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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.
Director, Cybersecurity and IT Risk · Infrastructure Ontario
Ali Shahidi is a respected cybersecurity and privacy leader with more than 20 years of experience across information security, IT, digital forensics, and privacy within both public and private sectors. Renowned for his strategic, executive-level partnerships, he advises CEOs, CIOs, and senior leadership teams on reducing cyber risk and building resilient defenses against emerging threats. He currently serves as the Director of Cybersecurity and IT Risk at Infrastructure Ontario (IO), a Crown agency tasked with modernizing and protecting public infrastructure across the province. In this role, Ali leads IO’s cybersecurity strategy and defense operations—safeguarding enterprise systems, organizational assets, and sensitive provincial infrastructure information. Before joining IO, Ali held senior leadership roles in government and industry, including Director of Information Security & Risk at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Senior Housing Corporation (TSHC), where he led major initiatives to elevate organizational security maturity. Previously, as Director of the Information Security Office at Ontario Health, he delivered transformative cybersecurity and privacy programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and sector partners. His earlier work at IBM and PwC included developing cybersecurity capabilities, leading threat intelligence and analytics practices, and architecting security frameworks for complex organizations. Ali holds a Master’s degree in Information Security Engineering and Digital Forensics from the University of Liverpool, UK, along with multiple industry-recognized certifications. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has helped establish academic programs in information security and digital investigation and has supported professionals in law enforcement, justice, and IT throughout his career.
Amit brings a distinguished portfolio of experience shaped through engagements with leading institutions and global organizations, including NASA, York University, IBM, the Toronto Maple Leafs, American Express, HTS, and Lakefield College. His work reflects a deep commitment to advancing technology, innovation, and strategic leadership across diverse sectors. Amit is an active contributor to several prominent global technology and education networks, including SiberX, Toronto CIO, CISO Society, RSAC, DEF CON, BlackHat, CAIS, ATLIS, NAIS, NBOA, DSG Data Science, CIS Ontario, and MaRS Discovery District. Through these engagements, he remains closely connected to emerging trends and global conversations shaping the future of technology and digital transformation. Amit brings a strategic, globally informed perspective to complex challenges, combining technical depth with institutional insight to drive meaningful impact across organizations and industries.
Daniel Pinsky is an accomplished cybersecurity and risk executive with over 25 years of experience across diverse industries in North America and Europe. He possesses extensive expertise in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), large-scale program development, and the implementation, operation, and certification of major security and privacy control frameworks, such as ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS. In his current role as the CSO at CDW Canada Corporation, Daniel directs the national cybersecurity strategy and collaborates with executive leadership to address regulatory risk, ensure audit preparedness, and strengthen security governance throughout the organization. Daniel is also recognized as a frequent speaker and panel moderator. He has contributed as an author to two cybersecurity publications and serves as an advisor for the SiberX CISO Forum and the SiberX Canadian Women in Cyber Security advisory boards.
David Cachia is Chief Information Officer for the Municipality of Clarington, where he leads enterprise technology, cybersecurity, digital services, and IT governance for a municipality serving more than 100,000 residents. He brings over 15 years of public-sector technology leadership experience, including senior roles in healthcare and adjudicative tribunals such as Director of Technology & Support at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and progressive leadership positions at Lakeridge Health. David holds a Master of Computer Science from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Information Technology from Ontario Tech University, has completed advanced executive leadership training at Queen's University, and earned the CIO.D designation through the Rotman School of Business. A Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and ITIL practitioner, he applies disciplined governance frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO-aligned practices to guide enterprise risk, compliance, and operational resilience. His portfolio has included enterprise CRM & ERP modernization, Microsoft 365 transformation, cloud adoption, systems infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence.
Head Security Consulting & Design · Laurentian Bank
An astute leader with over 25 years of experience in IT and across multiple IT domains including security architecture and IT Governance. Proven competence in managing the entire spectrum of strategic programs. Leveraged deep understanding of emerging technologies and threat landscapes to consistently deliver innovative solutions and fortify digital infrastructures. Recognized for strategic thinking and technical acumen, driving result oriented cross-functional team leadership and risk mitigation strategies.
