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17 confirmed
Chief Innovation Officer · Mirai Security
Over the past two decades, Alex has worked within three mission-critical security operation centres (SOC), including the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics SOC, has established Vancouver’s cyber security community and in 2017 co-founded one of Western Canada’s leading cyber security consultancies. Alex is a community builder. In 2013 he established Vancouver’s cyber security community through the founding of the BSides Vancouver cybersecurity conference. In 2017, frustrated with how broken cyber security consulting had become, forged Mirai Security from within the community. Mirai Security has quickly become the centre for cyber security excellence in Western Canada by attracting cyber security professionals who want to do cyber security better. Alex is an innovator. Over the years, he has focused on balancing risk by pragmatically improving situational awareness and incident response capabilities through business-enabling security architectures. Today, Alex is the Chief Innovation Officer at Mirai Security. Mirai, Japanese for the future, focuses on the “future of cyber risk” by helping enterprises securely digitally transform through innovative governance, secure AI adoption and maturing software development practices. Alex is a thought leader. With a passion for knowledge and giving back to the community, Alex loves public speaking, teaching, contributing to cyber security books, advising higher-education, facilitating immersive tabletop experiences and now documents his experiments and learnings on Substack and Youtube.
Chair · Operation Defend the North
Ali has over 15 years of experience in developing and leading teams at various stages of the IT development lifecycle. He spearheaded the growth of Durham College’s Cybersecurity Innovation Center along with their AI and Cybersecurity labs – he led the deployment of applications and infrastructure in line with ISO 27001 and NIST frameworks and prepared processes for SOC 2 level clearances. Ali held senior roles at the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network ( ORION ) in projects related to remote connectivity, the implementation of technical training, enhancing access to critical applications and more. Leading teams of up to 65 staff members, Ali has demonstrated leadership in the cyber domain and has established a reputation province wide for his expertise and initiative. Ali is the host of various tech shows including Power Hour, a panelist for numerous forums including the CISO Forum Canada and a highly acknowledged lecturer at many institutions across Canada. As well as being a seasoned member of the Cyber community, Ali has led the deployment of tabletop exercises for the province of Ontario and is consistently invited to deliver cyber training programs across various sectors. Most recently, Ali was retained to lead the cyber training division of the Youth Employment Services and lead programming to train and enhance skillsets of learners in cyber. Along with pursuing his PhD, Ali enjoys lecturing at related courses at Seneca College, Georgian College, Toronto School of Management, University of Fredericton, and Algoma University to name a few.
Eder is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and Board member with a solid track record of success helping some of the world's largest and most complex financial institutions to improve their cybersecurity posture. He is currently the Director of Payments Security at Royal Bank of Canada. With over two decades of experience in three different continents, he served the United Nations building IT infrastructure in a war-destroyed country and worked at leading consulting companies (KPMG, PwC, EY) as a subject matter expert in cybersecurity, emerging tech risk and IT regulatory compliance with solid experience with several regulators across the globe. Eder has an extensive technical background, currently holding over 20 certifications and also serving at industry organizations, including CompTIA SME Technical Advisory Committee and Governance Committee. He also is an AI Security researcher that contributes to OWASP AI Exchange and Cloud Security Alliance projects.
Sr. Information Security Risk Advisor · CIBC
Gbemisola Collins is a cybersecurity risk professional and strategic advisor known for her leadership in enterprise risk, governance, and cyber resilience. She brings a clear, business-aligned approach to cybersecurity, drawing on a strong foundation and blend of technical cybersecurity, audit and risk to help organizations navigate complex threats and make informed decisions at the executive level. She holds industry-recognized cybersecurity certifications and has extensive experience advising on risk, controls, and regulatory alignment. Beyond her professional work, Gbemisola is passionate about developing the next generation of cybersecurity talent through mentorship and education, and has contributed to learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives within the field. Grounded in a commitment to excellence, integrity, and service, she is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity awareness and strengthening collective defense.
Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor · University of Calgary
Dr. Hadis Karimipour is the Canada Research Chair (Tier II), Director of the Smart Cyber-Physical (SCPS) Lab, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering at the University of Calgary. Dr. Karimipour’s research tackles the growing cyber threats outlined in Canada’s National Cyber Threat Assessment, stressing the urgency of strong defenses against state-sponsored attacks, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and emerging technology threats. She is a leading pioneer in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine/Deep Learning to enhance the security of critical infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), and Operational Technology (OT). Over the past seven years, her extensive body of work includes over 135 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters, with more than 7000 citations on Google Scholar, which puts her among the top 2% of globally cited researchers according to the Stanford ranking. She was named one of the Top 20 Women in Cyber Security by IT World Canada in 2021, received the IEEE Communication Society Early Achievement Award and APEGA Early Accomplishment Award in 2022, was named one of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 in 2023, and one of the Top 10 Under 40 by Canadian Security Magazine in 2024. Dr. Karimipour is deeply committed to public education and awareness, engaging in podcasts, newspaper, radio, and television interviews. She serves as an expert on various committees, including Canada’s National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure Policy Renewal Committee and the Standards Council of Canada, and is a driving force for diversity and inclusion in STEM through leadership roles such as Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering and organizer of the annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference at the University of Calgary.
As a cybersecurity executive and enterprise technology strategist, James brings two decades of experience in cybersecurity leadership, IT governance, and risk management. His expertise spans high-availability network security, enterprise architecture, and regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on higher education, SMBs, and critical infrastructure. James specializes in developing and executing cybersecurity frameworks, conducting risk assessments and audits at executive levels, and leading incident response and governance programs. His leadership extends to strategic IT planning, digital transformation, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that security aligns with business objectives while enhancing operational resilience. Beyond corporate leadership, James is deeply committed to advancing the cybersecurity industry, addressing the talent gap, and fostering collaborative knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Security Operations Engineer · PRIMECorp
With over two decades of expertise in IT and Security, Michael Buckley has held roles ranging from engineer and consultant to administrator and leader. His extensive experience spans across various sectors, including financial institutions, manufacturing, software, government agencies and Crown corporations. He advocates for a fundamentals-first strategy to secure the infrastructure that businesses and their customers rely on, while also helping organizations to be well-prepared to respond to emerging threats. Michael holds SSCP and CRISC certifications and is currently SOC Lead at Mark Anthony Group.
VP CISO · Equifax Canada
Recognized as one of the 2022 Top 20 Women in Canada, Octavia Howell has spent her career protecting some of the world’s largest financial institutions from cyber-attacks. Today, she serves as Equifax Canada’s Chief Information Security Officer and is the Founder and CEO of Augustus Redefined, an organization focused on the advancement of Black Women in Cybersecurity. Octavia believes that a security leader should mentor, motivate trust, and lead their teams to act with integrity and openness. She often says, “A team is only as strong as their leaders and each leader casts a shadow that they will be held accountable for.” Octavia received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Spelman College and holds CISSP, GISP, GCWN and GSLC GIAC certifications. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF), Women in Technology (WiT), Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys), (ISC2), ISACA, ISSA, and serves on the Board of Directors for Cyversity.
CISO & Director IMT Governance · Alberta Energy Regulator
Patrick is a visionary leader and current Director and CISO with over 15 years of experience steering enterprise-wide cybersecurity and digital governance initiatives. A “Resilience Architect” at heart, he has spent more than a decade architecting robust strategies that transform cybersecurity from a reactive function into a dynamic competitive differentiator. While his primary focus is on safeguarding enterprise assets through innovation and resilient teams, Patrick also brings deep expertise in overhauling enterprise privacy frameworks and building comprehensive management programs. Drawing on a robust portfolio of industry credentials — including CISSP, CISM, CIPT, and CIPM — he is dedicated to bridging the gap between operational execution and boardroom strategy to ensure lasting digital trust.
Paul Smith is the former CTO for SCADAfence, a Honeywell acquired Cybersecurity company. He is a published author of the book "Pentesting Industrial Control Systems." Paul has spent 20+ years in the Automation Control space, tackling the "red herring" problems thrown his way. Unique issues include measurement imbalances resulting from flare sensor saturation, database migration mishaps, EEPROM production line failures, and many more. This ultimately led to the later part of his career, where he has been spending most of his time in the Industrial Cybersecurity space, pioneering the use of new security technology in the energy, utility and critical infrastructure sectors and helping develop cybersecurity strategies through the use of red team/pentest engagements, cybersecurity risk assessments, and tabletop exercises for some of the world's largest government contractors, industrial organizations, and municipalities.
Samuel Aluko is a cybersecurity professional who genuinely believes that every organization, big or small, deserves to feel secure in today's digital world. By day, he is part of the Corporate Information Security Office at the City of Edmonton, where he focuses on Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) and Security Awareness. It's meaningful work that involves helping protect critical public infrastructure every day. Outside of that, Samuel co-founded SataCyber Inc., an IT security consulting company built with a simple goal in mind: to bring practical, real-world cybersecurity support to small businesses and non-profit organizations that often don't have the resources of larger companies. At SataCyber, they help organizations understand their risks, strengthen their defences, and build a security-aware culture through honest guidance, hands-on risk assessments, and employee security awareness training.
