With over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, Brent has most recently transformed Western’s Cybersecurity Strategy through partnerships with industry leaders, introduction of 24/7 SOC coverage, effective risk assessment initiatives and campus-wide cybersecurity awareness programs. He also delivers Operational Leadership programs on “Your role in Protecting Corporate Information” and “Working Securely” in partnership with Western’s Privacy Office.

Mina Girges is a technology and transformation executive with more than 15 years of experience leading enterprise modernization, cybersecurity, infrastructure, M&A integration and technology operations across healthcare, automotive and private equity-backed environments.

As Vice President and Chief Information Officer at TransForm Shared Service Organization, Mina provides executive leadership for technology across a regional healthcare ecosystem supporting five hospital partners and other health service providers in Southwestern Ontario. His mandate spans enterprise technology strategy, cybersecurity and digital risk, infrastructure and cloud, clinical and business systems, data and analytics, and the modernization of shared digital services.

Prior to healthcare, Mina held senior technology leadership roles at ABC Technologies, a global automotive supplier, where he led global infrastructure and cybersecurity transformation, technology integration through significant mergers and acquisitions, platform modernization, and initiatives that improved operating performance while delivering substantial cost efficiencies.

Mina's perspective on cybersecurity is shaped by operating in environments where technology disruption has immediate business and operational consequences. He views cyber resilience not simply as a technical discipline, but as an enterprise leadership responsibility encompassing governance, operational continuity, investment decisions, organizational readiness and the ability to respond effectively when systems fail.

His broader leadership focus is on helping complex organizations simplify, modernize and build resilient technology capabilities that enable growth, improve performance and support the people and customers who depend on them.

Mina holds an MBA and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor.

Dominic Vogel is a well-respected cyber security thought leader appearing on media news outlets across the world. As a twenty-year veteran cyber security expert and thought leader, Dominic holds a proven track record across a multitude of industries (financial services, logistics, transportation, healthcare, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure).

Dominic is a firm believer in delivering sustainable security that supports and protects business goals. Having worked within large and globally diverse organizations he has extensive security experience that has been forged over the past two decades as an information security professional.

Dominic is a 2x founder who has focused on providing unbiased actionable cyber security strategic guidance and advice to startups and small businesses across North America.

Dominic is the President at Vogel Cyber Leadership & Coaching, a Vancouver-based leadership advisory company specializing in cyber risk management.

Tasleem Jessani is a Leadership Coach and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist who helps high-performing professionals and executives unlock their leadership potential by addressing the subconscious patterns that influence their confidence, decision-making and relationships.

With over a decade of experience in corporate Human Resources and more than six years coaching leaders and executives, Tasleem brings a unique perspective that bridges traditional leadership development with a deeper understanding of human behaviour.

Combining leadership coaching, clinical hypnotherapy and intuitive insight, she works beyond traditional leadership strategies to help high-performing professionals recognize the subconscious beliefs, emotional responses and behavioural patterns that influence decision-making, communication and interpersonal dynamics. Her work helps leaders develop greater self-awareness and emotional resilience, enabling them to navigate complexity with greater confidence, clarity and authenticity.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the workplace, Tasleem believes that the ability to understand, connect with and lead people will become one of the most valuable leadership capabilities.

Walter Anderson is the Founder of PORTSECURE and serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the Nanaimo Port Authority. With more than 20 years in cybersecurity, he helps maritime, critical infrastructure, and logistics organizations align security with business strategy, strengthen defences against emerging threats, and build resilience around AI adoption.

Walter chairs the Cybersecurity Working Group for the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, serves as President of the ISACA Victoria Chapter, and teaches Maritime Cyber Risk and Resilience at Royal Roads University. He recently led a national cyber-physical exercise involving 150 organizations and 650 participants to advance Canada's critical infrastructure resilience, and has designed and facilitated agentic AI tabletop exercises focused on autonomous threat scenarios and post-incident defensibility.

