People are always the single largest attack surface, yet the traditional approach to cybersecurity is to focus on solving technological issues, largely missing the human dimension. This panel will explore the possibility that this divergence is a reflection of the makeup of the current cybersecurity labour force. Might men be more prone to approach the threat landscape with technology solutions to keep the bad guys out, while women may be more likely to take a holistic approach and include in their solution a user experience that encourages compliance and builds trust? As breaches and ransomware attacks mount, the premise is that both approaches are needed for a sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem and this reinforces the need for more gender diversity in today’s cybersecurity teams. Plus, tackling the social dimension of security will naturally enhance the appeal of cybersecurity careers to women which will then also help address the industry’s labour gap.

Meet our Panelists:

Shruti Chawla: Shruti is a Product Manager for Certificate Solutions with Entrust. She earned her Master’s degree in Computer Science on scholarship from the University of Ottawa. With a background in software development, her career spans across several industries including cybersecurity, consulting, supply chain and banking. Having grown up in seven different countries due to her father's job, she learned the value of diversity early in life. This has augmented her belief that cultural, gender and racial diversity are paramount to any successful endeavour. Inspired by women like Grace Hopper, Joan Clarke and Katherine Johnson among many others who led the way in STEM, Shruti is passionate about encouraging young women to pursue technology careers by sharing stories about these pioneering women in technology.

Amanda Walt: Amanda is a Senior Security Compliance Analyst with Entrust. With over 20 years of IT experience, Amanda began her career in Project Management, but has almost always been involved in information security projects, programs and operations. Amanda is passionate about the human element of security, quality, planning and continuous improvement. While with Bell Canada, she successfully implemented 2 x ISO27001 programs/certifications and received the Bell Bravo award for her efforts, the highest level of corporate recognition.

Amanda is excited to help dispel stereotypes and assumptions about who works in security and encourages people with other talents and perspectives to consider what they could bring to, and gain from, an IT security career. She believes now more than ever that important conversations are being had to challenge traditional mindsets, and any gender bias in any industry needs to be explored and better understood. She is married 19 years and has two beautiful daughters - 26 and 15 - and is excited about the birth of her first grandchild in June.

Sheila Hanrahan: Sheila is a Director of ECS Software Development with Entrust and has almost 30 years of experience in cybersecurity software development. She was a Technical lead for GTE CyberTrust CA, one of the first commercial Certificate Authorities. Sheila prides herself on being the Development director for Certificate Authority products/services for over 25 years (and five companies due to four acquisitions). Her achievements include the GTE Leslie H. Warner Technical Award for technical achievement and innovation and a three-time winner of the Digital Excellence Award for software consulting. Sheila is passionate about promoting women in STEM fields, specifically computer science and cybersecurity. Her goal is to encourage and support women who aspire to or have a technical career. She is especially proud of her children who are now college graduates and gainfully employed and living happy lives with their significant others. She was able to successfully manage her career despite working part-time for 16 years and managing remote teams in Europe and Australia during that time. Sheila prides herself on being a multi-year rider of the Pan Mass Challenge, a two-day 168-mile fundraising ride for cancer research. During the panel conversation she wants to encourage and support women who aspire to or have a technical career and challenge people in the industry to examine the institutional barriers that deter women and minorities from working in technical fields such as computer science and cybersecurity. She feels diversity, specifically gender diversity, is critical in not just software development but also in cybersecurity as we need all the brain power we can get!

Luke Koops: Luke is a Manager of Software Development with Entrust, bringing 25 years of experience with public key infrastructures, protocols and solutions to his current role. During his career, Luke has been the author of a patent for Identity Management of Software Components, contributed to PKIX protocol designs, and is a Smartcard Industry Professional with CSCIP/Government certification. Luke is passionate about promoting and participating in challenges that engage young people in STEM, especially in robotics, game design and graphic design. As a father, Luke is most proud of his two children and their friends having achieved three first place finishes over three years in the Ottawa Robotics Competition which he also supported as a supervisor. One of Luke’s proudest moments with Entrust was when the entire customer support team presented Luke and his R&D team with a certificate of achievement for their continued support. During the panel conversation, Luke would like to explore how to bring more opportunity and support for women in our industry, highlighting that he is honoured to work with a group of distinguished women. Luke states, “At its core it comes down to fairness and how we treat each other. I want to be proud of my career and my industry. It shouldn’t come at the expense of others.”

Meet our Moderator:

Daria Ribar: Daria is a Cybersecurity and Privacy professional with 20+ years of experience in Security solutions architecture and development; Security project management, Security compliance, audits and risk assessments. She started her security career at Entrust 21 years ago, a field that she could never imagine becoming her professional passion and calling at the time when she chose to study law in her native country.

Over the course of the following decade, and prior to starting her Cybersecurity Consultancy practice, Daria built a successful career working for one of the largest Canadian companies delivering PKI and other security services to public and private sector clients.

She has later expanded her consultancy portfolio to other areas of security, including but not limited to SIEM and IDS/IPS MSS; Identity and Access Management; Vulnerability and Incident response, Security compliance and Privacy assessments, taking advantage of her legal and technical security expertise in helping her clients defining, procuring and deploying solutions to protect their critical assets, information and its employees.

Daria was a recipient of numerous awards in both technical and leadership roles supporting Canada wide PKI Managed Security Services on one of the largest Government of Canada projects at that time.

She was a Principle organizer of Ottawa Security BSides, a grassroot security conference that she successfully restarted from its humble beginnings to a first class local event. She was also a Director of Events for ISACA Ottawa Chapter whose main purpose is to promote and elevate visibility of Information Security concepts, but most importantly to directly connect and create trusted relationship between with key members of the local security community.

Daria immigrated to Canada 25 years ago as a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Ottawa where she built her life from zero with her husband Sasha. They have been married for 25 years and are both proud parents of their beautiful 7 year old boy.

Since moving to Canada, as a member of Cantata Singers of Ottawa, Ottawa Classical choir and as a Classical guitarist, Daria performed in the houses of art such as National Art Centre, National Gallery, Museum of Civilization, National Art Centre, Senate of Canada, etc.

Daria’s personal mission is to help IT and Cybersecurity companies, organizations or individuals realizing the potential of promoting and endorsing cultural and gender based inclusivity through all layers of corporate policies and practices.