Edgard Rodriguez is a cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience in Cyber Threat Intelligence, IT Risk Advisory, and Critical Infrastructure Protection. At Rogers Communications, he leads the Cyber Threat Intelligence & Research program, delivering strategic insights on emerging threats and aligning cyber defense with business strategy. He has co-chaired the Canadian Telecommunication Cyber Protection (CTCP) Working Group and continues to champion intelligence-sharing initiatives to safeguard Canada's critical infrastructure. Edgard has built strategic partnerships with global agencies, cybersecurity organizations, and industry peers -- strengthening resilience across Canada's telecom and critical infrastructure sectors.
CISO & Corporate Director of Technology · Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Emerson Rajaram is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and strategic advisor currently serving as CISO and Corporate Director of Technology for a Public Health Agency within Ontario, Canada. In this dual executive role, he is responsible for enterprise-wide information security strategy, technology governance, and digital infrastructure; operating at the intersection of public accountability, regulatory compliance, and mission-critical service delivery. With over a decade of experience across public sector, healthcare, and technology industries, Emerson translates complex technical risk into executive-level decision-making and defensible security posture. Emerson also conducts independent research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. His current focus is on AI/LLM threat risk assessment — evaluating the evolving attack surface introduced by large language models in enterprise environments. His research spans prompt injection vulnerabilities, model inference attacks, data leakage risks, and AI governance alignment with frameworks such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, OWASP Top 10 for LLMs, and MITRE ATLAS. Emerson is known for his ability to bridge the gap between technical depth and business strategy, advising C-suites, boards, and government stakeholders with clarity, precision, and pragmatism.
Ferris Adi, MBA, CISSP, CISA, CISM, CRISC, is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise security, risk, and resilience programs across critical infrastructure and highly regulated environments. He currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Trans Americas Fiber (TAF), where he is responsible for the organization's global cybersecurity strategy, governance, and protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure. Over the course of his career, Ferris has held senior cybersecurity leadership roles supporting major organizations including Aecon, Symcor, TD Bank, Rogers Communications, and the City of Toronto. He is recognized for aligning cybersecurity strategy with business priorities, strengthening operational resilience, and leading complex security transformation initiatives that support growth, compliance, and executive oversight. Ferris is also a respected thought leader, author, and educator. He has written two books on Information Systems Management and Security, published articles in InterGlobix Magazine and Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), and was honored with a Global CISO Award 2025 from CDM in recognition of his industry leadership.
Gurvinder Gill is the Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at the Toronto Parking Authority, North America's largest municipal parking operator, where he has led comprehensive digital transformation initiatives that have significantly increased revenue growth while substantially expanding the customer base. With extensive experience in progressive technology leadership, Gurvinder specializes in enterprise-wide digital transformation, Cybersecurity, AI strategy, and data governance frameworks that create sustainable competitive advantages across diverse industries, including healthcare, municipal operations, and enterprise technology.
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.
Jason Leake has over 20 years of Cyber Security experience, with 14 years in a direct leadership capacity at multiple large organizations including Automotive, Health, Banking & Insurance. His experience includes leading numerous cyber security solution deployments, developing and integrating security programs, securing cloud, data centre and infrastructure environments, creating and maintaining security policies & standards, and developing & deploying cyber control assessments to support internal & industry compliance audits.
President & CEO · Integral Consulting Solutions Inc.
John Pinard is a seasoned IT executive with over two decades of experience in the technology and cybersecurity sectors. Currently serving as the Vice President of IT Operations, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity at DUCA Financial Services Credit Union Ltd., John is a key member of the IT Executive leadership team. He is responsible for setting the overall direction for IT technology corporate-wide, deploying and managing all corporate cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence initiatives, IT operations management, and network infrastructure. His notable achievements include the successful implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication organization-wide using biometric technology, restructuring the IT Operations, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity areas, and leading the deployment and integration of Microsoft Copilot across the organization. In addition to his role at DUCA, John helps co-host the AI Podcast Hashtag Trending and is a frequent guest on Cyber Security Today Podcasts & YouTube Channels. He also serves as an Advisory Board Member and Cyber Security Speaker at SiberX. His previous roles include Vice President of Information Technology at United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, Chief Information Officer at Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, Director of Research & Executive Advisor at Info-Tech Research Group, Senior Director of Information Systems at Chartwell Retirement Residences, and Head of IT at Purdue Pharma.
