SecureWorld Toronto 2024

Lina Dabit joined the RCMP in 1994 and started her career in British Columbia where she spent 13 years posted to detachments up and down eastern Vancouver Island. She was lucky for the opportunity to work a variety of duties ranging from uniform patrol, drug section, major crime, intelligence, border integrity, and running a police boat while working solo in the Gulf Islands.

After transferring to Ontario in 2008, she focused on organized crime and national security, and as an Investigative Interviewing Subject Matter Expert, she went on to establish the RCMP interview team in Ontario.

She was commissioned to Inspector in 2017 and became the commander of the Air Marshal Toronto Field Unit. In 2021, she was selected to lead the Cybercrime Investigative Team in Ontario. She is currently working to establish an innovative operational Cyber hub focused on collaboration between federal, international and private sector partnerships.

Kenrick Bagnall has 17 years of law enforcement experience, the last eight of which were in the Coordinated Cyber Centre (C3) as a Cybercrime Investigator. Prior to law enforcement, he spent two decades working in the Information Technology industry primarily in the financial services sector. During this time, he spent twelve years in Bermuda where he was a Senior Network Analyst for the Bank of Butterfield, then an IT Manager for FLAG Telecom and then Senior Vice President of Information Technology for CAPITAL G Bank (now Clarien Bank) before returning to Canada in 2005. Kenrick is also a cybersecurity instructor, writer, and host of the KONCYBER podcast.

Natalia Bakhtina is a strategic CISO-level leader and is globally recognized as the Women in IT Canada Finalist 2022. Natalia holds a Master’s of Business Administration Degree from Dalhousie University and is Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC).

Experienced results-oriented strategic professional in cybersecurity, IT and enterprise risk management and program management, currently Natalia is the Director of Cybersecurity and IT Risk Management at BFL CANADA.

Natalia is well regarded for her innate strategic analytical and critical thinking mindset and strong business acumen demonstrated through 20 years of proven first hand experience to successfully lead multimillion-dollar strategic enterprise wide initiatives and complex risk management programs in global financial services, fintech and insurance industries.

Passionate about cybersecurity, Natalia is the Governing Body Member for the Toronto CISO Community by Evanta, a Gartner Company, a Board of Directors Member for the CyberEd Board by the Information Security Media Group, and an actively contributing member of ISACA Toronto Chapter.

Natalia is often invited to speak at cybersecurity conferences, expert roundtables, industry panel discussions and is cited in various publications. Natalia is also a trusted successful mentor for younger professionals in the fields of risk and project management.

Natalia is respected as an approachable and diplomatic relationship builder with excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills and inherent ability to effectively develop long term trusting sustainable partnerships with various IT, business and legislative stakeholders of different personalities, backgrounds, levels and styles.

As a car enthusiast, Natalia is on the Board of Directors for the Yorkville Exotic Car Show, an annual Father’s Day charity car exhibition downtown Toronto. At her spare time Natalia enjoys downhill skiing, salsa dancing, swimming and choir singing.

Imran Ahmad is the Canadian head of our technology sector and Canadian co-head of our information governance, privacy and cybersecurity practice. He is based in our Toronto and Montreal offices and is recognized as a leading cybersecurity lawyer by several legal directories.

Imran advises clients across all industries on a wide array of technology-related matters, including outsourcing, cloud computing, SaaS, strategic alliances, technology development, system procurement and implementation, technology licensing and transfer, distribution, open source software, and electronic commerce.

As part of his cybersecurity practice, Imran works very closely with clients to develop and implement practical strategies related to cyber threats and data breaches. He advises on legal risk assessments, compliance, due diligence and risk allocation advice, security, and data breach incident preparedness and response.

In addition, Imran often acts as "breach counsel" in the event of a cybersecurity incident, such as a data or privacy breach, and has extensive experience in managing complex security incidents and cross-border breaches. He also provides representation in the event of an investigation, an enforcement action or a litigation.

Imran is the author of Canada's first legal incident preparation and response handbook titled Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management (LexisNexis, August 2017). Imran is the author of Canada's first legal incident preparation and response handbook titled Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management (2nd Edition) (LexisNexis, March 2021).

In his privacy law practice, he advises clients on compliance with all Canadian federal and provincial privacy and data management laws. He has a particular focus on cross-border data transfer issues and enterprise-wide governance programs related to privacy and information governance. Imran is the former chair of the Privacy and Access to Information Section of the Ontario Bar Association.

Imran is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, where he teaches cybersecurity and privacy law.

