​Join us for a another edition of our Local Government Sector Day where we’ll explore the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing municipalities today. Our expert speakers will share practical strategies for protecting vital local government systems, offer insights into using free or low-cost tools, and demonstrate how to foster a resilient cybersecurity culture. From federal policing partnerships to hands-on guidance in building your cybersecurity plan, each session is designed to equip leaders, administrators, and IT professionals with the knowledge and confidence to safeguard their communities in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

​Sessions:

​The New Security Awareness is Organizational Change Management

• ​WiCyS, Penny Longman, President

​Security awareness has not kept pace with today’s risk. Phishing click rates, by themselves, are meaningless without context and follow-up. In this session, we reframe awareness from a test to a teaching moment. Attendees will see how to build programs that create champions across the business: explain why long, unique, complex passwords and password managers are required, what MFA is and how it protects us, and why separating Prod from Dev/Test reduces blast radius. We will cover how to recognize phishing and, just as important, how to report it quickly and what to do after a mistake. The outcome is a practical model that replaces shame and blame with psychological safety, better metrics, and real risk reduction.

​Empowering Communities. Building Cyber Defenders

​How PISCES is providing No-Cost Cybersecurity for Public Organizations while training the new generation of cyber defenders!

• ​Michael Hamilton, PISCES, Co-Founder

​Fireside Chat: Quantum Readiness: What “Q-Day” Really Means for Your Organization

​Lots of leaders have heard of Q-Day, fewer know what it actually means for their business. This session cuts through the noise to explain why encryption remains a critical business control today, what will change in the quantum era, and how much preparation is truly warranted. Our panel will separate hype from reality, outline practical timelines, and show you how to build a sensible, staged plan that fits your risk profile and budget.

​Moderator

• ​Eugene Lau, Member Relations, In Sec M (The Canadian Cybersecurity Cluster)

​Speakers

• ​James Nguyen, CEO, Quantropi

• ​TBD

​Speakers

​Penny Longman, President, WiCyS Western Affiliate

​Penny is an award-winning cybersecurity leader and the current President of the Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Western Canada Affiliate. With a career spanning diverse sectors including mining, manufacturing, environmental sciences, data analytics, consulting, financial services and healthcare, Penny brings a rare blend of technical expertise and strategic vision to every initiative she leads. Penny’s leadership is defined by her commitment to innovation, collaboration, and empowerment. Whether she’s shaping policy, leading teams, or speaking at industry events, she inspires others to reimagine what’s possible in the digital age.

​

​Mike Hamilton, Co-Founder, PISCES

​Michael is Chairman of the Board of the PISCES Project and serves as Community Coordinator. In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Michael has served as a Cybersecurity Policy Advisor for Washington State; Vice-Chair of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council; Chief Information Security Officer for the City of Seattle; and Managing Consultant for VeriSign Global Security Consulting.

​James Nguyen, CEO, Quantropi

​James was born and raised in Ottawa and graduated with a degree in Economics from Carleton University. He has been recognized as an Ottawa Top Forty under 40 recipient and was named Entrepreneur of the Year by CanadianSME Magazine in 2023.

He co-founded Quantropi, a dual-use tech company dedicated to safeguarding digital communications and ensuring data integrity against emerging threats in Quantum and AI for global security with major product manufactures, IoT device makes and government and defense.  Since its inception in 2018, Quantropi has earned global recognition, including being a 2025 NATO Innovator, a 2024 IDC innovator, a Deloitte’s Fast 50 company (Europe), Best Fiduciary Board for Canada’s Best Private Boards in 2024 and a 2023 Future In Review Company.

​Eugene Lau, Head of Member Relations, In Sec M (The Canadian Cybersecurity Cluster)

​About the Municipal Finance Authority of BC

​Through our collective structure, the Municipal Finance Authority of BC (MFABC), pools the borrowing and investment needs of BC’s communities and public institutions to achieve scale and provide a range of low cost and flexible financial services. MFABC is independent from the Province of BC and has been enhancing the stability and resilience of the local government sector and enabling the equitable and affordable delivery of essential services across BC since 1970.  After lending and investments, we consider support for financial education to be the ‘third pillar’ of our mission.  We have been sponsoring the Vancouver ISACA Chapter “Local Government Sector Day” for several years as we see the potential financial risk impact of cybersecurity to our local government clients, as well as in our own technology operations.  

​Renata Hale, Director of Technology & Strategy

​Renata is the Director, Technology & Strategy with the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia (MFA) and is responsible for technology, software development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. 

​Renata is a CPA, CGA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting science.  She is an advocate for continuing education and has completed certificates in Risk Management, Performance Management, Strategy, Cybersecurity Frameworks, and Leadership.