Kim Schreader is Director of the Cybersecurity Professional Services team at TELUS. She has more than 18 years of experience in Information Security and Professional Services, working with a variety of clients in both the Public and Private Sector and in 2022 was named as one of Canada's Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity. She has completed certifications in Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) and is a Payment Card Industry Professional (PCIP), in addition to completing a Baccalaureate in Social Sciences, Honours Criminology. She leads a national team of cybersecurity experts with a proven track record of supporting client security posture and challenges in Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), Offensive Security and Incident Response, at all levels of the organization.
Manas Khanna is a Senior Director of Engineering at Veryon, where he leads IT, Cloud Infrastructure, DevOps/SRE, and Cybersecurity. He is responsible for driving enterprise-scale operational transformation, strengthening security posture, and aligning technology strategy with business growth and compliance objectives. Manas is currently leading a multi-year Engineering transformation program focused on SOC modernization, IT simplification, automated compliance, and cost optimization. With deep experience in infrastructure modernization, Microsoft 365 rationalization, cloud governance, and vendor management, he is known for building scalable, secure, and high-performing technology operations teams. Based in Canada, Manas is an active member of cybersecurity and CIO communities and frequently speaks on operational excellence, security strategy, and leadership in modern engineering organizations.
With a career spanning multiple industries, Michael Hartrick is a seasoned Information Technology professional who's passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and make a meaningful impact. Over the years, he's led a wide range of IT initiatives -- from strengthening cybersecurity and streamlining operations to modernizing infrastructure and supporting strategic growth. He takes a people-first approach to everything he does, focusing on building strong relationships and finding collaborative solutions. He is especially experienced in areas like incident and change management, vendor coordination, project delivery, and ITIL-based service improvement.
Mirza Baig is the Director of Cyber Security at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). He oversees a team of dedicated, agile and smart cybersecurity professionals who ensure MPAC's technologies, systems and data are secure and protected at all times. A veteran in the cyber security industry, Mirza has directed a broad range of corporate IT security initiatives from governance to operations, including security policies, standards, and guidelines, while participating in planning, analysis and implementation of solutions in support of varying business objectives. Mirza holds a Master's degree from Concordia University of Edmonton and published an IEEE paper on malware detection. He has a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology.
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.
Managing Director & Principal Consultant · Actimeta
With over a decade and a half of experience, Osman Saleem excels in delivering services and solutions to manage and operate physical and digital assets in the built environment. His experience includes senior leadership roles in both the service and owner side. His expertise includes OT and IoT cybersecurity and technology strategy for Critical Infrastructure, Smart Buildings, and Smart Cities. He has been a trusted advisor to executive management on digital transformation strategy and OT cybersecurity in multiple industry verticals, including Facility Management, REITs, Retail, Telecommunications, Transportation, Aviation, Higher Education, BioLife Sciences, Manufacturing, Mining, Energy, Utilities, and the Public Sector.
GC Senior Cybersecurity Strategist · Government of Canada
Sherry Rumbolt is a Senior Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor at the Government of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. With more than 30 years experience in IT and Cybersecurity, she previously held several senior level Cybersecurity positions within Shared Services Canada, Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces and the Government of British Columbia. Sherry is very passionate about educating future generations of Cybersecurity experts and spreading the word about the importance of Cybersecurity. She was named as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women in Defence, named as one of Canada’s Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity, and honoured with a SiberX Canadian Women in Cybersecurity Lifetime Achievement Award. She sits on a variety of Advisory Boards within Canada, is a Mentor to many, and is very passionate about empowering employment equity groups to have equal opportunities for employment within Cybersecurity. Sherry holds several certifications in Cybersecurity including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Shilpa Dahiya is an accomplished Cybersecurity professional with strong problem-solving capabilities, and a proven track record for leading with integrity and accountability when providing strategic direction to teams and consistently leading organizations through significant changes. Shilpa has 16 years of progressive experience in implementing cyber roadmaps that focus on elevating the risk posture and reducing the overall attack surface of organizations. She is a reliable and trusted advisor to Senior Leadership Teams and vendors on cyber risk resilience and has led high-performing cyber and technology teams for various Fortune 500 companies. She is a leader with an ability to build consensus across business functions through strategic planning, and her key strength is devising operational plans for achieving long term cyber strategies.
