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Author: Catalyst

Why the future of Ontario’s critical industries hinges on startups

Ontario’s critical industries are under mounting pressure from a turbulent global economy and an increasingly hostile digital arena, and many are finding that the legacy systems they rely on are not equipped to meet today’s cyber threats.

In sectors such as advanced manufacturing, mining, and smart infrastructure, operational technology (OT) controls everything from power grids to hospital equipment, and the risks to these systems are no longer theoretical.

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Brampton Board of Trade, and City of Brampton Launch Cybersecurity Pilot to Support Local Businesses

Brampton, ON – Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (“the Catalyst”) in partnership with the Brampton Board of Trade (“BBOT”), and the City of Brampton, is proud to announce the launch of the Brampton Community Partner Program, a pilot initiative running from October 2025 to March 2026. This new program will provide 20 Brampton-based businesses with focused cybersecurity […]

Catalyst and RBC Collaborate with Innovation Hubs Nationwide To Launch Free Cyber Startup Program

Cyber for Startups is a six-week program that equips entrepreneurs with guidance, mentorship, and practical tools they need to strengthen resilience and earn investor confidence. Oct 9, 2025 (Toronto, ON) — Today, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (“the Catalyst”), with support from RBC, launched its newest innovation program to enhance cybersecurity resilience among Canadian startups. Cyber for […]

Cyber Experts Warn Canadians of Rising Travel Scams

The following article first appeared in TravelPulse Canada on September 26, 2025. As Canadians prepare for fall and winter vacations, cybersecurity experts are warning that travel often brings a spike in online fraud and digital threats. According to the experts, cybercriminals exploit travellers through phishing schemes, fake Wi-Fi networks, and compromised charging stations at airports […]

America First Puts Cybersecurity Last. In this New World, Canada Must Evolve.

The following article first appeared in Innovating Canada on October 01, 2025. Ulrike Bahr-GedaliaSenior Director of Digital Economy, Technology, and Innovation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Charles FinlayFounding Executive Director, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University Every year, cybercriminals expand their reach and increase their global impact. Hundreds of billions of dollars vanish through ransom and theft […]

Catalyst and Royal Roads University partner to advance cybersecurity leadership on Canada’s West Coast

New Catalyst-RRU initiative will deliver leading cybersecurity training and innovation in British Columbia October 1, 2025 (Brampton, ON / Victoria, BC) Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) and Royal Roads University (RRU) in British Columbia are joining forces to strengthen cybersecurity education, innovation, and training across Canada. This partnership brings new opportunities to […]

In a connected world, cybersecurity is a strategic investment

This piece was featured in 3 Magazine on September 22, 2025 In a connected business world, cyberattacks can come from nearly anywhere, at any time. Managing that risk is a complex, full-time job. As relations between Russia and Ukraine continued to fray in 2022, Lester Chng was thinking about how that conflict could pose cybersecurity […]

From research to real-world impact: How Cynapse accelerates cybersecurity innovation

Marcus Cynapse Piece

Cynapse: Cybersecurity Research Talent Access Platform is a Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst initiative designed to significantly impact research and development efforts in cybersecurity.  This dynamic online initiative helps propel projects to new heights by connecting industry stakeholders with top-tier researchers in the cybersecurity sector. From research to real-world impact: How Cynapse accelerates cybersecurity innovation Complex and […]

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Panelist

Jade Mitchell

Senior Manager, Managed Security Services | OperateNext, Deloitte Canada

Jade is the Service Excellence leader for Deloitte’s Managed Security Services. She brings an Operations and Service Management lens to Deloitte’s cyber security expertise, advocating for exceptional service delivery and continuous improvement in an evolving threat landscape.

She has over 15 years of experience in large scale IT transformations and operational delivery, supporting clients in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Over the last 8 years, she has focused her career around supporting Life Science and Health Care organizations to shape and gain traction on their IT priorities, including Cyber Security.

Panelist

Mike Melo

CISO, Life Labs Medical Laboratory Services

Heavily focused on people and integrity-led progression, Mike Melo is a Senior IT Executive and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with over 15+ years of experience advancing operational efficiencies, cyber indomitability, and overall organizational success. Currently serving as the CISO & VP IT Shared Services for LifeLabs in Canada, Mike holds an extensive background involving agile risk mitigation, post-breach transformation, security architecture, cross-functional technical leadership, regulatory compliance, and the art of developing high-performing team environments that are as positive as they are productive. In addition, he is passionate about not only helping industry leaders rectify security weaknesses while attaining sustainable protection, but doing so in such a way that ultimately propels their competitive capacities and growth initiatives forward.


