2027 CONNECT Program Committee

Rita Leone, Associate Director, IT Client Services, Thompson Rivers University (2027 Program Committee Chair)

Rita is the Associate Director of IT Client Services at Thompson Rivers University, where she has worked since 2006 and joined IT in 2010. With a background in business management, she brings expertise in leadership, planning, and organizational development to higher education. Rita oversees IT Client Services, emphasizing collaboration, strong relationships, and exceptional support across campus. She is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, service-focused environment that empowers students, faculty, and staff, and is passionate about innovation.

Antonio Brandao, Director, Cybersecurity Services, BCNET  

Antonio is a seasoned IT security and network infrastructure expert with extensive experience in Linux and Windows Server administration. He has designed, deployed, and hardened networks for commercial and government organizations, including enhancing web-application firewall protections for Brazilian military systems to reduce exposure to zero-day and brute-force attacks.

 A former Army Lieutenant Colonel, he led complex operations and made decisive, risk-calibrated decisions under pressure. As a Cyber Security professor at the Military Academy for seven years, he developed and delivered curriculum on threat modeling, penetration testing, secure system design, and incident response. 

His core competencies include: Security policy development & compliance, Network design, hardening & administration, Penetration testing & vulnerability assessment, Scripting & automation (Bash, PowerShell, Python), and Operational support & incident response. Antonio is committed to lifelong learning and staying ahead of emerging cybersecurity threats.

Brian Lamb, Director, Learning, Teaching and Technology, Thompson Rivers University 

Brian oversees learning technology for both campus and Open Learning communities at TRU. He is a co-founder of the OpenETC. He blogs at Abject. 

Clifton Dildy, Director of IT, Camosun College

Clifton Dildy is the Director of Information Technology at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia. He previously served as Manager of Enterprise Systems and Acting Interim Director of Student Affairs. While at the University of Victoria he served as Director of Registrar Information Systems and within University Systems supporting the Student Affairs. His work focuses on delivering value through strong identity management, IT governance, and enterprise systems with a focus on service to students to deliver education.

Devon Keys, Manager, Shared Technology Solutions, BCNET  

Devon manages the diverse portfolio of shared IT solutions that are offered by BCNET’s Shared Systems and Technology team. Working collaboratively with our member community, she acts as a liaison between BCNET’s members and service providers in developing and implementing shared services and technology solutions at their institutions. With a career thus far dedicated to higher education IT, she is well versed in the needs of the post-secondary sector.

James Peltier, Director, IT Services, Research Computing Group, Simon Fraser University 

James Peltier is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in supporting research in IT. He has been a valuable member of Simon Fraser University community since 2006, when he started as a Research Associate (R.A.). 

In 2008, James joined the Network Support Group, became manager in 2010, and the team was later rebranded as the Research Computing Group (RCG) in 2015. During his tenure, James has played a crucial role in the provisioning and support of the Cedar supercomputer from 2016 to 2022 and successfully transitioned from a technical role to become the Director of Research Computing Group, where he currently leads the team.

Jen Busch, CIO, College of New Caledonia

Jen Busch is a higher education technology leader with more than 13 years of experience in the post-secondary sector. Beginning her career in the Registrar's Office and progressing to Chief Information Officer, Jen has built a deep understanding of the systems, services, and people that support student success and institutional effectiveness.

Jen is an active contributor to the Canadian higher education technology community. She serves as Chair and Conference Director for CEUG, is an executive member of CCPIC, and represents her College of New Caledonia through BCNET's Shared Technology Services Committee and CIO Council Executive. Her work focuses on collaboration, innovation, and leveraging technology to enhance the student and employee experience across the post-secondary sector. Jen is passionate about creating spaces for women in technology.

Outside of work, Jen volunteers with the Sexual Assault Response Team and enjoys spending time outdoors running and paddleboarding.

John Cuzzola, Information Security Director, Thompson Rivers University

John Cuzzola is the Director of Information Security at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. He leads the university’s information security program, with responsibilities spanning incident response, digital forensics, risk management, security operations, privacy, policy development, and security awareness. 

Before TRU, John was the information technology director for the Kamloops-Thompson School District. John has extensive experience in information technology and cybersecurity leadership across the post-secondary and public education sectors. He is particularly interested in emerging cyber threats, identity security, and agentic AI.