Daniel is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with more than two decades of experience, serving diverse clients across North America and Europe across the financial, public, and technology sectors. His expertise encompasses technical roles and leadership positions, including leading the implementation and certification of essential security frameworks, such as PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF.

Daniel holds the CSO position at CDW Canada and has the following certifications: CCISO, CISM, CISA, CRISC, and CISSP. He is committed to leadership, effective communication, and personal development. He shares insights through writing, public speaking, and mentoring others.

Evgeniy is built and wired differently. As a father of four, including twins, he has mastered the art of remaining unflappable in the face of adversity. His career, which began on the technical frontlines as a firewall deployment engineer, has evolved remarkably to a VP of Architecture at The Herjavec Group. This journey has provided him with a panoramic view of cybersecurity, showcasing his ability to navigate and lead across all its domains. Beyond his corporate achievements, Evgeniy's passion for the field extends to founding two podcasts—one technical Security Architecture, the other business-focused Cyebr Inspiration—and moderating panels and interviews for the industry. He uniquely blends his personal passions with his professional life by co-founding a cybersecurity-focused ski and snowboard conference, creatively merging lifestyle with industry engagement. Evgeniy now runs his own cyber/media consulting services, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge and media expertise to guide clients through the complexities of cybersecurity.

Jeannie Warner, CISSP, Director of Product Marketing at Exabeam, is an information security professional with over twenty years in infrastructure operations/security. Jeannie started her career in the trenches working in various Unix helpdesk and network operations centers. She began in Security Operations for IBM MSS and quickly rose through the ranks to technical product and security program manager for a variety of software companies such as Symantec, Fortinet, and NTT (formerly WhiteHat) Security. She served as the Global SOC Manager for Dimension Data, building out their multi-SOC “follow the sun” approach to security. Jeannie was trained in computer forensics and practices. She also plays a lot of ice hockey.

Helen Oakley is a cybersecurity enthusiast, researcher, and educator. Helen is a well-known expert in Toronto’s cybersecurity community, and a regular speaker at Elevate, SecTor, and corporate cybersecurity and technology events; she is currently on the advisory board for SiberX’s "Canadian Women in Cybersecurity” conference. Helen is currently working on her own Artificial Intelligence cybersecurity research project and strongly believes in giving back to the community. Helen is a lead of Toronto’s community group “Leading Cyber Ladies” and a HackStudent.com teacher, which is a non-profit organization that educates kids in cybersecurity skills.

Dan Elliott is the Principal for Cyber Security Risk Advisory at Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) Canada and is responsible for supporting Zurich’s clients in making risk-based cyber security decisions to improve their overall organizational resilience. Dan has over 15 years of experience in national security and risk management and brings a unique perspective to cyber risk, having spent six years as an Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade in law enforcement and intelligence, investigating multinational criminal organizations both online and in person. He evaluates cyber risk with the knowledge of international threat actors and the potential impact they pose to Canadian businesses and critical infrastructure, helping organizations improve their overall risk posture. Dan is frequently asked to speak to international conference audiences and NGOs about the communication challenges that exist between traditional technical professionals and business leaders and the best practices for aligning cyber risk with business goals.

Dan is also trained in multiple cyber risk management frameworks and holds specialized expertise in stakeholder management and strategic program design. He is a regional board member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), a Risk Fellow (RF) and is a Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP and CRM). Dan is a contributing member of the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN), a volunteer with ISACA and is accredited as Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC).

Carlos Bacquet is a Principal Solutions Architect at Lacework where he solves Cloud Security problems for enterprise customers in the Toronto region. Before joining Lacework Carlos spent the last 15 years working on network management and security applications in the Telecommunications, Cable and Streaming Media industries. Carlos holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and a Master in Computer Science with focus on machine Learning applied to Security applications. His areas of expertise include Kubernetes security and machine learning security applications applied to cloud infrastructure.

Garry has 25+years of cybersecurity experience. He has worked on security projects of global scale and reach and has spoken at conferences for 20+ years on what he has seen and learned in the field. Today, Garry is part of the global solutions consultant group at Palo Alto Networks, where he works with key clients on possibilities for their SASE deployments.

With more than 20 years in Canadian InfoSec, Mike Hortobagyi is an accomplished engineer and technical leader. Based in Toronto, he currently leads Okta's Commercial Presales team across Canada. Mike has experience in a wide variety of security technologies, including Zero Trust, Identity, and Cloud Security.

With more than 13 years of experience, Simon-trésor Shabani is a skilled cybersecurity expert with a demonstrated history of working in the industry both in EMEA and the Americas. As Sr. Security Solutions Engineer II at Rapid7, he strives to raise awareness on the importance of best security practices and to constantly educate clients and partners on the right security program.

