Lionel Akagah, CISSP, is a bilingual (English-French) cybersecurity professional with an international journey spanning across Africa, Europe, and North America. With over 10 years of experience, Lionel has worked for top consulting firms such as PwC, EY, MNP, and Wavestone, helping improve the cyber posture of over 40 clients globally, and then went on to become the inaugural Director of Cybersecurity for a Crown Corporation in Ottawa, Canada, in early 2025. A natural leader with strong interpersonal skills known for strategic input, cross-functional coordination, and initiative leadership, Lionel demonstrates strong knowledge of Canadian and international IT security standards, trends, and system methodologies. He sits on the board of many cybersecurity organizations and is also an active member of key organizations such as ISC2 (Toronto chapter) and CIOCAN (CISO division).
Being human-centered first is crucial to all of his endeavors, and one of his favorite quotes is: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Lionel is also an avid golf amateur player as well as a wellness advocate (as a Reiki Master).
