Sticky floors & glass ceilings: finding her place in tech

Jasbir Kooner is the Director of IT, Business Relationship Management and Cybersecurity at Englober. She is pursuing her PhD in science and information technology at Université du Québec en Outaouais and previously completed her MBA at Concordia University. Jasbir is a Fellow at the Catalyst. By the time I talk to Jasbir, her morning is […]
AI may be a powerful tool, but it’s no substitute for cyber experts

The following first appeared in The Toronto Star on September 14, 2024. This is the year for artificial intelligence (AI) integration — it’s now embedded in nearly everything we do. AI systems increasingly control our environment through IoT devices and beyond. IoT devices connect our physical environments to the digital world, and more than 15 […]
What Scarlett Johansson can teach us about taking on AI

Social media platforms facilitate the spread of fake content online. The proposed Online Harms Act lays out new responsibilities for these platforms to mitigate the spread of illegal content from hate speech to incitement of violence or terrorism, to intimate image abuse, child cyberbullying and inducing self-harm.
Elevating Women in Leadership: An Allyship Guide for Men

True allyship is not passive support. It involves actively promoting and amplifying the voices and ideas of women and intentionally supporting their career growth and development. This can include mentorship and sponsorship, but it’s also about purposefully creating opportunities for women to have the spotlight to showcase their skills and expertise.
Five Questions with Bami, CLIC Program Manager

What is the CLIC program, and who is it designed for? Bami: CLIC (Certifications for Leadership in Cybersecurity) is a comprehensive training program that equips individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in cybersecurity. It’s designed for anyone interested in cybersecurity or those looking to enhance their career with specialized skills. What makes the CLIC […]
Autonomous fleets are almost here. Are they safe from cyberattacks?

The following op-ed first appeared in Newsweek on October 9, 2023. As our society transforms into a more connected world, an essential component of this shift is the need for safe and secure driving experiences on our roads. The recent hacking of a Tesla in under two minutes by France security firm Synacktiv demonstrates how serious a […]
Quebec’s new Law 25 is the toughest privacy legislation in Canada. Here’s why it matters.

The following op-ed first appeared in the Toronto Star on October 7, 2023. Although still behind the EU, Quebec is miles ahead of the rest of Canada when it comes to privacy and data legislation. The second wave of Quebec’s Law 25 took effect on Sept. 22. and is the most significant corporate privacy legislation in the […]
Purse: Quantum technology will be here soon, but are we ready for it?

The following op-ed first appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on October 4, 2023. Within the next five to 25 years, quantum computing will be commercially available. All the big tech players, from Google and Microsoft to IBM and Amazon, are currently developing their own quantum technologies to prepare for this impending quantum boom. Canadian businesses […]
Canada needs rules for internet-connected devices

The following op-ed was written by Catalyst founding executive director, Charles Finlay, and David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security (an alum of the Catalyst’s Cyber Accelerator program), and was first published in the The Globe and Mail on July 31, 2023. Our world is increasingly crowded with billions of internet-connected devices. Your car, your baby monitor, even […]
Regulate artificial intelligence — before it’s too late

The following op-ed was written by Dr. Jeff Schwartzentruber, an industry fellow with the Catalyst Fellowship Program, and was first published in the National Post on July 7, 2023. We’re spanning the gap from weak to strong AI — and we’re outpacing ourselves. The Collision tech conference that took place in Toronto last week was […]