Maleena Singh has over 15 years of experience in cybersecurity operations, investigations, and incident response, serving in senior leadership roles across public and private sectors. As the Director of Incident Response at Mirai Security, she helps organizations respond to and recover from cyber incidents while providing strategic guidance to enhance resilience against emerging threats.

Maleena's career spans over two decades, including 23 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), where she concluded her tenure as leader of the Provincial Cybercrime team. During this time, she played a key role in domestic and international cyber investigations, collaborating with global law enforcement agencies.

Following her tenure at the RCMP, Maleena led the Cyber Incident Response practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Vancouver, driving cybersecurity initiatives for diverse organizations. She has also served as Director of Cybersecurity at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where she focused on advancing cybersecurity programs and maturity.

Maleena is recognized as an industry expert, with her insights sought by leading organizations. She holds advisory roles with various institutions and actively contributes to cybersecurity development.

Sabino Marquez is a technology executive and researcher who has served as both Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Trust Officer. His operating experience spans enterprise growth, assurance, acquisition diligence, and strategic trust leadership. He originated Trust Value Management, a business discipline for governing stakeholder value safety. Through TVM, he develops operating systems and professional instruments that give trust value workers the methods to enable, grow, govern, and account for enterprise trust value and its business consequences. He is the co-founder of Trustable and author of Trust Value, which traces the development of the discipline through his operating career.

Thelma Muronzi is a Cybersecurity Awareness Program Project Manager at BC Hydro with over a decade of experience in information technology, spanning cybersecurity strategy, security awareness, governance, risk, and compliance. She has led cybersecurity programs and initiatives, advised organizations on security and regulatory requirements, conducted security risk assessments, and supported cybersecurity transformation and control improvements across diverse business and technology environments. She holds an MBA, an MSc in Applied Information Technology, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Information Security and Assurance, and a BCom in Informatics. Her professional credentials include CompTIA Security+ and Red Team Hacking certifications. She was the first-place winner of the Capture the Flag competition at the Blacks in Cybersecurity 2020 Winter Conference in Washington, DC, and was featured in the 2019 Epic Women in Cyber article. She is also the founder of Cyber LifeHax (CLH), an initiative dedicated to promoting cybersecurity awareness among seniors.

Sherry Rumbolt is a Senior Strategic Advisor in Cybersecurity with the Government of Canada, bringing over 25 years of experience in IT and Cybersecurity. Her career includes holding senior cybersecurity roles across multiple federal departments, including the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Shared Services Canada, the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces, and the Government of British Columbia.

Prior to joining the Public Service, Sherry served for 21 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, specializing in Security Information Systems and Technology, with a strong focus on IT and Cybersecurity.

Sherry is deeply committed to educating and mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and raising awareness about the critical importance of cybersecurity. Her contributions have been recognized nationally—she was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Women in Defence in 2021, one of the Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity in 2020, and received the SiberX Canadian Women in Cybersecurity Lifetime Achievement Award.

She actively serves on several advisory boards across Canada, mentors emerging professionals, and advocates passionately for employment equity, working to ensure equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity field.

Sherry holds multiple cybersecurity certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Maryam Hamidirad is a cybersecurity and GRC leader with over a decade of experience spanning enterprise security, technology, risk management, and consulting. She currently serves as Director of Security & GRC at FISPAN, a financial technology company, where she has built and scaled the enterprise security and GRC function from the ground up.

Her expertise spans enterprise security strategy, cloud and application security, cyber risk management, AI security and governance, and security program development. She brings experience in security strategy, risk-based decision-making, security architecture, cloud and application security, and the implementation of automated controls and continuous security assurance.

She advises executive leadership on cybersecurity strategy, emerging technology risks, regulatory expectations, and security investments, with a focus on building security programs that enable organizations to scale securely.

Maryam previously worked in Deloitte’s consulting practice, advising financial services clients on cybersecurity strategy and roadmaps. She has also taught graduate-level Cyber Risk Management at the New York Institute of Technology.

