Building Cyber Resilience Across Canada's Higher Education Sector | Tuesday, November 24, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cyber risk is one of the most complex and rapidly evolving challenges facing Canadian post-secondary institutions. As colleges and universities navigate an increasingly sophisticated threat landscape, strengthening cyber resilience requires collaboration across the organization, from boards and senior leaders to CIOs, CISOs, and cybersecurity professionals.
This symposium will provide practical insights into emerging cyber risks, governance and leadership considerations, and leading practices from across the sector. Participants will explore strategies to strengthen institutional resilience and enhance their organizations’ ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.
In addition to expert presentations, the symposium will feature facilitated peer discussions that provide opportunities to collaborate, exchange perspectives, share common challenges, and discuss leading practices with colleagues from across the post-secondary sector.
Please note that this is a by-invitation-only event and attendance is limited to individuals in specific roles within BCNET member and partner organizations. If you have questions about eligibility or wish to attend, please contact registration@bc.net.
Michael Harvey
Commissioner | BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Michael Harvey was appointed to a six-year term as BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner by unanimous motion of the Legislative Assembly in May 2024.
From 2019 until his appointment, Michael served as the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to taking on that role, he led policy and planning initiatives in executive positions in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Health and Cabinet Secretariat.
He holds degrees in Political Science from Memorial University and Queen’s University and certificates in conflict management, change management and diversity, equity and inclusion. He has lectured on political science and public administration at Memorial University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Toronto.
Lindsay MacDonald
Senior Director, Partnerships | Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre)
Lindsay MacDonald is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing cybersecurity, digital resilience, and collaborative partnerships across Canada. She currently serves as Senior Director of Cyber Partnerships at the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS), where she leads initiatives that strengthen cyber resilience through engagement with governments, industry, academia, and critical infrastructure organizations.
Lindsay is a strong advocate for partnerships between academia, government, and industry, recognizing the critical role that research, innovation, and talent development play in strengthening Canada’s cybersecurity posture. She has collaborated with post-secondary institutions, researchers, and thought leaders to advance cybersecurity awareness, promote workforce development, and support the adoption of emerging technologies in a secure and responsible manner.
Lindsay has played a pivotal role in guiding public and private sector organizations through risk assessments, technology integration, and threat mitigation strategies. With a background in engineering from Queen’s University, she is passionate about national cyber resilience, partner collaboration, and strengthening Canada’s defenses against rapidly evolving digital threats.
Gary Miller
VP, Cybersecurity Programs and Services | CANARIE
For more than 25 years Gary has been assisting government and industry organizations around the world shape appropriate and practical cybersecurity strategies and programs to support their changing business, while continually learning from a diversity of passionate professionals and incredible teams.
Gary draws on a breadth of leadership experiences and learnings in scaling businesses to market leading positions; driving growth and innovation within multi-national corporations, midsize, and early-stage businesses; bringing to market new technologies and businesses; leading global acquisition and integration initiatives; and helping organizations across all sectors create and preserve value.
A unique balance of strategy, business and cybersecurity domain expertise combined with his extensive situational experience enables Gary to collaborate with senior leaders to plot the most effective way forward in today’s complex environment.
Gary speaks often on cybersecurity risk, trends and approaches, participates in industry shaping initiatives, and advises on transformative opportunities and strategies.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC
Breakfast & lunch are provided. The afternoon facilitated peer discussions are designed for face-to-face collaboration and are exclusive to in-person attendees.
To provide additional flexibility, eligible attendees who are unable to join in person now have the option to participate virtually.
Who Can Attend
- Board Chairs and 2-3 Board Representatives
- Presidents and 2-3 Senior Executives
- Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer
To ensure participation across institutions, we kindly request that attendance be limited to the roles noted above.
Program
Time | Session | Presenter |
| 8:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m. | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 9:00 a.m.–9:10 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Welcome | Land Acknowledgement | Dennis Silva President and CEO, BCNET |
| 9:10 a.m.–9:20 a.m. | Remarks from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills | |
| 9:20 a.m.–10:05 a.m. | The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape for Canada's Academic Sector: Risks, Resilience, and Readiness Canada's post-secondary institutions are leaders in research, innovation, and talent development, making them attractive targets for cyber threat actors. As cybersecurity risks continue to evolve in scale and sophistication, institutions of all sizes face increasing challenges in protecting their systems, data, and research. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security will examine the threat landscape affecting Canada's academic sector and discuss emerging threats, digital sovereignty, and the growing intersection of cybersecurity, economic security, and institutional resilience. Attendees will also learn practical cyber hygiene measures they can implement today to reduce risk and strengthen organizational resilience. | Lindsay MacDonald Senior Director, Partnerships, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) |
| 10:05 a.m.–10:25 a.m. | Coffee Break | |
| 10:25 a.m.–11:10 a.m. | Privacy and Higher Education in the Age of AI: The Commissioner’s Perspective Personal information is at the centre of a wide range of cyberattacks, made more complex by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Post-secondary institutions, which hold vast amounts of personal information and lead valuable research, have a legal duty and a vested interest in remaining vigilant against these attacks. Commissioner Harvey will discuss trends his office is seeing in cybersecurity and higher education, how fundamental privacy principles apply regardless of the sophistication of the technology, and the questions leaders should be asking to avoid the worst consequences of a privacy breach. He will highlight how a privacy-first approach can not only guard against and mitigate breaches, but also support the development of technology that is trusted by and benefits the people it is meant to serve. | Michael Harvey Commissioner, BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner |
| 11:10 a.m.–11:55 a.m. | Cybersecurity in an Era of Shared Risk: Leadership, Governance, and Collective Defence Not every cyber risk can be eliminated, nor should it be. This session explores how boards and senior leaders can better understand their evolving risk environment, prioritize what matters most, and make informed choices about where to invest finite resources and which risks to mitigate, transfer, or accept. It also examines how collaboration, shared intelligence, and collective defence can strengthen decision-making and resilience across Canada’s research and education community. | Gary Miller VP, Cybersecurity Programs and Services, CANARIE |
| 11:55 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Matt Milovick Chair of the Board of Directors, BCNET Vice-President, Administration & Finance, Thompson Rivers University |
| 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. | Luncheon | |
| 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | Facilitated Peer Discussions | |
| 2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. | Networking Break | |
| 3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Closing Roundup |