About us

Our Board

Renee Foster

About Renee

Renee graduated from Eastern College with a diploma with distinction in the Business and Digital Marketing Specialist program. After completing a three-month internship with Cyber Security Canada, she was offered a permanent full-time position in Sales & Marketing back in December 2021. With a passion for marketing and a new passion cybersecurity, her many skills have been put to great use.

Victor Beitner

About Victor

Laurie James

About Laurie

Advisory board member Laurie Pieters-James is an accomplished Offender Profiler and Forensic Criminologist with extensive expertise in intelligence and over 15 years of practical experience. Holding a Grade A Certification from the Private Security Regulating Authority of South Africa, Laurie’s specialization spans violent and sex offenders, along with a recent focus on financial and cybercrime.

Steve Solomon

About Steve

Steve served multiple years in the Canadian Armed Forces-Artillery. He has 25 years of experience working with organizations on their IT posture. He started out running an MSP with staff to service the community and the next step in the career was consulting with clients on IT Policies and procedures. He developed a method to help organizations streamline improving their Cyber Posture to allow for realistic engagements. From 2019 to 2022 attended meetings focusing on the development and growth of the certification “CyberSecure Canada” based on Canada’s National Standard CAN/CIOSC104: 2021, Provided critical feedback to Canadian Government agencies about the interaction between Organizations and Certification Bodies. Attended Certification Body meetings to receive updates and add input about the progress of CyberSecure Canada. Steve is passionate about turning chaos into order by helping Organizations improve their Cyber Security Maturity Level.

Ramya Rayen

About Ramya

Ramya is highly organized professional with over 6 years’ experience as a Senior IT Auditor & Consultant in security governance, operation, risk management and audit areas

Ramya has a solid educational foundation. She holds her higher education from the University of Madras. She has completed her certification in ISO 9001 & 27001 Auditor, CSQA, Project Management Professional Certification, Scrum and Six Sigma and Business Process Automation. She engaged herself in benchmarking with industry standards which drove her to pursue CISA certification.

With her extensive background, she worked with international cross-functional teams to ensure compliance measures aligned with clients and business objectives. Ramya’s expertise includes compliance and internal and operational audits.

Ramya is very passionate about auditing and happy to be part of the Cyber Security Canada team in supporting our clients’ businesses to achieve their goals.

Sam Zia

About Sam

Meet Sam, a seasoned professional with a strong background in cybersecurity, who has recently taken the reins as our Lead Cybersecurity Engineer. Sam’s journey with Cyber Security Canada began as an ISO Lead Auditor and CyberSecure Canada practitioner, where his expertise was quickly recognized as an invaluable asset.

As a previous consultant with our team, Sam spent a year working with clients diligently examining and working with them to improve their security measures. His hard work and dedication were not just evident to us but became a hallmark of his presence on the team.

Sam’s presence enhances our commitment to providing top-notch security solutions. His ability to think critically, coupled with a hands-on approach to problem-solving, makes him an indispensable member of our team.

Rada Beitner

About Rada

Rada Beitner is a highly accomplished finance and technology professional, currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Cyber Security Canada. Rada boasts an impressive academic background, having studied at prestigious institutions in both Russia and Canada.

Rada began her educational journey in Russia, earning a Technical Mathematician-Programmer diploma with the highest distinction from the Moscow College of Automation and Telemechanic. She continued her studies at the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, where she trained as a programmer. Rada’s passion for finance and economics led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in Accounting, Analysis and Audit, and Accounting Economist, from the Moscow Institute of Entrepreneurship and Law, which she completed in 2004.

Rada’s pursuit of academic excellence took her to Canada, where she earned an Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management – Accounting from Centennial College in December 2020. Rada’s ambition and drive for professional development didn’t stop there; she began her Master of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton in October 2022.

Rada’s unique combination of skills in finance, economics, and technology, honed through her diverse educational background, has made her an invaluable asset to Cyber Security Canada. In her role as Chief Financial Officer, Rada is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations, ensuring robust financial planning and analysis, and guiding strategic decision-making. Rada’s experience and expertise make her a key player in the company’s continued growth and success in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Volunteers

Steve Ossinger

About Steve

Steve Ossinger is an individual originally from the Maritimes who relocated to Ontario following a successful 24-year tenure in the Canadian Army. Upon retiring, he recognized the need for a second career and devoted himself to developing expertise in the field of cybersecurity. In just one year, Steve obtained a Cyber Architect certificate from the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute and an esteemed CISSP designation. Motivated by a personal experience involving his mother-in-law falling victim to a cybercrime, Steve felt a strong sense of purpose in assisting others who find themselves in similar unfortunate situations. He is a committed family man, married with two teenagers, and currently resides in Eastern Ontario.

