements, detect deadlines, and propose Google Calendar events with one-click approval.
Multi-VLAN Campus Network Simulation
Designed a full three-tier simulated campus network in Cisco Packet Tracer: inter-VLAN routing (Router-on-a-Stick), Rapid STP, EtherChannel links, and DHCP snooping security.
Virtual Active Directory & Security Lab
Configured a private virtual network running Windows Server 2022 as a Domain Controller, joined Windows 10 clients, configured Group Policy Objects (GPOs), and tested basic enumeration with Kali.
Predictive Modeling & Feature Engineering
Coursework machine learning project: data cleaning, categorical encoding, handling missing values, training Decision Trees / Random Forests, and tuning hyperparameters via cross-validation.
Custom PC Builds & Hardware Benchmarking
Assembled, tested, and optimized desktop systems from bare parts. Practical experience in thermal paste application, UEFI BIOS flashing, NVMe drive cloning, fan curve tuning, and RAM stability testing.
Skills & Applied Tools
Tools, operating systems, and languages I actively use across study and homelabs.
Life Outside The Terminal
What keeps me active, grounded, and curious when I am away from the desk.
Winter on the Slopes
Snowboarding down Mt Ruapehu (Whakapapa / Tūroa) in the winter months, and getting laps in at Snowplanet during the off-season. Love the focus and fresh mountain air.
Casual Summer Touch Rugby
When summer rolls around, playing casual touch rugby with mates and family. Great way to stay outdoors, keep active, and unwind after study.
Hardware Workbench
Assembling custom PC builds, tuning fan curves, repasting thermals, and diagnosing broken hardware or drive migrations for friends and family.
Community Volunteering
Volunteering as an Auckland Marathon course marshal and supporting RSA Poppy Day street collection appeals around Newmarket and Auckland with my cadet squadron.
Let's connect.
Whether you want to discuss student internship opportunities, share cool homelab ideas, chat about Cisco routing quirks, or collaborate on tech projects, I'd love to hear from you.