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ALL ABOUT ME
Canberra: 1987.
I’m a freckled-face kid with a killer rats-tail.
In the same weekend that I get my first magic trick, I lose my pocket money on a crooked balloon-popping game at the Royal Canberra Show.
The darts weren’t sharp, and neither was I.
All I could think was, How the hell did that happen?
“WITTY, CLEVER AND COMICAL”
– HERALD SUN
“UNDENIABLE WIT
AND HUMOUR”
– THE PLUSONES
Thirty-odd years later, I’m a magician, author and speaker dedicated to answering the same question that bewildered me as a seven-year-old:
Why do people get fooled?
We’ve all been taken for a ride. But why does it happen? And what can we do about it?
My journey into deception has taken me from the academic (BA Sociology) to the criminal (spending a year chasing street-swindlers throughout Europe).
I’ve learned sleight of hand from the best card cheats in the business. I’ve picked up social engineering tips from hackers. I’ve stolen (and returned) watches alongside the finest pickpockets.
I’ve also interviewed victims of con artists and those trying to bring swindlers to justice.
“BOTH ENTERTAINING
AND INSIGHTFUL”
– THE AGE
“A LIKEABLE ROGUE”
– THE AGE
Many organisations have invited me to speak at their events, including ACCC, ANZ, Bank of Melbourne, Clayton Utz, AusCERT, Microsoft, Commonwealth Bank, Canon, Coca Cola, RACV, Consumer Action Law Centre, and the Financial & Consumer Rights Council.
I’ve entertained at their parties and educated their staff with both shows and roving entertainment.
I’ve collaborated on education projects with researchers at Monash University, RMIT, Swinburne University, CSIRO, RiAUS, Royal Society of Australia and the Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function.
I’ve presented at thousands of high schools around the world with my three shows for secondary students: SWAY, The Bad Science Show and Deceptology.
“WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SCIENCE COULD BE FUNNY LET ALONE HILARIOUS?”
– HERALD SUN
“A DAMN GOOD COMEDIAN”
– HERALD SUN-
I’ve performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Science Festival, Melbourne Magic Festival and Adelaide Fringe.
As a comedian, I won the state finals of Raw Comedy, received the Moosehead Award and was nominated for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Golden Gibbo award.
As a magician, I won both Best Comedy and the Candlelight Productions Award for Artistic Excellence at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
I’ve written three novels on deception. Chasing the Ace and Fast and Loose explore the world of the professional con artist. In 2014, I was nominated for the Ned Kelly Award for First Fiction.
My new book, Tricky Nick, is a 93.7 per cent true story of my childhood learning magic and solving mysteries.
Not bad for a guy; who doesn’t know how to use semicolons correctly.
