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A coordinated, proactive response is critical to minimizing risk in an era of rising cyber threats. This session will explore how Ontario Health is evolving incident response through structured technical protocols, local delivery group coordination, and real-time intelligence sharing.

This session will show how you can enhance your cybersecurity operations through streamlined communication, formalized processes, and collaborative threat intelligence platforms.

• Explore incident response structures tailored to the healthcare environment
  
• Understand the role of local delivery groups in operationalizing security
  
• Learn how Ontario’s CTIX platform distributes real-time threat intelligence
  
• Improve coordination between public agencies and health sector organizations

Stephen Lloyd

Director, Ontario Cyber Security Centre, Ontario Health

Greg Moshonas

Vice President, Cyber Security and Foundational Services, Ontario Health

Dhanush Liyanage

Interim Director, Cyber Security Defense, Ontario Health

Hong Shen

Interim Manager, Cyber Security Defense, Ontario Health

Jason Persaud

Head of Cyber Security Operations Branch, Ontario Public Service

Joy Chatwell Moderator

Regional Vice President of Product, Public Sector Network North America

While your competitors debate whether AI will replace jobs, smart leaders are asking: How do we integrate AI as trusted colleagues, not just tools?This isn't automation. This is *partnership with artificial intelligence* that never sleeps, never calls in sick, and might just revolutionize how your teams operate.

What You'll Discover Why This Matters NOW

• AI is already in your workforce, making decisions and taking actions
• Companies mastering AI integration today will dominate tomorrow
• Your frameworks need fundamental updates

Practical Solutions You Can Implement

• AIgent Identity Systems: Trusted AI colleagues with persistent identities and accountability
• Trust Architecture: Confidence in AI decisions when traditional management doesn't apply
• Strategic Alignment: Keeping AI motivated toward your business goals

The Bottom Line: Organizations that master this first win. Those that don't compete with yesterday's playbook in tomorrow's game

AI presents powerful opportunities for improving cybersecurity—but skepticism and fear can slow adoption. This session explores how public sector leaders are embracing AI confidently, managing risks transparently, and using smart tools to build more resilient cyber ecosystems.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can lead with optimism, unlock AI’s potential, and strengthen trust in cyber innovation.

• Explore how AI is advancing detection, response, and prevention
  
• Address common fears around bias, privacy, and control
  
• Build literacy and confidence across teams and leadership
  
• Drive adoption through transparent, ethical, and secure practices

Gina Johar

Senior Vice President, Data and Knowledge Management, Infrastructure Ontario

Alrick A. Grange

Director, Business Transformation Office, TTC

Marwan Afara

Director, Information Technology, iGaming Ontario

Joy Chatwell Moderator

Regional Vice President of Product, Public Sector Network North America

AI and machine learning are revolutionizing security threat identification by enabling faster, more accurate, and more proactive detection of malicious activities. These technologies analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and anomalies that indicate potential threats, outperforming traditional security methods. In this session we will explore the leading edge use of these advanced technologies for a better understanding of how these technologies and tools can improve your organization’s Threat Identification, and so much more.

Today’s cybersecurity teams face many challenges. There are too few people to fill the vacant roles in cybersecurity—700,000 by one government estimate. And there are too many threats, with millions of alerts and not enough time for analysts to resolve them. Traditional cybersecurity operations will need to adapt by adopting new capabilities and developing new skillsets. Another challenge is attackers’ use of AI.  AI is making adversaries faster.  

The best way to address these challenges and combat AI, is with the use of AI and machine learning, to increase the speed at which we can identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from threats.  Reducing incident times from hours to minutes or seconds, closing the gap with attackers.  Organizations that leverage AI and automation capabilities extensively within their cybersecurity approach experienced, on average, a 108-day shorter time to identify and contain a breach.  

The leading-edge use of AI for Security Threat Identification is with the use of Agentic AI.  Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to operate autonomously, making decisions and taking actions to achieve specific goals with limited or no human oversight. Unlike traditional AI, which often requires predefined rules or human input, agentic AI exhibits autonomy and can adapt to dynamic environments. This involves AI agents, which are specialized software components that can work independently or collaboratively to achieve system objectives.

Legacy systems remain critical—but they weren’t built for today’s pace of change. This session explores how public sector leaders are identifying risks, modernizing core platforms, and securing innovation at scale across aging infrastructure.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can scale innovation while protecting essential systems and services.

• Identify and address vulnerabilities in legacy environments
  
• Prioritize modernization without disrupting continuity
  
• Secure innovation across hybrid and transitional systems
  
• Balance investment between stability and transformation

Jonathan Eng

Director, Cyber Defence - I&IT, Metrolinx

Kalyan Chakravarthy

Chief Information Officer, Electrical Safety Authority Ontario

Skerdi Cerga

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Trillium Health Partners

Dalia Hanna

Director, IT Services, Sheridan College

Reid Sutherland Moderator

Advisory, National Identity & Threat Sales Leader, IBM

Non-human identities—such as service accounts, APIs, and automated processes—now outnumber human users in government systems. While critical to efficiency and service delivery, these identities often operate in the shadows, creating blind spots that attackers can exploit to disrupt operations and erode citizen trust. This session will explore why securing machine identities has become the next frontier of public sector cybersecurity, and how agencies can strengthen resilience by closing this emerging security gap.

Roundtable 1: Harnessing AI and Machine Learning for Advanced Threat Detection, Facilitated by: Lise Patton, Associate Partner, Public Sector, IBM Canada

Roundtable 2: Cultivating Cyber Culture: Skills, Awareness, and Behaviour, Facilitated by: Kimberly Osmond, Security Advisor Splunk

Roundtable 3: S AI Frontier: Harnessing GenAI and Delivering Trustworthy Public Service Delivery , Facilitated by: Pat Green, Account Executive, Zscaler

Technology can only go so far—human behavior remains the frontline of cyber defense. This session explores how governments are addressing insider risk, building a security-first culture, and empowering employees as active defenders in the threat landscape.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can foster cyber awareness, reduce human error, and create a resilient security culture.

• Strengthen employee engagement with cybersecurity protocols
  
• Address behavioral risks through training and accountability
  
• Design user-friendly policies that support compliance
  
• Embed security thinking into daily decision-making across teams

Cyber threats are evolving rapidly—and public sector systems are high-value targets. This session explores how governments are strengthening resilience through smarter defenses, cross-agency coordination, and real-time threat response.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can stay ahead of threats, build agile defenses, and protect essential public services.

• Detect and respond to emerging threats with speed and precision
  
• Coordinate cyber strategies across ministries and jurisdictions
  
• Build recovery and continuity into cybersecurity planning
  
• Foster partnerships to expand intelligence and response capacity

Jason Persaud

Head of Cyber Security Operations Branch, Ontario Public Service

Sumon Acharjee

Chief Information Officer, City of Markham

Sharly Chan

Senior Technology and Policy Advisor, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Reid Sutherland Moderator

Advisory, National Identity & Threat Sales Leader, IBM