"We're all one hack away from making the news" is a reality that we first need to accept to better fight the enemy. With his in-depth, hands-on product knowledge and expertise, Simon-trésor brings to organizations an extraordinary contribution in solving the most complex issues with his unique communication skills, multiple points of view, and the ability to advise on the right security solutions and/or services. He has also helped businesses gain better visibility and understanding into the cybersecurity products market space by taking part in multiple workshops and conferences, as well as by developing a better security program.

With over 20 years of experience in information security, this accomplished expert addresses security challenges and vulnerabilities by crafting innovative solutions for organizations. They have successfully managed large, complex programs for Fortune 500 companies, exhibiting both technical expertise and exceptional cross-functional team leadership. Their ability to communicate fluently across technical and C-level teams has aided them in guiding organizations to achieve powerful results.

Significant roles at Elastic, Exabeam, Deloitte, and HP Enterprise Security Products showcased their versatility as a trusted advisor for diverse clientele, including corporations and government agencies. Notably, they demonstrated the skill to translate complex security concepts into tangible strategies, bridging the gap between technology and business needs. International assignments in the Asia Pacific region and Australia provided them with opportunities to expand their global influence, doubling team sizes and fostering heightened collaboration among sales, partners, and professional services.

Certifications such as Elastic Certified Analyst, CEH, CISM, and CISSP demonstrate their dedication to staying current with industry trends and expanding their skill set. Throughout their career, they have built a solid reputation for their commitment to delivering innovative and robust technology solutions. By implementing highly organized strategies and motivating cross-functional teams, they have consistently achieved tangible completion and had a powerful impact on numerous organizations.

Glen Sorensen is a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) with Cyber Risk Opportunities. He has worn numerous hats in his career, in areas such as security engineering and architecture, security operations, GRC, and leadership. He has held a variety of roles as an analyst, engineer, consultant, auditor, regulator, and information security officer for a financial institution.

Glen approaches problems with practical solutions that bring good business value and has worked across many sectors, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and others. He has served as a consulting expert in a large legal case involving healthcare and cyber attack detection technology. He has been in IT and security for 15+ years, longer if you count years of misspent youth bending technology and countless hours of roleplaying games. He is a sucker for a good tabletop exercise and serves as an Incident Master for HackBack Gaming, the fun kind of TTX.

Sabino Marquez is the Chief Trust Officer at Pantheon.io, a premier provider of WebOps solutions for Drupal and WordPress sites globally. His approach to leading cybersecurity as a ‘Trust Product Practice’ has led to substantial returns on security investments, higher value-generation velocity, and enhanced equity valuations. Sabino leads the Trust Product organization as a go-to-market leader, working alongside the productive business to enable and defend value, and transforming stakeholder Trust into a powerful tool for competitive differentiation. Within his key areas of focus, Sabino ensures robust protection mechanisms are in place for stakeholder interests while also leveraging organizational Trust as a distinct advantage in a competitive market landscape. His work has not only brought him recognition as ‘2023 C100 Winner’, but he is also an esteemed thought leader who frequently shares insights in Security Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Cyber Security Tribe.

Kevin Dreyer is an IT Director and CISO with over 25 years of industry experience for a General Contractor securing a national network and its 400 users across a hybrid cloud infrastructure. He fell in love with computers at age 12 when a cousin introduced him to programming, and has never looked back. Having dropped out of college due to the lures of the darker side of computer security, he has spent his adult life working on the defensive side while finishing a college diploma and working on certifications from IBM, Cisco, Novell, Microsoft, Mile2, and finally CISSP about two years ago.

With over 16 years of experience, Ali has been a driving force in team development and leadership across various phases of the IT development lifecycle. His career milestones include pioneering the expansion of Durham College’s Cybersecurity Innovation Center and the establishment of their cutting-edge AI and Cybersecurity labs. Ali's leadership was pivotal in deploying applications and infrastructure aligned with ISO 27001 and NIST frameworks, while also crafting processes for SOC 2 level clearances.

Ali's career trajectory features senior roles at the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION). He spearheaded projects focused on remote connectivity, technical training implementation, and improved access to critical applications. Leading teams of up to 65 professionals, Ali's profound expertise in the cyber domain has earned him a province-wide reputation for his leadership and innovation.

Notably, Ali's influence stretches beyond his professional roles. He is a distinguished host of various tech shows, including the renowned Power Hour, and a sought-after panelist for esteemed forums such as the CISO Forum Canada. Ali's instructional prowess is evident through his roles as a highly respected lecturer at numerous institutions throughout Canada, where he imparts his extensive knowledge.

