Why We Have the Event
The Top Women in Cybersecurity is created by IT World Canada (ITWC) in association with the Canadian Chapter of the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA) and the Women in Security Forum to recognize women who have advanced the Canadian security industry.
By recognizing the diverse talents within Canada, young women can find a role model that they can follow into the field.
Agenda
The 120-minute event will honour 20 women who are nominated by their peers as part of a three-month initiative sponsored jointly by ITWC and WISECRA. In addition to short video profiles of the women selected for the honour roll, the celebration will include a panel discussion exploring ways to get more women involved in cybersecurity, an opportunity to download related white papers, and the chance to visit sponsor breakout rooms for conversation.
OPENING
Fawn Annan, CEO/CMO, ITWC
Bonnie Butlin, Executive Director, Security Partners Forum
Emcee for the Day
Joanne Stanley, Executive Director, Women in Communications and Technology WCT
VIDEO TRIBUTE 1
A look at our first seven women on the honour role
PANEL – Sponsored by Okta and Auth0
ASPIRING AND THRIVING: How women are moving the needle
This panel of top women leaders in cybersecurity share stories on how they beat the odds to rise to the top of their profession – and how you can too. The panels will detail how women are collaborating, sharing knowledge, networking and mentoring to create new and exciting opportunities.
Moderator: Alvina Antar, CIO, Okta
Guests:
Mitra Mirhassani, Co-Director, SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
Rima Aristocrat, Chair Willis College
Biying He, Cybersecurity Manager, Technology Services Vancouver Airport Authority
VIDEO TRIBUTE 2
The stories of six more inspiring women changing the face of cybersecurity
RECOGNITION OF THE JUDGES
FIRESIDE CHAT – Sponsored by Telus
Fighting ransomware: The Canadian experience
No organization is immune to the evolving threat of ransomware. In this fireside chat, you and other guests will look at the challenge of cybersecurity and draw on the findings of a new TELUS study that tapped into the experience of 450+ Canadian tech leaders about their experience fighting ransomware.
Moderator: Leita Ouellette, General Manager, Telus Cybersecurity
Guests:
Magali Calle, VP, Information Security Consulting, Dash Security and Risk
Octavia N. Howell, Chief Information Security Officer | Equifax Canada Co.
PRESENTATION
Making Women in Cybersecurity Day a reality
CYBERSECURITY QUIZ – Sponsored by Terranova
Test your knowledge with some fun trivia
PANEL – Sponsored by VMware
Recruitment retention and advancement
With tens of thousands of new cybersecurity jobs opening up across industries and organizations, there’s never been more opportunity for women. This panel will look at the current best practices in recruiting and retaining women and what advancement looks like with a 2022 lens.
Panel Participants
Moderator: Kathie Miley; Vice President of Americas Security Sales, VMware
Guests:
Rushmi Hasham Director of Development and Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Programs Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University (Formerly Ryerson University)
Katherine Isaac, VP of Customer Success, Carbide
VIDEO TRIBUTE 3
The last of our videos showcasing the Top Women in Cybersecurity Honour Role.
CLOSING REMARKS
Speakers
Fawn Annan
CEO/CMO, ITWC
Bonnie Butlin
Executive Director, Security Partners Forum
Joanne Stanley
Executive Director, Women in Communications and Technology (WCT)
Rushmi Hasham
Director of Development and Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Programs Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University
Katherine Isaac
VP Customer Success, Carbide
Leita Ouellette
General Manager, Telus Cybersecurity
Magali Calle
Information Security Consulting, Dash Security and Risk
Alvina Antar
CIO, Okta
Biying He
Cybersecurity Manager, Technology Services Vancouver Airport Authority
Octavia Howell
Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer of Equifax Canada Co.
Mitra Mirhassani
Co-Director, SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
Biying He
Cybersecurity Manager, Technology Services Vancouver Airport Authority
Octavia Howell
Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer of Equifax Canada Co.
Kathie Miley
VP Americas Security, Carbon Black
In July 2021, ITWC and the Women in Security and Resilience Alliance (WISECRA) honoured 20 of Canada’s outstanding women working in cybersecurity across private, public, not-for-profit, and academic sectors.
The honourees were selected based on the strength of nominations from the Canadian security community and the peers of the exceptional women in Canadian cybersecurity. The celebration featured a video showcase of the women’s accomplishments, a panel discussion exploring the challenge of the career, and sponsored breakout rooms where cybersecurity leaders shared personal stories.
And we are doing it again.