Programs

Get involved, learn and contribute

CIOCAN programs are multifaceted and present opportunities to learn, get involved and give back to the profession. Here is a summary of our current programs:

Impact Awards

CIOCAN’s Impact Awards recognize excellence in our technology leaders across Canada. It is together that we tackle the complex issues of our profession and we’re proud of our members who are leading the way.

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Innovation Drivers Podcast Episodes

We are pleased to present CIOCAN’s Innovation Drivers Podcast. CIOCAN in partnership with the Business Leadership Podcast we speak with Canada’s top technology leaders to discuss ideas, successes, and challenges that are creating a better future.

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Mentorship Program

CIOCAN’s Mentorship program, free to all CIOCAN members and their direct reports, demonstrates our dedication to growing and supporting current and emerging IT leaders.

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Thought Leadership Councils

Our Thought Leadership Councils bring together members from coast to coast in a virtual thought leadership “brain trust” to problem-solve the challenges we all share in our roles every day.

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Technology Leadership Program

The CIOCAN Leadership Development Program is offered by Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, in partnership with the CIO Association of Canada.

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DX / Blockchain Certification

Brought to you by TransformationWorx is a learning opportunity to get certified in one of the most promising technologies, Blockchain. Discover a technology that can revolutionize the world economy.

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Mike Schoenberger
Speaker

CEO at Sunco Communication and Installation Ltd.

Hi! I’m Mike Schoenberger and CEO of Sunco Communication and Installation Ltd. My passion is to make business communication easier for our clients. In today’s world, there is so much information available, it is hard to know what will fill your business’s needs. I use my knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the past 30+ years to ensure that Sunco has the best products and services, designed specifically using our personal touch. We deliver a quality solution with simple access to support and the friendliness of the Sunco family.

Mike on LinkedIn

Nil Singh
Speaker

Director, Enterprise Technology at Electronic Recycling Association

Since 2015 Nil Singh has been driving ERA’s marketing strategy for all verticals. Nil is proficient in Vendor management,Information security, Technical depth, Data, Communication, Business partnership, Transparency, Project execution, Strategic thinking, Team development, Transformation & Business acumen. Based in Vancouver his role will have a primary focus on driving nationwide growth for the ERA by acquiring new clients, seeking out other growth strategies, assisting enterprise clients with evergreen refresh initiatives and data security mandates. He is an avid car and fitness enthusiast and loves to spend time with family.

Nil on LinkedIn

Zeshan Randhawa
Speaker

Business Transformation Practice Lead & Partner at Softlanding

Zeshan has been with Softlanding since 2007 and a partner since 2019. In his role as Business Analyst Lead, he focuses on Digital Transformation for the Modern Workplace, helping organizations to transform their business to stay ahead of change and create value for today and in the future. Alongside planning and envisioning, Zeshan specializes in facilitating Information Architecture redesign, Governance, and Organizational Change Management.

Zeshan on LinkedIn

Dr. Ibrahim Gedeon
Speaker

Chief Technology Officer at Telus

Ibrahim Gedeon is one of the global telecommunications industry’s eminent thought leaders. He has carved out an international career by combining insight and skill as an applied scientist with a lighthearted approach to leadership. As Chief Technology Officer for TELUS, a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, he is responsible for all technology development and strategy, security, service and network architecture, service delivery and operational support systems, as well as service and network convergence, and network infrastructure strategies and evolution. Under his leadership the TELUS wireless broadband network has become one of the best in the world.

Ibrahim serves on the board of the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions and the Institute for Communication Technology Management. In addition to his industry leadership roles, he has been awarded with IEEE Communications Society’s prestigious Distinguished Industry Leader Award and elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) for his significant contributions to the field of engineering. Ibrahim has also been named one of the 100 most powerful and influential people in the telecoms industry in Global Telecoms Business magazine’s GTB Power 100.

Ibrahim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, a Master’s in Electronics Engineering from Carleton University and an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia and is passionate about supporting engaged, high-performing teams.