Ali's impact extends to his role in the cyber community. He has orchestrated the execution of tabletop exercises for the province of Ontario, showcasing his commitment to cyber preparedness. His reputation as an expert has led to consistent invitations to deliver bespoke cyber training programs across diverse sectors.

In his most recent venture, Ali undertook the leadership of the cyber training division at Youth Employment Services. Here, he spearheaded programming aimed at nurturing and elevating the skillsets of budding cyber enthusiasts. Simultaneously pursuing his PhD, Ali finds fulfillment in lecturing at esteemed institutions such as Seneca College, Georgian College, Toronto School of Management, University of Fredericton, Computek College and Algoma University, solidifying his commitment to knowledge dissemination.

Ali's remarkable journey culminates in his rich Durham College experience, where his pivotal role in advancing the Cybersecurity Innovation Center and steering AI and Cybersecurity labs stands as a testament to his enduring dedication to technological advancement and leadership excellence.

Graeme is a CISO with more than 25 years in IT risk and security governance in government, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. He fell in love with computers when he discovered a Tandy TRS80 at the public library in the rural Ontario town he grew up in. Fast forward to today, where Graeme assists business leaders in understanding that cyber risk isn’t a technology issue but a business risk, and that you can never be too prepared when it comes to incident response and preparedness. As such, he has delivered tabletop exercises from scrappy start-ups to Fortune 500 companies and coached them on building robust incident response programs.

Vinay is an ex-veteran and a leader in cybersecurity with two decades of experience. He possess incisive analytical skills and has innovative ideas to identify gaps in cybersecurity posture and has helped many organizations in architecting complete security frameworks. Vinay holds dual masters in Computer Science and Information Warfare from the United States Naval Postgraduate School and possesses niche certifications in the cyber space, which include ISSO, ISSM, ISSP, SABSA, ECSA, CEH, and CCNA.

Alkin specializes in helping drive Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity initiatives in the enterprise. At Cloudflare, he leads the SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) product portfolio for Canada, working with organizations across all verticals to build a safer, faster, more reliable Internet. Previously, Alkin was head of MIS3’s Cybersecurity consulting practice and a part-time instructor at the University of Toronto. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from EDHEC Business school in France.

Evgeniy is built and wired differently. As a father of four, including twins, he has mastered the art of remaining unflappable in the face of adversity. His career, which began on the technical frontlines as a firewall deployment engineer, has evolved remarkably to a VP of Architecture at The Herjavec Group. This journey has provided him with a panoramic view of cybersecurity, showcasing his ability to navigate and lead across all its domains. Beyond his corporate achievements, Evgeniy's passion for the field extends to founding two podcasts—one technical Security Architecture, the other business-focused Cyebr Inspiration—and moderating panels and interviews for the industry. He uniquely blends his personal passions with his professional life by co-founding a cybersecurity-focused ski and snowboard conference, creatively merging lifestyle with industry engagement. Evgeniy now runs his own cyber/media consulting services, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge and media expertise to guide clients through the complexities of cybersecurity.

Helen Oakley is a cybersecurity enthusiast, researcher, and educator. Helen is a well-known expert in Toronto’s cybersecurity community, and a regular speaker at Elevate, SecTor, and corporate cybersecurity and technology events; she is currently on the advisory board for SiberX’s "Canadian Women in Cybersecurity” conference. Helen is currently working on her own Artificial Intelligence cybersecurity research project and strongly believes in giving back to the community. Helen is a lead of Toronto’s community group “Leading Cyber Ladies” and a HackStudent.com teacher, which is a non-profit organization that educates kids in cybersecurity skills.

Rhea Michael Anthony is a Product Security Architect Associate at SAP's Global Security team. Her mission is to research and develop robust software security and secure software development practices that support innovation and champion a security-first culture that impacts products across SAP. She is actively engaged in researching threats and safeguards for developing AI Software, for secure data consumption and secure model, to ensure security at the forefront of AI development. This also includes reviewing and adapting industry standards (eg: OWASP Top 10) and regulatory requirements (eg: EU AI Act) with consideration of SAP's diverse technology and use of open source software.

With prior experience as an Analytics and Machine Learning programmer, she understands the challenges of development which lends her a unique perspective in bridging the worlds of AI development and security, with a vision of innovating solutions where security and usability are intricately interwoven.

