About me

I'm a British-Canadian consultant with a decade in geopolitical risk and cyber threat intelligence, now working across strategic research, market development, and advisory for clients operating internationally. This page covers how I got here and why the company carries my family's name.

Personal story

  • I was born in the UK to an English mother and Scottish father whose surnames form the name of this consultancy. They raised me with a strong moral education, and I planned to work in criminal and human rights law. I did an undergraduate degree in International Relations which enabled me to study war, conflict, and security.

  • I changed my plan from doing a law conversion course, to learn more about conflict and security, taking an MA in International Security at Warwick. I then made the conscious decision to leave the UK for Canada, where I completed a second Masters in Global Governance. I wrote my thesis on how humanitarian organizations can meet their security needs in conflict zones.

  • I wanted to see research applied in practice to protect people, which led me to work in geopolitical risk and threat intelligence.

Outside of client work

I mentor emerging professionals, often do public speaking, and recently co-wrote a SANS course, FOR478: Cyber Threat Intelligence Foundations. I support various NGOs working on problems that align with my principles, and am always interested in learning about programs in that space. Beyond work, I live an active life, travel constantly, and am learning Spanish.

Achievements

  • CISSP and CCSP (ISC2); Associate Protection Professional (ASIS International)

  • Board and leadership roles in industry associations including ASIS, (ISC)2 Toronto Chapter, and TIER (Threat Intelligence Exchange Roundtable); founded a mentorship program for junior analysts

  • Speaker at SANS CTI Summit and FIRST CTI Conferences; regularly on webinars and podcasts, and published in several publications including Canadian Security Magazine, Infosecurity Magazine, TI Essentials, & Help Net Security

  • Emerging Leader Award, Canadian Security Magazine; One to Watch, IFSEC Global

Professional journey

  • I started in Toronto, working in geopolitical risk and crime risk analysis in finance before moving into cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and protective intelligence in the Canadian tech sector. In September 2022, I joined the vendor side of CTI, supporting client teams globally for a US company, before shifting to a strategic role focused on Go-to-Market and partnership programs. Along the way I founded this consultancy and several property companies.

  • I founded Darby MacLellan Consulting Inc. in October 2022. It started with what I knew best, threat intelligence and geopolitical risk advisory, and has since grown into strategic research, market development, and advisory for clients operating internationally. Alongside it, a business partner and I bought and managed a multi-unit residential building, among other projects. Running real operations with my own capital shaped how I consult. I understand what it means to carry risk, not just write about it.

  • My work is international by design. While my consultancy is Canadian, I spend a large part of each year in South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. That time on the ground, across many cultures and operating environments, is central to how I work. I believe in showing up, meeting people in person, and listening. Recently, I have focused increasingly on capacity building, training, branding, Go-to-Market strategy, international trade, and new technologies, including the blockchain, tokenization, and artificial intelligence.

The services I provide

Why the name?

“Would this make my family proud?”

Darby MacLellan is my family name, and attaching it to the consultancy was a deliberate commitment to accountability.

Every engagement this company takes on carries my family's name, and this is something I keep in mind when assessing a new project.

I always ask myself: Would this make my family proud? If the answer is no, I turn down the project.

Reach out

Submit an inquiry form, I will review it, and reply at the earliest opportunity.