Summary
AI Libby
Robert Abela grew up on the small Mediterranean island of Malta, leaving at 24 in 2005 driven by a lifelong urge to explore beyond an island he’d already fully hiked and explored by 18. His journey took him through Cyprus, where he reconnected with his now-wife Charlene after a chance encounter years after their first meeting, then to Malta again for the birth of their first child, followed by six years in Scotland (where their second child was born) before Brexit pushed the family to relocate to the Netherlands, settling in the small village of Wijchen – notably just doors down from Yoast SEO founder Joost de Valk. Their third child was born at home on their sofa, a common practice in the Netherlands.
A self-described dropout from an electronics engineering program, Robert found his way into IT and eventually WordPress security work almost by accident, starting with a failed SaaS security product in 2011 before pivoting to freelance work cleaning hacked websites, which led to the creation of the WP Activity Log plugin. That plugin grew into Melapress (formerly WP White Security), now an eight-person company known for tools like WP Activity Log and WP2FA, which monitor site activity and add two-factor authentication security.
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Robert speaks candidly about the tough market conditions facing WordPress plugin businesses amid AI disruption, noting that new sales slowed industry-wide starting last year, though Melapress has stabilized thanks to subscription revenue and renewed growth in its 2FA product. He credits informal mentoring from figures like Marieke van de Rakt, Joost de Valk, and Matt Cromwell for helping steer the business through the rough patch.
Outside of work, Robert is an avid outdoorsman with a history of go-kart racing, kayaking, and scuba diving in Malta, trail running and mountain biking in Scotland, and now bikepacking and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the Netherlands. He’s multilingual, fluently speaking Maltese, English, Italian, and Dutch (the latter learned in his late 30s), and reflects that his ability to adapt across countries, cultures, and social classes is his defining superpower.
The episode wraps with Robert discussing his upcoming trip to WordCamp US in Phoenix, where he’ll speak on session hijacking security, followed by a visit to an old colleague in Las Vegas. He recommends Milana Cap, Matt Cromwell, and Francisco Torres as future guests for the show.
What’s Robert Up To? Find Out At The WP World.