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CIO Peer Forum® 2025
The CIO Association of Canada’s annual conference, the CIO Peer Forum, is a vibrant community event for attendees and the profession.
CIO.D™
The Rotman – CIOCAN
CIO Executive Leadership Program and the official CIO Designation ‘CIO.D™’
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Engage in casual and formal networking online and in-person near you. Attend top events like the CIO Peer Forum.
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career
Build a professional profile and develop your leadership skills through training and collaborating with industry peers.
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impact
Share your experience with the world. Make an impact on the profession and future generations of IT executives.
Virtual Event Recording now available, Advancing Endpoint Security in the Hybrid, AI-Powered Era
Winner of the 2024 Dr. Catherine Aczel Boivie and CIO Association of Canada Award – Janofa Muthulingam
Advancing Endpoint Security in the Hybrid, AI-Powered Era
Virtual Event Recording now available, The AI Cyber Hacking Landscape: How to Prepare for a Cyber Event
Virtual Event Recording now available, White Paper – Navigating the AI PC Era: Cybersecurity Challenges and Innovations
Navigating the AI PC Era: Cybersecurity Challenges and Innovations
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Member Insights
Greg Kaufman
2024 CIO.D GRADUATE, CIOCAN MEMBER OF THE TORONTO CHAPTER
“Being a member of the CIO Association of Canada for the past three years has been a game-changer for me. The networking opportunities have been invaluable, connecting me with an incredible community of peers. These relationships have provided not only professional support but also practical resources to address day-to-day business challenges. It’s been a truly enriching experience that I would recommend to any IT leader.”
Dr. Peter Holowka
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, WEST POINT GREY ACADEMY
“I have been a member of CIOCAN for nearly 20 years. It’s a phenomenal organization that allows for the exchange of good ideas (and hard lessons learned) among members across industries. I have always been impressed by the quality of the people who are a part of CIOCAN. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how much is in common across industries when leading IT. From forestry to education to banking to hospitality to municipalities, the IT considerations are more similar than different. I often found that I was able to take the good ideas from other IT leaders in different industries and then become an example for others to follow in my industry –of course, giving credit along the way. The CIO Association of Canada was instrumental in my professional growth and success over the years. If I could be part of only one professional association, this would be the one I would choose.”
Dino A. Miele CET, BA, M.Ed
CEO AND FOUNDER, SPARK NIAGARA
“I am incredibly pleased with how CIOCAN has supported my professional growth and enhanced my career. The organization has provided invaluable opportunities to connect with a network of talented leaders, individuals and CIOs, shared insights, and collaborate on industry challenges. The resources, events, and knowledge-sharing environment have been instrumental in helping me stay ahead of the curve in my field. CIOCAN’s ongoing commitment to fostering leadership and innovation has truly made a positive impact on my work and career trajectory.”
Karl Galbraith
INDEPENDENT SECURITY CONSULTANT/ VIRTUAL CISO, GALBRAITH & ASSOCIATES INC.
“CIOCAN has provided me with a national network of interested CISO peers”
Dee Salah
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNANCE AND INFORMATION SECURITY, RAHD SECURITY
“Transitioning into a cybersecurity leadership role comes with a slew of challenges and “growing pains” for the new leader and their organization alike. I found the CIO Association, and especially the CISO division, to be a fantastic support for me in my new role. The members are all experienced, and very generous with their time and their advice. In the last few months of membership, engaging with this wonderful community has been an enriching experience and has provided ample opportunity for growth and provided a significant exposure to the latest trends and innovations in the tech space. There have been many events where I could discuss challenges I was encountering and greatly benefited from the collective experience and insights of the experienced members. Having both the professional and social support from this community has been a major boost to my role and my personal development. I highly recommend membership to any and all interested leaders in tech and especially cybersecurity as the value add for me has been exceptional.”
Derrick Whalen
DIRECTOR, INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, PORT OF HALIFAX
“Being a member of the CIOCAN Association has been an invaluable experience for connecting and collaborating with fellow IT leaders. Regular networking within our Atlantic Canada chapter has provided many opportunities to listen, learn, and share practical experiences. This has helped me tackle challenges, gain insights, and grow in my role.”
Shaun Guthrie
SVP, TECHNOLOGY & ECOMMERCE, PEAVEY INDUSTRIES LP
“A great deal of my career success is because of my participation in the CIO Association of Canada. It’s important to surround yourself with those who are smarter and have more experience, and the Association has given me access to those such people. Being an active member and gaining knowledge from those peers has not only grown me personally but also has had a direct impact on my results at the office. Lastly, the CIO Association of Canada has given me an opportunity to give back to the Technology Community by being part of the local Chapter Board as President and now at the National Board as National Director of Membership.”
Shari Wallace
CIO, REAL ESTATE BOARD OF GREATER VANCOUVER
“I have been a member of the Vancouver Chapter of the CIO Association of Canada for about 20 years and have held a number of board positions during that time, including chapter president and membership of the Peer Forum organizing committee. In the early years of my career as a new IT director, the CIO Association was instrumental in introducing me to a wider group of senior IT executives both locally and nationally. Their knowledge and experience helped me understand that many of my day-to-day challenges were shared with other professionals in other industries. That sense of a safe space and common experience was invaluable in building confidence in my new role, and in providing ballast for difficult discussions within my own organization. I consider many of the CIOs in the local chapter to be friends as well as trusted colleagues. Beyond the local chapter, the CIO Association has also extended the reach of my network into the local partner and educational community, including Simon Fraser University where CIOCAN and SFU jointly offer the Technology Leadership Program to help IT professionals learn the necessary skills to progress to the CIO level. As a seasoned CIO, I am also happy to be able to provide mentoring opportunities for senior IT professionals – both through SFU and the CIO Association’s own program. For me, CIOCAN represents community.”
Philippe Johnston
VP AND CTO – THE CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY
Philippe Johnston is currently President of the CIO Association of Canada. Prior to joining the CATSA / ACSTA in January 2024, he was the Chief Information Officer for the National Research Council Canada. Philippe was also the CIO for NSERC and SSHRC, and has been a digital leader, innovator and transformer for over 25 years.
Collin Perin
CIOCAN MEMBER OF THE TORONTO CHAPTER
“Joining CIOCAN has been an excellent experience! The network offers valuable opportunities to connect with peers, share insights, and access support for tackling IT challenges.”