Taher Afridi is a global people leader with a passion for driving impact through effective cybersecurity and compliance. He brings cross-industry expertise to his work and a strong background in risk management, governance, and information security. He is dedicated to empowering organizations to navigate the complex digital landscape and foster a culture of resilience and facilitate growth, efficiency, and predictability. His experience covers vast sectors, having worked in the UAE Military (MoD), UAE Government, Education, Military Aviation (Aerospace & Defense), and in Commercial Maritime. Currently, he leads the Compliance and Information/Cyber Security teams and initiatives as the CISO & Group Chief Compliance Officer at The Marcura Group, covering InfoSec, Privacy (GDPR), Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC), Data Governance, Financial Crime Compliance, and Internal/External Audits.
Teodor Pana is a seasoned, visionary, and strategic information security leader with over 20 years of experience in Cyber Security & Information Technology. He currently serves as the Cyber Security Director at SE Health, a leading social enterprise and one of the largest healthcare organizations in Canada, providing home, community, long-term, acute, and primary care.
Vinay Puri is an accomplished and passionate global cybersecurity and technology executive with over two decades of demonstrated expertise in leading, building, and driving high-performance cross-functional and cybersecurity teams across diverse industries. A disciplined and decorated military veteran with four military awards, he has collaborated with skilled US DoD personnel to execute strategic technology roadmaps and cybersecurity maturity programs. Before serving as the officiating CISO at Moneris, Vinay held the position of Global Vice President at the Thomson Reuters Executive team, and was National Cloud Security & Infrastructure Leader at Deloitte. He held the countrywide cyber leadership role for defense services (for 180+ locations), and was a pioneer in building the Indian Air Force's CERT and having it operationalized to contribute to the country's national cybersecurity. Vinay holds a dual Master's in Cyber Security and Computer Science from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. His cyber thesis was awarded one of the best theses by NSA and US DoD during the year 2007.
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.
Principal Architect, Cybersecurity · TD Bank
Vivienne Suen is a cybersecurity architect with a flair for storytelling and over 15 years' experience advising IT organizations on solutions and strategy. At TD Bank, she leads the Cyber Security Architecture team in designing the bank's cybersecurity controls, guiding technology strategy, and setting architecture vision to secure our future. A featured speaker at numerous conferences and user groups, she thrives on demystifying the complexities of cybersecurity and designing practical solutions to meet security needs and standards. Vivienne lives in Montreal with her husband, son, and a very frisky Swedish Vallhund.
Mark is the Vice President of IT at Enova Power Inc, a local distribution company (LDC) in the Waterloo Region with approximately 170k customers. Mark loves technology, specifically the R&D of applied technology and how people can do amazing things if given license and support to do them. Mark has a strong belief that leading through inspiration provides the best results as it offers more ownership, autonomy and freedom to explore ideas. Mark has been involved in a variety of early adoption projects such as outdoor wireless ISPs, smart metering roll-outs, dark fibre builds, online voting systems, artificial intelligence as well as the automation of vehicles, wastewater, electric grids and core communications infrastructure. Mark is very passionate about the fundamentals and building it before you buy it, which is one of the ways he attempts to stay current in all things tech.
Dhanush Liyanage is Director of Cyber Security Defence & Resilience at Ontario Health, leading approximately 40 professionals across cyber security operations, security engineering, cyber incident response, and digital resilience. With over 16 years of experience in IT and more than 11 years in cybersecurity, he specializes in building resilient, high-performing security programs that protect critical healthcare systems and ensure continuity in complex threat environments.
Partner, Incident Response and Crisis Management · Ceiba Law
Shawn Ford, LL.M., is a Partner at Ceiba Law, where he serves as a trusted advisor to technology-driven and multinational organizations navigating complex incident response, data privacy, cybersecurity, and strategic risk matters. As a breach coach, he leads clients through high-stakes cyber incidents while advising on crisis management and crisis communications strategy across the pre-incident, active response, and post-incident phases. Shawn delivers business-ready legal solutions that align regulatory obligations with operational realities, helping organizations turn compliance into a strategic advantage. His practice includes building and operationalizing enterprise-wide risk, privacy, and third-party risk management programs, working closely with executives, CISOs, privacy officers, and boards to strengthen institutional resilience.
Mehak Wani is a technology and cybersecurity leader specializing in information security, IT compliance, risk management, and governance. She is passionate about translating complex security and compliance challenges into practical, business-enabling outcomes while helping organizations build secure, resilient, and well-governed technology environments.