Rhea is an Engineer with a Master's Degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in Business Analytics, majoring in Data Science. She is a speaker, advocating for adopting ethical AI principles and empowering development teams to navigate through the security challenges inherent in AI development. In this ever-evolving landscape of technology, she values continuous learning and building strong collaboration with industry peers in fortifying the future of technology.

Imran Ahmad is the Canadian head of our technology sector and Canadian co-head of our information governance, privacy and cybersecurity practice. He is based in our Toronto and Montreal offices and is recognized as a leading cybersecurity lawyer by several legal directories.

Imran advises clients across all industries on a wide array of technology-related matters, including outsourcing, cloud computing, SaaS, strategic alliances, technology development, system procurement and implementation, technology licensing and transfer, distribution, open source software, and electronic commerce.

As part of his cybersecurity practice, Imran works very closely with clients to develop and implement practical strategies related to cyber threats and data breaches. He advises on legal risk assessments, compliance, due diligence and risk allocation advice, security, and data breach incident preparedness and response.

In addition, Imran often acts as "breach counsel" in the event of a cybersecurity incident, such as a data or privacy breach, and has extensive experience in managing complex security incidents and cross-border breaches. He also provides representation in the event of an investigation, an enforcement action or a litigation.

Imran is the author of Canada's first legal incident preparation and response handbook titled Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management (LexisNexis, August 2017). Imran is the author of Canada's first legal incident preparation and response handbook titled Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management (2nd Edition) (LexisNexis, March 2021).

In his privacy law practice, he advises clients on compliance with all Canadian federal and provincial privacy and data management laws. He has a particular focus on cross-border data transfer issues and enterprise-wide governance programs related to privacy and information governance. Imran is the former chair of the Privacy and Access to Information Section of the Ontario Bar Association.

Imran is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, where he teaches cybersecurity and privacy law.

Adam Evans is Senior Vice President (SVP) & Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for RBC.

As CISO, Adam sets RBC’s cyber vision, strategy and program to reduce cyber risks and keep clients, employees, and systems safe. He manages an evolving threat landscape and the global expansion of cyber security services as RBC’s businesses continue to digitize.

With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry as a security professional, Adam is recognized as a thought leader in cyber security and global defense.

A Canadian and United States dual citizen with over 25 years of international executive experience. Greg is widely recognized as a business‐focused technology and cyber security expert. He has a proven track record of establishing intricate public‐private partnerships and delivering transformational technological solutions by building high performing, people centric teams.

Passionate about community involvement, Greg serves as the Technology & Cyber Security Director‐in‐Residence for Rotman's National ICD Directors Education Program, is academically published, and has instructed 3,300+ board members. He helped co‐found Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, whose inclusive and innovative cyber security programs have trained 800+ students, including veterans, women and displaced workers.

Greg frequently advises boards, senior executives, the Government of Canada and academic institutions on Policy, IT, Networks, Cyber Security, AI and digital transformation. Greg was the the industry co‐chair for the Canadian Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CSTAC) from 2020 – 2023 with accountability to facilitate across Government and Industry the Telecommunications Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Greg serves on the board of TMU's Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst. A graduate of the University of Toronto and Athabasca University, Greg also holds the ICD.D designation.

Lina Dabit joined the RCMP in 1994 and started her career in British Columbia where she spent 13 years posted to detachments up and down eastern Vancouver Island. She was lucky for the opportunity to work a variety of duties ranging from uniform patrol, drug section, major crime, intelligence, border integrity, and running a police boat while working solo in the Gulf Islands.

After transferring to Ontario in 2008, she focused on organized crime and national security, and as an Investigative Interviewing Subject Matter Expert, she went on to establish the RCMP interview team in Ontario.

She was commissioned to Inspector in 2017 and became the commander of the Air Marshal Toronto Field Unit. In 2021, she was selected to lead the Cybercrime Investigative Team in Ontario. She is currently working to establish an innovative operational Cyber hub focused on collaboration between federal, international and private sector partnerships.

Cedric Leighton is a CNN Military Analyst and a retired United States Air Force Colonel. On CNN, he has provided incisive commentaries on the Israel-Hamas War, the War in Ukraine, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and numerous other conflicts around the world. His analysis has been seen by millions of viewers around the world and provided much needed context to some of the most pressing national security issues of our time. As a U.S. Air Force officer, Colonel Leighton served at U.S. Special Operations Command, the Joint Staff, and the National Security Agency, where he helped train the nation's cyber warriors. A Middle East combat veteran, he is the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Bronze Star. After serving 26 years as a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Col. Leighton founded a strategic risk consultancy and became the co-founder of CYFORIX, where he advises multinational businesses on developing better cyber strategies designed to reduce risk and unpredictability.