Meet Jack Misiura - Application Security Manager at The Missing Link
At The Missing Link, our people are what set us apart. Their expertise, curiosity, and commitment to continuous improvement underpin the outcomes we deliver for our clients every day. But technical capability is only part of the story.
Through this series, we spotlight the individuals behind the work, exploring the experiences, passions, and perspectives that shape how they approach their roles.
For Jack Misiura, technology has always been more than a career. From pulling apart gadgets as a kid to developing software and uncovering security vulnerabilities, he's always been driven by a desire to understand how things work.
That curiosity eventually led him into application security, where he combined his love of problem-solving with a passion for helping organisations build more secure applications. Today, Jack leads The Missing Link's Application Security team, working alongside some of Australia's brightest security minds while helping clients stay ahead of emerging threats.
Let's take five minutes to get to know him better.
So, Jack, tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you grow up, and
what were your interests as a kid?
I came to Australia from Poland as a young child. My mother's family was already living here, which is a story in itself. I've always been interested in computers and anything technology-related. As a little kid, I had a real passion for figuring out how everything worked, which usually meant breaking things to get inside them. Sometimes cheap things, sometimes expensive things.
What was your dream job growing up? What was your first paid job?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a game developer. I saw it as the ultimate way of expressing creativity. My first job was actually in tech support before I finished my studies. Everyone else was getting jobs at McDonald's, but I wanted something different. I figured it was a good way to work with computers and gain some experience along the way.
What's your career progression been like?
While finishing my studies, I started working as a software developer. This slowly progressed to becoming a senior software engineer, building some very complex software and trying to stay on top of the latest industry trends.
Interestingly, I always had a knack for security. I loved being able to solve a puzzle by understanding how a system worked and how it could be exploited. This is what led me to try my hand at application security and earn my first official certification (OSWE).
After that, The Missing Link approached me and offered me a position here. I got to work alongside some of the most brilliant consultants, building out my own skill set even further and helping to build and shape the Application Security team that I now lead.
What are some of your biggest personal or professional achievements?
I've developed and published a few computer games in the past, and I've also had several zero-day discoveries published. However, my biggest personal achievement has been the Power BI research I conducted, which led to Microsoft issuing a CVE and fixing the problem.
It took months of research, driven purely by a desire to prove to myself that I could do it.
What led you to join The Missing Link?
I was approached by a recruiter, Andreas, before he joined The Missing Link. He gave me a quick introduction and described the company. I ended up looking at the people working here and some of the technical articles the team had published. To be honest, I was blown away, so I let Andreas know I was interested.
My interview was with Sam Marshall, which hilariously ended up with us arguing about cross-site scripting attacks (in an awesome way), followed by an interview with our own John Jurkov and the extremely talented Elad Shamir.
I have to say that was THE BEST interview I've ever had. From showing me they were absolute experts in the field to giving me a glimpse of the amazing culture, I knew right then and there that I wanted to join. 
What is your role at The Missing Link, and what do you enjoy most
about it?
I head the Application Security team. It's a wonderful blend of managing and mentoring my own team while staying active as a consultant and delivering great engagements for our clients.
The whole team has the freedom and agility to evolve our offerings and services based on what we find and what our clients need.
What I love most is that we're always trying to improve what we do, what we offer and, most importantly, ourselves. From conducting research to learning new technologies, we're always striving to stay ahead of the curve. Everyone is committed to doing the best they can, and I couldn't ask for a better team to work with.
So, to put it simply, there's no single thing I love most. It's the type of work we do, and the people I get to do it with, that make this the best job in the world.
Where do you see yourself professionally in a few years?
I want to keep doing what I'm doing. Lead my team, mentor them, pass on what I've learned, and learn from them in return.
Most importantly, I want to keep doing penetration testing, training, configuration work, and any other application security-specific engagements. I don't think I'll ever hang up my consultant hat, there's just too much to learn.
Would you consider yourself a tech enthusiast? Do you have a favourite gadget?
Yes, I absolutely LOVE anything technology-related. Honestly, I don't care what it is, as long as I can either pull it apart to see what makes it tick or just mess around with it.
I don't really have a favourite gadget, though.
If money weren't an issue, what would your dream day look like?
I'd keep doing what I'm doing now, although I'd offer my services for free to help secure applications, teach people to be more security-aware, whether they're building applications or using them, and pass on my experience to others.
There's something really amazing about finding a vulnerability and helping someone fix it or walking them through how an attacker thinks, so they can learn to find those issues themselves.
What can we usually find you doing on the weekends?
I love driving cars, going camping with my partner, and hitting the gym.
I'm a massive car enthusiast, love racing (legally, of course), and absolutely love lifting heavy weights. When I'm not at the track or in the gym, camping and 4WDing are always high on the list as well.
What are your hobbies/passions/pets?
Cars, the gym, and camping/four-wheel driving are my biggest passions. I'm a huge performance car enthusiast, and there's nothing quite like the thrill of driving around a racetrack. Four-wheel driving and camping are always an adventure, whether it's exploring somewhere new or just getting away from it all.
I also love hitting the gym and chasing a new personal best. My favourite lift is the deadlift, and I'm absolutely obsessed with it.
As for pets, I have four insane dogs: two Pomeranians (one boy and one girl) and two Chihuahuas (again, one boy and one girl). They have an incredible talent for barking at the most inappropriate times.
What's the best thing about living in your city?
One of the best things about living in Brisbane is that there's always something happening. If you don't have any plans for the weekend but want to do something fun, there's a massive foodie destination called Eat Street Northshore.
As the name suggests, it's packed with food stalls serving everything from savoury dishes to sweet treats. It's a great place to spend an evening with friends or family.
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