Prior to his most recent role overseeing multi-million cybersecurity programs and their implementation across organizational systems, Mike Initially worked as an International Information Security Officer, quickly scaling to hold several C-level roles under LifeLabs. Notably, this includes being an IT Security Lead, where Mike had the opportunity to support the tech team in rendering new security program development and overseeing the inception of the Incident Response program. More formerly, Mike became a CISO in December of 2019. Here, Mike fundamentally optimized the growth trajectories of security programs, developed risk-based approaches to security governance, and ultimately managed a $50M+ Cybersecurity post-breach transformation program that successfully fixed the largest data breach on record in Canada.


That said, Mike’s ambitions for security excellence were also done in conjunction with ongoing side affiliations supporting various professional engagements, keynote presentations/talking panels, and public contributions. Namely, this involves being a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Operations Committee for the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange, a CISO Co-Chair for Evanta, and an active Board Member of HUMINT Cybersecurity Recruitment. Furthermore, Mike’s devotion to bridging security gaps and innate avocation for making cybersecurity knowledge accessible has not gone unnoticed. To date, Mike has earned several accolades, including, but not limited to, the CISO of The Year Award issued by SiberX & EC Council, first globally recognized Transformational CISO by SANS, the CISO Division Award from the CIO Association of Canada, and more recently, the Top Global CISO Award presented by Cyber Defense Media Group.


Academically, Mike holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Queen’s University (Smith School of Business) and earned various Cybersecurity and Leadership certifications such as CISM, GSLC-GIAC, SSAP, SSCP, among others. Overall, Mike is a visionary and strategic leader who values positioning organizations for low-risk/high-reward success and ongoingly keeps a firm pulse on the transient introductions of threat intelligence and emerging technology. Even more, he is a firm believer that positive trajectories in cybersecurity start by instilling innovative impacts today, and understands that the most beneficial results are the ones that stem from the formation of strong, shared-value teams. Mike currently resides in Calgary with his wife and two children who inspire him to always become better than the day before, and enjoys spending his free time playing guitar – including attending Berklee College of Music in the evenings for guitar performance.

Panelist

Carole Piovesan

Co-Founder / Managing Partner, INQ Law

Carole is managing partner at INQ Law, focusing her practice on privacy, cyber readiness, data governance and artificial intelligence (AI) risk management. She regularly counsels clients on a wide range of matters related to privacy, cyber readiness and breach response, data governance, ethical AI and responsible innovation. Prior to founding INQ Law, Carole was co-lead of the national Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Management group at McCarthy Tétrault. She has represented clients before all levels of court in Ontario as well as at the Supreme Court of Canada.

Carole plays an active role in shaping data law, policy and standards in Canada and globally. She is the co-chair of the federal government’s Exposure Notification application. She also co-chairs the data governance working group for the Data Governance Standardization Collaborative at the Standards Council of Canada. She is a member of the Data Governance Working Group for the Global Partnership on AI, as well as an advisor to several AI start-ups. In 2018, Carole was appointed by the federal Minister of Innovation to serve as one of six Digital Leaders in the national data and digital transformation consultations. In this role, she led consultations with businesses, academics, civil society and industry associations to inform the first national Digital Charter. Announced on May 21, 2019, the Digital Charter has led to
significant proposed reforms to Canada’s federal private sector privacy law.

Carole regularly teaches, speaks and writes on topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, data law and AI. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law where she lectures on AI law. She is also co-editor of the book, Leading Legal Disruption: Artificial Intelligence and a Toolkit for Lawyers and the Law, published by Thomson Reuters (2021).

Moderator

Iain Paterson

CISO, Well Health Technologies

Iain is a Cyber Security veteran with more than 16 years of experience in the Information Security and IT field. He has designed and run security operations programs in enterprise-scale banking, healthcare, and government organizations. In 2015, Iain joined Cycura, were he became the company’s Managing Director, leading both Offensive Security and Incident Response teams. In August of 2020, WELL Health acquired Cycura, and he became the company’s CEO, and leader of the Business Unit, which includes Source 44 Consulting. In 2022 Iain assumed the full time role of CISO for WELL and its various business subsidiaries in North America and abroad. Iain has spoken as a thought leader at Healthtech and Cyber Security conferences globally. Iain currently sits on the RCMP / NC3 Cyber Crime working committee, and the Halifax Forum “Peace with Women Fellowship” selection committee. Iain holds industry designations from ISC2, SABSA, and ISACA and an MBA from Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada.