Ibrahim on LinkedIn

Brian Kuhn
Speaker

Virtual CIO at Softlanding

As Softlanding’s vCIO, Brian engages with clients on strategy, the art-of-the-possible, planning, transformation, road-mapping, business case development, architecture, cloud computing, change management, technology adoption, and project leadership.

Brian holds a Bachelors of Computing Science with Distinction from VIU and has gained a wealth of valuable experience with over 34 years in public sector roles.

Brian is passionate about being able to serve, guide, and help clients navigate ever-evolving technological change and opportunity, to their business advantage.

Brian on LinkedIn

Guy M. Snodgrass
Speaker

Chief Executive Officer
at Defense Analytics

Guy Snodgrass is an author and strategist exploring the intersection of technology, innovation, and national security. As Chief Executive Officer for Defense Analytics, he oversees a team responsible for guiding corporate strategic development, communications, and advocacy.

Mr. Snodgrass has 25-plus years of experience as a strategist and senior leader in the U.S. Department of Defense, having served as the Pentagon’s Director of Communications and chief speechwriter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. He is most recently the author of TOPGUN’s TOP 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit, which explores leadership tenets through the lens of the high-performance fighter pilot community. He also hosts Holding the Line, a popular national security and foreign policy podcast. He has appeared as an expert national security and technology commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, and others, and is a contributor to Forbes.

Guy on LinkedIn

Joe Pucciarelli
Speaker

Group Vice President & IT Executive Advisor at IDC

Joseph Pucciarelli, IDC Group Vice-President, guides business and technology executives leveraging technology to achieve innovative and disruptive business outcomes. He presents at more than 40 CIO executive summits worldwide annually, speaking to senior business leaders and technology executives on technology transformation strategies. He is a research agenda leader and facilitator for 75+ analysts publishing dedicated research for IDC’s CIO and technology buyer clients.

His research enables clients to create preemptive business and technology strategies grounded in sound financial practices and a comprehensive understanding of competitive ecosystems. He empowers IT leaders to deliver strategically-aligned organizational development and talent management plans. A skilled executive coach and change agent, he works with clients to foster executive intrapreneurship in enterprise-class organizations.

Joseph on LinkedIn

Daniel Sanchez Reina
Speaker

Senior Director Analyst at Gartner

Daniel Sanchez Reina is a Senior Director Analyst for Gartner’s Leadership, Culture and People Dynamics team in the CIO Research Group. Mr. Sanchez Reina covers the complex challenges of High-Performing Teams, Organizational and Cultural Change, Leadership Skills and Competencies, and Digital Transformation initiatives. He provides research on a worldwide basis, advising clients on their specific needs to achieve sustainable growth.

Mr. Sanchez Reina brings to Gartner over 20 years of experience in delivering people and digital transformation initiatives in different industries. He worked as a CIO for Sony Europe (Consumer Electronics Industry) and Laboratorios Isdin (Pharmaceutical Industry), and he also has an extensive background as a consultant as well as an executive coach.

He has published two books on leadership and high-performing teams.

Daniel on LinkedIn

Todd Kennedy
Speaker

Director of Technology at Golden Hills School Division #75

Todd began his career at the Pembina Hills School Division. After serving for 16 years, he left his role as Director of Technology to take on the new challenge of Director of Technology for Golden Hills School Division. His team manages all the technology and infrastructure for a school population of 8,400 students and 1,000 staff, spread across 47 schools, both traditional and on-line, in South Central Alberta.

He is a sought-after speaker for the annual ATLE Convergence Conference, as well as the IT4K12 annual conference in British Columbia, where his sessions are always fully subscribed. His topics focus on leadership in the field of technology. Todd attends the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) annual conference of around 18,000 attendees, where he helps facilitate a day of learning for international affiliates. Todd is also part of the Future of Education Technology STEM awards committee – where schools from all over the world are recognized for their achievements at the annual FETC conference in Florida.

Todd has been part of the Board for the Alberta Technology Leaders in Education since it’s inception in 2006, serving in various roles over the years. In December 2020, he completed his third, two-year term, as President. Currently Todd serves on the Board of CIO Association of Canada – Calgary Chapter.