Liam Solomon

About Liam

Liam grew up always surrounded by computers with a constant interest in IT. While completing his bachelors degree in history at Carleton University, Liam was introduced to and began his interest in the world of cyber security. After graduation, Liam began working for Pioneer Systems Inc. o/a Cyber Practitioner at the start of 2023 to learn the trade of Information Security Consultant. Liam has recently attained a CSCCP (CyberSecure Canada Certified Professional) certification from True North CyberSecure Academy and is currently helping organizations to work towards attaining CyberSecure Canada certification.

Pratik Bambhania

About Pratik

Hi, I’m Pratik Bambhania, with a passion for technology and a drive to make a difference, I’m always on the lookout for new challenges and opportunities to grow as a professional. I hold a B.Tech degree in Computer science and a post-graduate degree in Cybersecurity and Wireless Networking. I have over 2 years of experience in diverse cybersecurity roles, I currently work as a security engineer at Equo.AI, implementing a robust security culture within the company. I’m particularly drawn to areas like artificial intelligence, privacy, and the ethical considerations surrounding technology. Having firsthand experience with the profound impact of this field, I’m motivated to establish a compassionate space trough, offering support, resources, and a sense of community for people those navigating the aftermath of cyber incidents.

Emmanuel Omolaja

About Emmanuel

Emmanuel, a Nigerian, is a dedicated follower of Christ and an accomplished software developer. He is also an ardent advocate for cybersecurity, going beyond his technical expertise. Emmanuel embraces the roles of a dynamic tech speaker and a versatile freelancer, always ready for collaboration and eager to explore exciting opportunities.With a wealth of experience as a seasoned participant in over 15 hackathons, Emmanuel has earned recognition for both his technical acumen and unwavering commitment to innovation. His passion for cybersecurity, coupled with proficiency in backend web development and low code/no code platforms, underscores his multidimensional approach to the ever-evolving tech landscape

Greg LePard

About Greg

Gregory Dharma LePard has been actively involved in Information Technology and Cybersecurity for over 20 years. He is a dynamic and motivated professional with cybersecurity, sales engineering, account management, and ethical hacking expertise. Gregory’s passion for cybersecurity and the constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape have driven him to continuously seek knowledge and expand his expertise. He is continually pursuing certifications related to the cybersecurity field, which has given him an extensive range of knowledge that is constantly growing. Gregory feels that knowledge needs to be shared and has authored and published several books to assist others in navigating the cybersecurity landscape and protecting themselves, their families, and their workplaces from cyber threats. Gregory is the co founder and Chief Evangelist of Cybersnap. This cybersecurity consulting firm provides various services, including Cybersecurity Training, vCISO, Cloud to Technical and Security Overviews, and Ethical Hacking. Cybersnaps’ philosophy is to bring the human element back to cybersecurity as the first line of defence. Gregory resides in Canada with his partner and their beloved pet.

Tanbir Ahamed

About Tanbir

Tanbir Ahamed is an accomplished Electronics and Communication Engineer with over 9+ years of dedicated experience in Cyber Security, Spectrum Management, and radio frequency engineering. Currently serving with the Qatari Armed Forces, I specialize in tactical radios, IT, cybersecurity, fiber optic splicing, observation, and the maintenance of SDH, DWDM, IP Transmission Equipment, and LDN Fiber. My strong educational foundation and practical expertise make me well-versed in network, telecommunications, and wireless technologies. Known for tackling complex challenges and providing innovative solutions, I have a track record of steadily increasing responsibilities throughout my career.

Saranya Ramachandran

About Saranya

I am a seasoned Technical Support Engineer with a robust background spanning six years across diverse industries, primarily in telecommunications. My professional journey has been marked by a relentless passion for networking and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

My expertise is grounded in hands-on experience, honed through years of navigating the complexities of telecommunications .During my tenure as a Network Engineer at Ericsson Global Services India Private Limited, I played a pivotal role in microwave network planning and maintenance of microwave records.. My focus was always on ensuring the seamless quality and optimal performance of microwave links.

Now, I am eager to leverage my engineering background, strategic planning and decisive leadership skills to contribute meaningfully to Cyber Security Canada. My passion for cybersecurity aligns seamlessly with my technical proficiency, creating a synergy that I believe can play a significant role in advancing the organization’s objectives.

My goal is to contribute proactively to Cyber Security Canada’s mission, utilizing my skills and experience to fortify the organization’s cybersecurity framework. In embracing the opportunity to volunteer with Cyber Security Canada, I am ready to bring not only my technical capabilities but also my commitment to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.