Moderator

AJ Khan

CISSP, CCSK, PCIP, MBA (Innovation & Entrepreneurship) CEO, Vehiqilla INC

AJ Khan is the founder and CEO of Vehiqilla Inc., a company focused on enhancing cybersecurity in the automotive sector. He is an ardent advocate of cyber security and governance, risk and compliance, and is the ex-Chair of the APMA Cyber Security Committee. Currently he contributes to Mobility Cybersecurity for Transport Canada, the European Union Information Security Agency (ENISA), CSA Group and the Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association. 

AJ has over 20 years of experience in Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), and 13 years of experience in Cybersecurity Innovation and Emerging Technologies. He is also the author of “Automotive Cyber Governance” and holds a Bachelors in Electronics Engineering and an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Panelist

John Heaton

Partner, Cybersecurity, KPMG

John is an experienced IT Risk and Security transformation leader with over 35 years of experience in helping clients transform their IT risk and security organizations, solutions and processes to meet the ever changing regulatory and customer requirements. John’s specialties include leading large-scale cyber security and transformation programmes. He has extensive experience dealing with leading global organizations having worked in North America, South America and Europe.

Panelist

Colin Singh Dhillon

President, ImagineQ Inc

Colin Singh Dhillon is a visionary with close to three decades of automotive and mobility expertise, shaping global strategies for industry, academia, and government. Formerly a Chief Technical Officer representing the Canadian automotive sector and the creative leader behind Canada’s first zero-emission concept vehicle, Project Arrow, Colin has now embarked on a new chapter as the visionary behind ImagineQ Inc.

Colin is renowned for his work supporting global brands such as GM, Toyota, and Stellantis, and holds multiple patents. He stands as one of Canada’s leading automotive innovation and design thinking authorities, sought globally for his insights on the evolving future of mobility. Outside of work, Colin is the no.1 best-selling author of the book, “The Three Houses, A Journey to a Better Life.”

Panelist

Jennifer Quaid

Executive Director, Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX)

Jennifer is the Executive Director of the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX), Canada’s preeminent private sector organization for cross-sector collaboration, enabling cyber resilience and preparedness. She is responsible for advancing the mission and purpose of the CCTX and delivering value to its members. With extensive experience in the tech sector and with membership-based organizations, Jennifer excels at creating an environment that fosters customer focus and service delivery.

Jennifer has 30 years of experience creating value in emerging businesses in Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.

View Panel & Webinar: For executives and technical leaders

Noemi Chanda

Noemi is a Partner in Deloitte’s Data Protection and Privacy practice in Toronto. She provides privacy, data protection, and cyber strategy services for organizations seeking to deliver new and better services for their clients and the community, advising in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection, information privacy, and risk management. She specializes in serving technology, healthcare, retail, and public sector clients participating in new initiatives that involve the collection or use of personal information.

Prior to Deloitte, she articled at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and was a Visiting Researcher at the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab, where she looked at privacy in the context of the Internet of Things, AI, connected and autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Noemi holds a BA from the University of Waterloo, a Master’s in Economic Policy from McMaster University, and a law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Ontario.

Register your interest in the training programs available in this sector and we will contact you once the enrollment for the program becomes available.

Register your interest in the training programs available in this sector and we will contact you once the enrollment for the program becomes available.

Register your interest in the training programs available in this sector and we will contact you once the enrollment for the program becomes available.

Register your interest in the training programs available in this sector and we will contact you once the enrollment for the program becomes available.

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Melissa Carvalho

Melissa heads the Strategic Services group, providing cyber solutions for RBC’s 96,000 employees, subsidiaries, and 17 million clients. A results-driven leader, she excels in high-risk project delivery for large organizations. With extensive IT management experience, she’s skilled in needs assessments, software development, and infrastructure. Melissa fosters productivity and stakeholder relationships. Throughout her career, Melissa has developed identity strategies, implementing them across Canada’s top banks and consulting on 50+ IAM programs in North America. As WiD Global Board Vice Chair, she merges her passions for advancing people and tech, aiming to eliminate biases. A diversity advocate, Melissa leads LGBTQ+ efforts at RBC. She is a frequent speaker at global events and is the recipient of awards including Globe and Mail Best Executives 2022, Women In IT awards, and IT World Canada Top 20 Women in Cyber Security 2021.

Imran Ahmad

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 with clients to develop and implement strategies related to cyber threats. He advises on legal risk assessments, compliance, due diligence, security, and data breach incident preparedness and response. Imran often acts as “breach counsel” in the event of a cybersecurity incident, and has extensive experience in managing complex cross-border security incidents. He also provides representation in the event of an investigation, enforcement action or litigation. Imran is the author of Canada’s first legal incident preparation and response handbook Cybersecurity in Canada: A Guide to Best Practices, Planning, and Management, 2nd Edition (LexisNexis, March 2021).

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