Born in East London and raised in the small town of Gonubie, Driaan Odendaal has come a long way—literally and professionally. After moving to Pretoria, he dove headfirst into the world of IT, kicking off his career as a Junior Desktop Engineer. With 21 years in the game, he climbed the ranks, sharpening his skills as a Systems Administrator at a defense company before stepping into the high-stakes world of Presales. Now, five years deep at Veeam, he’s on a mission to help organizations protect their most valuable asset—data!

But Driaan isn’t just about cyber resilience and disaster recovery—he’s also leveling up in life. His ultimate personal quest? Being the best dad to his incredible teenage daughter (15) and energetic son (11). When he’s not strategizing data protection, you’ll find him guiding, supporting, and occasionally negotiating with his kids like a true IT pro.

With a passion for being the go-to trusted advisor in the data protection space, Driaan is all about helping businesses build stronger cyber resilience while building an even stronger bond with his family.