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Organized by: CIC National Capital Branch — https://www.eventbrite.com/o/2926961305Join CIC Ottawa for an exclusive evening designed to connect emerging professionals with experienced practitioners in cybersecurity.
REGISTRATION
To register for this event, please do so here through Eventbrite. It is free for all mentors and mentees of the CIC Ottawa 2026-2027 Mentorship Program.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Join us for an exclusive evening designed to connect emerging professionals with experienced practitioners in cybersecurity.
Hosted by the Canadian International Council (CIC) Mentorship Program, this event brings together industry leaders who will share real-world insights, career journeys, and practical advice to help you navigate and grow in these dynamic fields.
Whether you're exploring career paths or looking to expand your professional network, this session offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts who have been where you are—and know what it takes to succeed.
EVENT FORMAT
The format for our upcoming cybersecurity event involves small-group roundtable discussions where mentors share insights on their professional journey, discuss current opportunities and challenges in cybersecurity, and answer attendee questions. Speakers would then rotate among tables approximately every 15-20 minutes. Given the highly successful event held last year through this, we are strategically favorising this approach for the upcoming cybersecurity event.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Alana Ali
Alana Ali, MMA, CD holds 13+ years of experience across Accenture, KPMG, Gartner, municipal government, and the Canadian Armed Forces. She holds a Master of Management Analytics from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Economics & Development from the University of Ottawa, and recently completed a Cybersecurity Management graduate certificate from the University of Toronto Continuing Studies. Alana is known for advising senior executives (CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, and CISOs) on complex, high-stakes initiatives in sensitive and classified environments.
James Nguyen
James Nguyen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Quantropi, a Canadian cybersecurity company dedicated to securing data and communications against today’s cyberattacks as well as emerging quantum and AI-driven threats. Quantropi has grown from an Ottawa-based startup into a NATO DIANA innovator, delivering quantum-secure solutions that protect critical infrastructures across defence, enterprise, and embedded environments.
Valerie Keyes
Valerie Keyes has 30+ years of experience across the Canadian Armed Forces and the Federal Public Service, specializing in policy, security, and intelligence. She has held senior roles in national defence, personnel security, and international relations, and has contributed to strategic initiatives in peacekeeping and government operations. Now President and CEO of GTM Leadership Matters, Valerie focuses on leadership development and mentoring professionals in the security and intelligence sectors.
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Event venue
International Business University, 979 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7, CA, Canada
Tickets
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