Government Cybersecurity Showcase Ontario

Healthcare organizations face growing cyber threats while remaining responsible for delivering uninterrupted patient care. This session will explore how healthcare leaders are strengthening resilience, protecting critical systems, and preparing for an increasingly complex threat landscape.

• Strengthen cyber resilience through proactive risk management, incident preparedness, and recovery strategies that protect critical healthcare services
• Secure interconnected healthcare environments by addressing third-party risk, workforce awareness, and evolving cyber threats
• Balance innovation and patient care by embedding cybersecurity into digital transformation initiatives while maintaining trust and operational continuity

Artificial Intelligence is transforming cybersecurity—unlocking new tools to predict, detect, and defend against threats faster than ever before. But alongside the promise comes hesitation, with public sector leaders grappling with questions of trust, ethics, and responsible adoption. This panel explores how governments can lean into AI’s opportunities while addressing the risks head-on.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can:

• Harness AI-driven analytics to strengthen real-time threat detection and response
  
• Build transparency and governance frameworks that ensure AI use is responsible and trusted
  
• Overcome cultural and organizational resistance by building confidence in AI adoption
  
• Balance human expertise and machine intelligence to achieve stronger security outcomes

As critical infrastructure becomes increasingly connected and AI enabled, cyber threats continue to grow in scale, sophistication, and potential impact. This session will explore how organizations are strengthening resilience, protecting essential services, and adapting security strategies to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

• Strengthen cyber resilience by protecting critical infrastructure against emerging threats, ransomware, and increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled attacks
• Balance innovation and security by embedding cybersecurity into digital transformation, operational technology, and AI adoption initiatives
• Enhance preparedness through risk-based security strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and incident response capabilities that ensure continuity of essential

Government organizations continue to balance the need for innovation with the realities of aging technology environments. As legacy systems become increasingly difficult to maintain, they can create security risks, operational challenges, and barriers to modernization. This panel will explore practical approaches to reducing technical debt while maintaining reliability and public trust.

• Identify and prioritize risks associated with legacy applications, aging infrastructure, and increasing cybersecurity threats
• Explore strategies for modernizing critical systems while maintaining operational continuity and minimizing disruption to public services
• Balance innovation, security, privacy, and compliance requirements as organizations modernize technology platforms and digital services

Jonathan Eng

Director, Cyber Defence - I&IT, Metrolinx

Sharly Chan

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

Priya Mouli

Chief Information Security Officer, University of Alberta

Universities and research institutions thrive on openness, collaboration, and the free exchange of information. However, these same characteristics can create unique cybersecurity challenges as organizations work to protect sensitive data, intellectual property, and critical systems. This session will explore how leaders can enable innovation while managing evolving cyber risks in highly connected environments.

• Balance openness and collaboration with the need to protect sensitive data, research assets, and critical systems
• Address emerging cyber threats across diverse user communities, third-party partnerships, and increasingly connected technology environments
• Build a security culture that enables innovation while strengthening resilience, trust, and responsible risk management across the organization

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

Suzanne Brocklehurst

Director of Early Resolution, Tribunal and Dispute Resolution Division, Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Dhanush Liyanage

Director, Cyber Security Defence & Resilience, Ontario Health

Ali Abbas Hirji

Professor, Cybersecurity and IT, Seneca Polytechnic

Samir Wissa

Chief Information Security Officer, MGH & Sinai Health