The Institutional Advisory Council for Cybersecurity (IACC) is a national, institution‑focused advisory body that provides CANARIE with strategic guidance on cybersecurity priorities, trends, and needs across Canada’s research and education (R&E) sector.
The IACC brings together institutional leaders from across the country to share insights, surface emerging issues, and help inform the direction of national cybersecurity services that support the sector.
The IACC aims to strengthen connections between institutions and CANARIE, supporting better alignment between community needs and national cybersecurity initiatives has and to create space for shared learning and for diverse perspectives to inform CANARIE’s work.
What the IACC does
The IACC serves as:
- A trusted forum where institutional leaders share cybersecurity risks, priorities, and needs at a national level
- An early sounding board for emerging national direction and the evolution of shared cybersecurity services
- A structured channel for two‑way communication between CANARIE and the community
The IACC is advisory in nature. It does not provide operational oversight, approve funding, or make decisions on behalf of institutions.
Council Composition
The IACC is composed exclusively of institutional representatives from universities, colleges, polytechnics, cégeps, and research institutes across Canada.
The inaugural members of the IACC are as follows:
Ismail Afia, Group Leader, Cybersecurity/Cybersecurity Officer, TRIUMF
Jastej Aujla, Chief Information Security Officer, Simon Fraser University
Michael Bennett, Director of Digital Infrastructure and IT Security, McMaster University
Simon Collier, Chief Information Officer, New Brunswick Community College
Jody Couch, Chief Information Officer & AVP, ITS, Dalhousie University
Yen Do, Chief Digital Officer, Algonquin College
Guillaume Dubé, Officier de la sécurité de l’information, Université Laval
Adam Gerhard, Chief Information Officer, Red River College
Émilie Guay, Directrice des ressources informationnelles, Cégep de Trois-Rivières
Nick Howald, Chief Information Officer, Selkirk College
Dave Kubert, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Prince Edward Island
Wency Lum, AVP, University Systems & CIO, University of Victoria
Trevor Poffenroth, Chief Information Officer, University of Calgary
Sandeep Sidhu, Chief Information Officer, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Chris Sun, Chief Information Security Officer, Seneca Polytechnic
Katie Tuck, Chief Information Officer, University of the Fraser Valley
Stephen Willem, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Guelph
The IACC will meet quarterly. Meetings will generally be virtual, with one in‑person meeting per year planned. High‑level outcomes and meeting notes are shared via the Cybersecurity Collaboration Hub.
Contact Us
For questions about the IACC, please contact [email protected]