Todd has a Master of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Liverpool, where his Dissertation described QoS for Voice, Video, and Data over Alberta Supernet. This project was intended as a “cookbook” of sorts that could be used by school jurisdictions as they implemented QoS.

Todd on LinkedIn

Lisa Inness
Speaker

Executive Director, Client Engagement & Solution Delivery and Innovation at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

Lisa Inness is currently an Executive Director, Client Engagement & Solution Delivery and Innovation at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario. In this strategic role, Lisa collaborates with the Injured Persons and Providers lines of business to provide technology solutions supporting return to work services for Ontarians. Lisa is also the Technology Lead for the WSIB’s core services modernization initiative and Innovation program enabling new digital services and improved outcomes for key stakeholders.

Lisa has over 20 years of IT leadership experience in both the public and private sector with extensive experience in organizational design, relationship management, strategic sourcing, portfolio management and Innovation.

Lisa on LinkedIn

Chris Valasek
Conférencier principal

Architecte principal de la sécurité des véhicules autonomes, de l’automatisation des croisières et hacker éthique renommé

Chris Valasek s’inspire de ses recherches et de son exposition à de graves failles de la sécurité automobile qui ont fait les manchettes pour partager des solutions concrètes sur la protection des consommateurs et des entreprises contre les cyber-attaques.

Considéré pour son travail dans le domaine de la sécurité automobile, Chris est architecte principal de la sécurité des véhicules autonomes chez Cruise Automation et a agi comme responsable de la sécurité au centre de technologie avancée d’Uber et président de SummerCon, la plus ancienne conférence américaine sur les pirates informatiques.

Il est surtout connu pour avoir piraté et pris le contrôle à distance d’une Jeep Cherokee 2014 avec son partenaire de recherche, le Dr Charlie Miller. Il a été félicité pour avoir mis en évidence de graves failles de sécurité dans les automobiles. Chris est l’un des premiers chercheurs à discuter en détail des questions de sécurité automobile. Sa publication du code, des données et des outils qui ont permis d’accéder physiquement aux véhicules et de les contrôler par le biais du bus de données a attiré l’attention des médias du monde entier.

Très sollicité pour ses idées sur les problèmesde diverses technologies et dispositifs dont la sécurité peut être compromise avec le monde extérieur, Chris partage des solutions urgentes pour protéger le public contre les cyber-menaces imminentes. Ses réflexions sur le monde de la cybersécurité en général vont changer votre vision des vulnérabilités potentielles auxquelles sont confrontés non seulement l’industrie automobile, mais aussi notre mode de vie et nos activités de plus en plus numériques, sans fil et avec l’internet des objets.

Chris sur LinkedIn

Dan Pontefract
Conférencier principal

Auteur, orateur, penseur,
Stratégiste en matière de leadership

Dan est le fondateur et le PDG de Pontefract Group, une entreprise qui rehausse le leadership et la culture organisationnelle.

Il est l’auteur de quatre livres à succès : LEAD. CARE. WIN. How to Become a Leader Who Matters, OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT and FLAT ARMY. Orateur de renom, Dan a fait des présentations lors de quatre conférences TED différentes et écrit également pour Forbes et Harvard Business Review. Dan est professeur adjoint à Gustavson School of Business de l’Université de Victoria, et a reçu plus de 20 prix de l’industrie au cours de sa carrière.

Son troisième livre, OPEN TO THINK, a remporté le prix getAbstract International Book of the Year en 2019.

Auparavant, en tant que chef de la vision et de la formation chez TELUS – une entreprise de télécommunications canadienne dont le chiffre d’affaires dépasse 14 milliards de dollars et qui compte 50 000 employés dans le monde entier – il a inauguré le bureau de la transformation, le MBA de TELUS et le programme sur la philosophie du leadership de TELUS, toutes des initiatives primées qui ont contribué à accroître considérablement l’engagement des employés de l’entreprise pour atteindre des niveaux records de près de 90 %. Avant TELUS, il a occupé des postes de direction chez SAP, Business Objects et BCIT.

Dan et sa femme, Denise, ont trois enfants (alias chèvres) et vivent à Victoria, au Canada.

Dan sur LinkedIn