Sana Navaid is a Senior Cybersecurity Specialist (CISM, CRISC, CISSP, CCSP, GCIH, GSEC) based in the Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area. A dedicated cybersecurity professional and AI enthusiast, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise in managing and securing digital environments, with several years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity operations. Sana is passionate about fostering a culture of security awareness and resilience, believing that people are the last line of defense -- through education and awareness, organizations can ensure their teams are equipped to recognize and respond to potential threats. She enjoys working with Power BI to uncover and present meaningful insights from complex data.
Strategic Workforce Advisor · SANS
A high profile, dynamic individual who has earned respect from colleagues and the public with a consistent record of achievement. Shelley has enjoyed careers in nursing, social work, Minister of the Crown in Ontario, including Minister of Revenue, Associate Minister of Health, and Education: Vice President in the areas of Business & Field Development, and started her own company in 2012, as a consultant for people and organizations that wanted to grow and create change. Shelley is presently enjoying a career in Business & People Development with companies in the United States and Canada. Shelley has spent the past 25 years in Business Development, Training and strategically building strong organizations. Workforce planning, retention, skill measurement and personal development have been an integral part of her role. Shelley has contracted with the SANS Institute in the role of Community Cybersecurity development, Cyber Ambassador, Instructor development and recently overseeing federal government contractors. Shelley was a key player in having SANS be the major training partner for Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst Program. Shelley gives back to the community promoting cybersecurity awareness at the community level in schools, small businesses, and career planning Cybersecurity skills development. She is the past recipient of the SiberX Lifetime Achievement Award and 2021 Top Sales Leader for SANS Federal Accounts and numerous other achievement awards.
Sherifat Akinwonmi is a Cyber Security professional with experience across diverse industries including Banking, Fintech, Oil & Energy, and Pharmaceutical. She is currently a BISO with one of Canada's top financial institutions and has over 14 years of working experience with unwavering integrity, spanning cybersecurity management and leadership, risk and cybersecurity & compliance, and IT service management. She holds a master's degree in information security with distinction from the University of Salford, UK and a first degree with First Class Honours in Computer Science and Technology from Bowen University. She holds several cyber security professional certifications, including CRISC, CCSP, CISSP, CCISO, and ISO27001 LI, and was recently awarded one of Canada's Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity.
Board Director · ISC2 Alberta
Stefan Myroniuk, MSc, CISSP is an information security and technology leader with over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, risk management, and digital governance. He currently serves as Information Security & Technology Manager at the Real Estate Council of Alberta and is a Director with ISC2 Alberta, where he helps advance professional development and security leadership in the province. Stefan is a graduate of the University of Leicester with a master's degree in security and risk management, where his research focused on AI-enabled cybersecurity risk assessments and how organizations can use risk-based and data-driven approaches to better protect businesses. He regularly shares practical insights through industry talks, guest lectures, and community events, with an emphasis on translating complex security and AI risk concepts into actionable guidance for leaders.
CISO · University of Alberta
Priya is a cybersecurity and risk management executive with over 20 years of experience spanning security, privacy, compliance, and digital resilience. She is currently the CISO at the University of Alberta. Previously, she was the CISO at Sheridan & has held leadership roles at Big Four consulting firms, advising Fortune 50 organizations across New York, San Francisco, and Toronto. Her work across six countries brings a global perspective to developing and implementing enterprise-grade, resilient cybersecurity strategies that support innovation at scale.
President and Principal · Risk Embrace Inc
Vivek Khindria, Chartered Director, CISSP, CISM, BSc in Physics, is President and Principal at Risk Embrace Inc. As a technology and cyber leader at Canada’s most iconic brands: McMaster University, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bell, and Loblaw, Vivek developed deep practical experience delivering systems at scale, building strategies and programs, and now advising boards and C-suites on: resilience, cybersecurity, AI, and quantum risk, translating technical choices into business outcomes. Vivek was the elected representative for Canada in the Information Security Forum Advisory Council and played a leadership role in founding the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX) to enable cross-industry threat intelligence sharing. Over a 30+ year career, he has led large transformations spanning autonomous vehicles, pharmacies, warehouses, AI applications, data centres, enterprise cyber programs, and trading floors. Vivek has worked across eight countries, with talks and collaborations in 20+. He continues to guide organizations and boards on cyber strategy, AI governance, quantum readiness, network optimization, OT security, and third-party risk. Vivek received the CISO of the year award at the SiberX CISO forum in 2026 and continues to mentor many other CISOs and future leaders.