Stephen Irwin has successfully recruited information security candidates globally, since 2001. Mr. Irwin began his information security career in 1988, as president of one for the first information security companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was the creator of the first Great Hacker Challenge in November 1988, just after the Cornell (or Morris) worm attack. He has written several published articles, has been a presenter to professional conferences and was featured on PBS on infosec issues. He continued to work in the industry until 2001, when New Ventures Planning (NVP) focused on the recruitment of highly talented candidates.

New Ventures Planning (NVP) is an executive recruiting and consultancy firm that was established in 2001. NVP recruits and provides guidance to clients and recruiting on three continents, Asia, Europe and North America.