Jordan Perrey, Director of IT, Okanagan College 

Jordan Perrey is an accomplished IT professional with over 20 years of experience. He has spent close to a decade with the BC Government before working in a private technology company. There he worked with a number of NHL, NBA and NFL teams. Over the last 6 years he had been the CIO at Okanagan College.

Keith Webster, Associate Faculty, Centre for Teaching and Educational Technology, Royal Roads University 

Keith manages teams within the Centre for Teaching and Educational Technologies that support both online and classroom technologies at Royal Roads. He has been an educational technologist and instructional designer for close to 20 years and has taught in the K-12 and post-secondary systems. Keith is a past chair of the Educational Technology User’s Group (ETUG) and teaches part time as an Open Learning Faculty member at Thompson Rivers University.

Ken Bigelow, Systems Administrator II at Advanced Research Computing, The University of British Columbia

Ken is a Systems Administrator II with Advanced Research Computing at the University of British Columbia. For over 25 years, Ken has helped faculty, researchers, and students make use of the latest technologies and software, putting complex tools within easy reach.

Kevin Schretlen, Manager, IT Infrastructure and Operations, University of Northern British Columbia 

Kevin Schretlen is the Manager, Infrastructure & Cloud Adoption within Information Technology Services at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). In this role, he leads teams responsible for enterprise infrastructure, networking, cloud services, communications, and core technology operations that support teaching, learning, research, and administration across the university. 

With a passion for service excellence, collaboration, and innovation in higher education technology, Kevin works closely with colleagues across the post-secondary sector to advance sustainable, secure, and resilient digital services. His areas of interest include infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity, cloud technologies, IT governance, and leveraging emerging technologies to improve institutional outcomes.

As a BCNET Connect 2027 Track Co-Chair, Kevin is committed to fostering meaningful conversations, sharing practical experiences, and bringing together technology professionals to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of higher education IT.
 

Lance Bailey, Director, Research IT, BC Cancer Research Institute 

 Lance is the Director of IT at BC Cancer Research, and has worked in private sector, academic and medical research for close to 40 years.

Melvin Lal, Director, Digital Transformation Office and Cybersecurity, Capilano University

Melvin is the Director of Cybersecurity at Capilano University. Melvin has had previous roles within the BC Government and brings expertise in team management, leadership and risk mitigation. Melvin's experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and leading innovative solutions is supporting the digital experience of CapU.

Ranjeet Saini, Chief Information Officer, Langara College

Ranjeet Saini is the Chief Information Officer at Langara College - Canada’s premier pathways college, located in Vancouver BC, and located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam people. With over 25-years of technology experience, Ranjeet joined the post-secondary sector in 2025 focused on rebranding IT as a strategic enabler of student and faculty success. Outside the office, you’ll find him on the golf course, deep in a board game with his kids, or on a coffee date with his wife.

Ryan Enge, Director, Research Computing Services​, University of Victoria 

Ryan Enge is the Director of Research Computing Services at the University of Victoria and national site lead for “Arbutus",  part of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada's national cloud platform. He started in Advanced Research Computing (ARC) after joining the High-Energy Physics (HEP) group at the university in 2004. 

When UVic received its first WestGrid system at the end of 2009, Ryan helped deploy Compute Canada’s first infrastructure as a service (IaaS) cloud. The RCS team was formed in April 2017 and Ryan switched from a technical role to a leadership role of this team.

Shaun Longstreet, Dean of Teaching & Learning, College of the Rockies

Shaun Longstreet is Dean of Innovation in Teaching and Learning at College of the Rockies and has worked in higher education for 30 years. His portfolio includes eLearning, educational development, Learning Commons and regional learning hubs, program quality assurance, and initiatives supporting regional and online learners. 

He has led work in educational technology adoption, digital learning, competency-based education, and coordinated student supports. His scholarly interests include serious educational games, a subject on which he has several publications. 

Shaun brings a rural college perspective to sector-wide conversations about how technology can strengthen teaching, learning, and student success.

Zoë Armer, Program Manager, Cybersecurity, The University of British Columbia

Zoë Armer is the Program Manager, Cybersecurity at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she has worked in IT since 2012 and cybersecurity since 2016. With decades of experience, she leads the non-technical side of cybersecurity, managing programs, projects, and portfolios. 

Her work includes communications and engagement, with a focus on building a culture where cybersecurity hygiene is second nature and shared across the institution. Zoë is passionate about the human dimension of cybersecurity, promoting inclusive, awareness-driven approaches that empower individuals and communities to take ownership of digital safety.