MISSISSAUGA, ON (October 31, 2022) – TECHNATION, Canada’s leading national tech industry association, has launched a new Cybersecurity Taskforce as part of its TECH4Canada mandate to ensure government and industry work together to define and execute a national cybersecurity strategy and build resiliency across the nation.  Cyber threats are greater today than ever before and is accelerating the danger for Canada’s economy and our public infrastructure, power grids, utilities and healthcare sector.

The TECHNATION Cybersecurity Taskforce was created to identify and support critical challenges in Canada’s cybersecurity fabric including: talent readiness and availability; cybersecurity resilience in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipalities; and emerging areas of threat such as quantum, IOT, and 5G. To spearhead change, the Taskforce has worked on a national cybersecurity action plan to help elevate Canada’s cybersecurity readiness.

The TECHNATION Cybersecurity Taskforce members include:

  • Angela Mondou, TECHNATION Canada
  • Gary Miller,CGI, Chair of TECHNATION Cybersecurity Taskforce
  • Kevin de Snayer, Calian Group
  • Jatinder Mann, Cetark CorpCanada
  • Rob Campagna, Cisco Systems Canada
  • David Masson, Darktrace
  • Paul Haynes, eSentire
  • Rafi Wanounou, Fortinet
  • Farshad Abasi, Forward Security
  • Michel Tourigny, Infosys Public Services
  • Kevin Dawson, ISA Cybersecurity
  • Imraan Bashir, KPMG Canada
  • Guillaume Neron, Kyndryl Canada
  • Kevin Magee, Microsoft Canada
  • Tony Holmes, Pluralsight
  • Serge Bukharov, SkyHive

The TECHNATION Cybersecurity Taskforce contains members of tech companies and service providers of all types, including multinationals and growing Canadian cybersecurity firms. They will provide a collaborative platform and ecosystem for thought leadership to enhance the overall cybersecurity awareness, talent and capability position of Canada. The primary goals are:

  1. Identify realistic cyber imperative areas to change and improve.
  2. Stimulate the development of strategies, approaches, and techniques to rapidly increase the supply of qualified cybersecurity workers in Canada.
  3. Educate Canadians and Canadian organizations on the vital need for cybersecurity awareness and readiness.
  4. Ensure prosperity and develop the Canadian digital economy for the future.

“Canadian governments must recognize cybersecurity as a matter of national security and do all that is required to ensure cyber compliance across all industries. TECHNATION’s Cyber Taskforce intends to amplify, and take action in this important work,” said Angela Mondou, President and CEO, TECHNATION. “Canada must develop a profound respect for the increased cyber threat in today’s world.  As we speak to our members about what they believe are the most important issues facing both our industry and Canada, cybersecurity and the workforce to support it, has emerged as the burning platform for Canada’s tech sector and the economy as a whole.”

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About TECHNATION

TECHNATION is the industry-government nexus for technology prosperity in Canada. As a member-driven, not-for-profit, TECHNATION unites Canada’s technology sector, governments, and communities to enable technology prosperity in Canada. TECHNATION champions technology prosperity by providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities across industry and governments at all levels; connecting Canadian scale-ups with global tech leaders; engaging the global supply chain; and filling the technology talent pipeline.

TECHNATION has served as the authoritative national voice of the $230 billion ICT industry for over 60 years. More than 44,000 Canadian ICT firms create and supply goods and services that contribute to a more productive, competitive, and innovative society. The ICT sector generates more than 671,100 jobs and invests $8.0 billion annually in R&D, more than any other private sector performer. For more information: www.technationcanada.ca. TECHNATION was formerly the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC).

For more information, contact:

Sarah Coombs
Cell: 416-729-8550 or scoombs@technationcanada.ca