Feeling like a phish in a barrel? The City of Fort St. John welcomes you to our Northern Cyber Defence Conference. This one-day workshop will outline how to defend against cybercrime and prepare your organization for the fallout of an attack. Cyber-attacks are not a matter of if, but when. Join us as key staff recount the experience of our cyber incident in February 2025, sharing what we had to learn the hard way and how we came out the other side stronger. Hear from national cybersecurity experts, including Keynote speaker Chris Mathers, and connect with community members and fellow attendees to build a service and support network.
With tickets at only $50 per person, the Northern Cyber Defence Conference is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about safeguarding against cybercrime.
Breakfast provided by the Mayor’s Standing Committee on Community Economic Development, with lunch provided thanks to MNP.
Meet the Speakers
Chris Mathers - Keynote Speaker
Crime, Risk, and Cybersecurity Expert
Chris Mathers spent most of his life working undercover for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the US Customs Service. Posing as a gangster, a drug trafficker, and even a money launderer, Mathers has seen and done it all. He takes audiences into the underworld that only he can describe, letting people in on the stunning stories and secrets harboured by terrorists and those involved in organized crime.
Mathers retired after a 20-year career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He then joined the Forensic Division of the international accounting firm, KPMG in 1995. He was appointed to the position of President of KPMG Corporate Intelligence Inc. in 1999, where he was responsible for international due diligence, asset recovery operations, and the investigation and prevention of organized crime and money laundering.
A popular media commentator and speaker, Mathers has served as a consultant on several feature films and documentaries relating to organized crime, espionage, and money laundering. He has appeared on television and radio interviews on CNN, PBS, MSNBC, and all Canadian national news networks as well as media outlets in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean.
Mathers is a unique, humorous, and fascinating speaker who touches on issues from security, hiring decisions, and background checks to money laundering, corporate fraud, and the incredible impact artificial intelligence (AI) is having on the prevention and spread of crime. Mathers offers wise insights on human character and organizational culture that can help you spot and avoid the perils of white-collar crime.
Dan Driezen
Senior Manager of Security Services, ESW IT Business Advisors
Dan Driezen is an accomplished cybersecurity leader with over 15 years of experience in designing, implementing, and managing security solutions for businesses across multiple industries. As the leader of Security Services for ESW IT Business Advisors, Dan leads a high-performing team dedicated to safeguarding client environments against evolving cyber threats.
Holding globally recognized certifications including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, Dan brings deep expertise in risk management, threat detection, incident response, and security governance. His career includes spearheading strategic security initiatives and implementing robust frameworks that align with industry best practices such as NIST, CIS, and ISO 27001.
Dan is known for his proactive approach to cybersecurity, combining technical insight with business acumen to deliver tailored solutions that enable secure digital transformation. His vision and leadership have been instrumental in transforming ESW's security services into client focused protection for today's digital age.
Cristian Cordeiro
Offensive Security Manager, TELUS
Cristian Cordeiro is the Offensive Security Manager and has been involved in Cybersecurity in various roles for the last 10+ years, overlapping with a career in software development that started in 1997. Cristian started his journey at TELUS as a contractor performing Penetration Tests and Security Assessments, becoming a full-time employee of the Offensive Security team 2 years after that. At that point Cristian started performing Social Engineering engagements, Code Review and other engagements focused in Secure Software Development and Social Engineering. After being a member of the team for another 2 years Cristian became the Practice Lead actively working towards automation, reviewing deprecated processes, fostering a team environment and wrapping a culture of resilience around every activity of the team, allowing for scalable growth and great work-life balance.
Cristian has a Science background earned in Brazil where he was born and raised. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Software Development and a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Brazil, Cristian moved to Canada where he started a new life in 2008.
Cristian has recently developed a passion for sales and has promoted a culture of collaboration with various sales specialists creating custom solutions, promoting existing offers and helping the practice grow both in revenue and size.
Cristian has been awarded the President's Club 2022 award.
Michael Warmington
Senior Manager, MNP Digital
Michael Warmington, Senior Manager at MNP (Vancouver), brings over 25 years of comprehensive cybersecurity expertise to organizations. His extensive experience spans diverse industries, including financial services, resources, logistics, and all levels of government, providing him with a broad perspective on security challenges and solutions.
Michael focuses on helping organizations address critical cybersecurity and compliance requirements by developing sensible security strategies and pragmatic implementation roadmaps. He excels at aligning security initiatives with overarching business objectives and establishing effective risk management protocols. His deep expertise include incident response, vulnerability management, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001), and risk assessment, enabling him to deliver practical, results-oriented solutions.
Prior to his consulting career at MNP, Michael led the PCI practice at Deloitte Canada, where he honed his skills in managing and implementing stringent compliance standards for companies around the globe.
Michael also served as the interim Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Methanex Corporation and the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia, where he supported a large-scale IT and security transformation initiative.
Additional speakers will be added as they are confirmed.
