Meet the Magnet Forensics Training Team: Grant Hazell

Our Training team continues to grow. In our latest “Meet the Forensic Trainer” blog, meet Grant Hazell, based on Perth, Australia!

Want a chance to learn from Grant in the classroom? Learn more about what courses are offered through our Training & Certification portal.

1. Tell us about your life before becoming a Trainer.

After a long career within military and policing environments, a move into training with Magnet Forensics was something I was hoping to achieve. I served for six years with the UK Armed Forces, before joining Suffolk Police in the UK in 2001. After seven years, I moved to the other side of the world and continued my policing career with Western Australia Police for 18 years, working in frontline response, education and digital forensics environments.

2. What made you want to be a Trainer?

I have always enjoyed classroom environments and explaining things in a way which people can understand and grasp. I thrive on helping students progress and use the material they’ve learned in a practical and meaningful way.

Being a qualified counsellor, I’m also very keen on looking after students’ emotional welfare regarding the anxiety and stress of training, especially in the face of difficult content and the sometimes difficult dynamic of training when personal life issues arise.

3. What type of training have you taken part in personally? What is your favorite part of the role?

I have previously trained police personnel in legal, law and policy matters, ensuring they were fully aware of the powers and policies which underpin the role they perform. Since being employed with Magnet Forensics, I have primarily trained students in mobile device forensics, notably the GK200 course.

4. What excites you the most about a new class?

The opportunity to travel to new places and meet new people, getting a feel for their needs both in an operational and educational perspective.

5. Do you ever learn anything from the students?

Being new to the role, I know the only way to improve is to be the classroom – responding to questions, researching, learning the manuals and making mistakes. Mistakes can be daunting as an instructor, but they are crucial to self-development and ongoing professionalism.

6. Is there a particular moment that stands out the most to you in your career in the classroom?

I recently taught my first solo GK200 class in Parramatta, NSW. The class was very diverse regarding experience and the questions were challenging. I found the entire experience very rewarding and although uncomfortable at times, crucial for my confidence.

7. What do students get out of training in person that they can’t get on their own?

Students get direct access to not only my knowledge and experience, but that of the entire organization. Teaching in person also provides a valuable ‘personal touch’ and the ability to assess all students to ensure they’re grasping concepts and haven’t been left behind.

8. How prepared do you feel students are to use Magnet Forensics products after taking the training course?

Every day, I plan on ensuring that the students can learn at least one thing they didn’t know prior to the lesson commencing. If they can understand the settings of Magnet Graykey, configure it correctly for their desired output, and prevent one device from rebooting and losing access to data, I consider that a success.

9. What is most unique about Magnet Forensics’ approach to training?

The personal touch. Not only do Magnet Forensics trainers have a wealth of professional and technical knowledge, but they’re also able to relate to students and content, using real-world examples and lived experience.

10. Why do you think certification is important to examiners?

Certification proves to the courts and other interested parties that an operator has the proficiency to use the forensic tool/methodology. It demonstrates that a student has not only attended a course but has personally invested in their own development by subjecting themselves to testing.

11. How do you manage to keep up with the latest trends in digital forensics?

Being involved in conversations with other trainers has always been one of the best sources of information. Speaking to previous law enforcement colleagues about frontline trends, ensuring our own qualifications are current and displaying an enthusiasm to learn new material is crucial to maintaining currency.

12. What trends do you see coming down the pipeline in digital forensics?

The trends will vary widely across the practice of digital forensics. The challenges of certain specialized domains such as vehicle systems and IoT analysis will continue to grow exponentially.