She is an active ISACA member and holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from Ivey Business School.

Rob Labbé is CEO and CISO-in-Residence of the Global Mining and Metals ISAC. He co-founded MM-ISAC in 2016 to help mining and metals companies share threat intelligence, develop practical security guidance and build trusted industry relationships. His information-security career spans two decades, with a sustained focus on the mining sector. Rob advocates for business- and user-focused security that combines effective controls with operational resilience, helping companies protect their operations while continuing to innovate and produce the minerals and materials the world needs.

Thaïs Ramos is Director of Governance, Risk & Compliance at Simon Fraser University, with a background in law and extensive experience in privacy, cybersecurity and risk management. She focuses on making governance practical—simplifying processes, strengthening accountability, and exploring how AI and automation can reduce administrative work while preserving meaningful oversight. An advocate for women in technology, she serves on the board of Vancouver Women in Tech and SheLeadsTech at ISACA Vancouver. Thaïs holds a master’s degree from Cornell Law School and the CISA (ISACA) and CIPM/CDPO (IAPP) certifications.

Cat Coode, one of Canada's Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity 2021, is the founder of Data and Privacy consultancy Binary Tattoo. Backed by Cat's foundation in mobile development and software architecture (BlackBerry), and over a decade in Privacy, she helps individuals and corporations better understand data privacy and design.

Sonny Sarai is a seasoned information security leader with extensive experience in developing, managing, and enhancing cybersecurity programs across various industries, from startups to enterprise-level organizations. With over 15 years in the Information Security field, Sonny has a proven track record of driving security initiatives and ensuring robust protection measures. He is an active board member of the CISO division for the CIO Association of Canada. Sonny’s career has evolved from providing application support in his early IT days to leading comprehensive information security programs at large organizations.

Sonny is a proven professional and leader who specializes in security, privacy, and compliance. He has been a strong contributor in increasing the security posture of every organization he has been involved with. Sonny strongly believes that one of IT’s important role is to enable the business. Building and fostering relationships within the business and IT has contributed to his success in this area.

Mary Carmichael helps organizations turn business strategy into technology execution, ensuring initiatives deliver results. She is a Principal Director, Technology Strategy & Risk at Momentum Technology, where she advises organizations on planning, funding, and delivering technology and AI initiatives. Her work spans strategy, program delivery, IT investment management, and risk & control assessment. With over 15 years of cross-sector experience, Mary brings a strong business and financial lens to technology decisions, helping leaders prioritize investments, strengthen governance, and manage risk while achieving benefits.e.

Also, Mary is an AI and Cyber Research Fellow at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, focused on third-party AI risk management. A recognized leader within ISACA and Global SheLeadsTech Advocate, she received the 2026 ISACA Global Chapter Leadership Award.

Founder of Carmel Info-Risk since 2013, providing vCISO roles in a wide variety of industry sectors including mining, and retail, and SaaS. Edward is an ISACA Vancouver Past President and co-founder of BCAWARE, and formerly held inaugural CISO roles at Intrawest, lululemon, and other firms. Ed advocates for disciplined process when implementing security education, vulnerability management, incident response, and other cyber domains.

Laleh Mosadegh is a transformational technology leader and Director of Enterprise Digital Transformation and Automation in the Office of the CIO at the University of British Columbia. Over more than two decades in technology, including more than 15 years in higher education, Laleh has led some of UBC’s most complex digital transformation initiatives, from its Workday journey across HR, Finance and Student services to enterprise platforms, automation and AI enablement, integration, application modernization, portfolio governance and IT PMO delivery.

But what Laleh is most passionate about is not technology itself — it’s what technology makes possible for people and organizations. She is known for bringing people together, navigating complexity, and turning big ideas into practical results while building teams where people can do their best work.

A strong believer in the power of collaboration across the higher education community, Laleh is an active contributor to the Canadian post-secondary technology community, sharing lessons learned and helping advance conversations around transformation, AI and the future of technology-enabled institutions.

Steven is a partner at INQ Law whose practice focuses on privacy, information sharing agreements,data and AI governance for both public and private sector clients in the Canadian healthcare space. This includes helping healthcare organizations and companies navigate privacy rules governing use of health data for AI development and deployment and building data governance models that advance research, innovation and AI readines.

Prior to joining INQ, he served as General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer at Vancouver Coastal Health for over 12 years, including developing the privacy framework for the Clinical & System Transformation (CST) Project that implemented a single shared system across dozens of hospitals and care facilities in the Vancouver Coastal region.

Ali Deheshi is a cybersecurity executive with over 15 years of experience in information security, cyber defence, and risk management. His expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, incident response, and building resilient security programs across public and private sectors.

Shamsher Dullet is a cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience in technology, from building data centres to delivering cloud infrastructure for large enterprises. Current responsibilities span cyber defence, incident response, and threat intelligence, alongside oversight of identity and access management, including privileged access management.

Iacob Cozma has spent over 25 years on the front lines of cybersecurity, building defenses, leading incident response efforts, and finding practical ways to make security work at scale within large, complex organizations.

Today, his focus is on applying the knowledge and experience gained from tackling these challenges firsthand to help other security teams strengthen their capabilities, improve operational effectiveness, and achieve results faster.

Peter Buckley has 27 years of experience across technology and cyber risk, including 19 years in information security leadership. Most recently, as CISO at HSBC Canada, he led the cyber security requirements for the RBC/HSBC merger - the largest bank merger in Canadian history. Flawless integration. Zero incidents.

He founded an independent consultancy focused on agentic and AI risk and governance - working on the frontier of where AI risk is heading right now – and the implications on cybersecurity. He provides V-CISO and board advisory services.

He has advised boards and developed strategy for multinational, national, local and non-profit organizations, based on a pragmatic, proportionate, and business priorities approach.

He is recognized for bringing together CISOs and senior practitioners to strengthen industry resilience and address shared risk and workforce challenges.

He volunteers on a non-profit board raising money for his local community.

Parisa Saqib is a Cyber Security Analyst and Master of Engineering candidate in Smart Grid Systems and Technologies. Her work addresses the complex challenges of IT and OT convergence, specializing in hardware vulnerability assessments, digital forensics, and critical infrastructure resilience. She is the founder of DMZ604, a community initiative connecting OT and industrial control systems security professionals across the region, and serves as Associate Director of Communications for ISACA Vancouver.

Rob Davidson brings many years of experience to his role as Chief Information Security Officer at Pacific Blue Cross and Pacific Blue Cross Solutions. His career started with Dell Canada and has progressed though several senior strategic and leadership positions at industry-defining organizations such as Microsoft and Hootsuite. Prior to his recent return to Vancouver, Rob worked through an extended tenure at Microsoft from the original basics of networking through the launch of the Global Azure Cloud services.

Rob holds an Executive MBA and maintains his original CISSP certification, he enjoys the opportunity to share with and learn from others who are like minded in his passion for the Security of People, Information and Technology.

In addition to his core work, you will also find him engaged in Board of Directors (and Board advisory) positions, volunteer opportunities and working to mentor and assist the next generation of Security professionals.

Farooq Naiyer is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and the current CEO of NKST, a cybersecurity research and collaboration platform. With over 20 years of global experience in cybersecurity, privacy, compliance, and assurance, he has held senior roles including Global Lead for Technology and Cyber Assurance at Munich Re and CISO for ORION. He has also served in C-suite positions across financial institutions in the Middle East and South Asia and worked with Big Four firms. Farooq is recognized for his leadership and innovation, having received the CSO Compass Award in 2010 and the EC-Council’s Presidential Award in 2019. A prominent speaker and educator, he has contributed to academic programs and served on advisory boards for ISACA, EC-Council, and institutions like Durham College and the University of Guelph. His contributions have positioned him as a respected thought leader in the cybersecurity community.