In support of continued collaboration, ORION hosted our sixth annual ON-CHEC Day on November 21, 2025. It was well-attended with over 100 participants and sustained engagement throughout the event.
Over the past seven years, the Ontario Cybersecurity Higher Education Consortium (ON-CHEC) community has grown to include 40 institutions, with 36 in Ontario and 4 in Nova Scotia. ON-CHEC hosts weekly Threat Intelligence calls and monthly webinars to keep the community informed and up to date.
ON-CHEC Day is a valuable opportunity for the higher education community to connect and collaborate on cybersecurity initiatives. By leveraging the collective expertise and experience of our community, we can solve emerging challenges more effectively.
The Cybersecurity Governance theme for ON-CHEC Day 2025 empowered our community to strengthen frameworks, navigate regulatory requirements, and foster a culture of digital resilience.
ON-CHEC Day 2025: Session Spotlight
Read on for the highlights from ON-CHEC Day 2025, featuring impactful sessions with insights from industry experts.
Women in Cybersecurity Part 5: A Conversation on Data Governance
A dynamic panel featuring Michelle Hartt (Acadia University), Janice Cordeiro (Cambrian College), Shrutika Suri (ORION), and Wura Bamgbose (Toronto Metropolitan University) explored how they are balancing data governance and compliance with diverse leadership and innovation. They also shared essential skills for emerging cybersecurity professionals.
Responding to Changes in Regulatory Compliance
Curtis Preiss (Conestoga College), Tracy Dallaire (McMaster University), Arka Ghosh (ORION), and Taurean Clarke (Humber Polytechnic) examined the changing landscape of regulatory compliance. Their session provided practical strategies for adapting to data protection laws, sector-wide mandates, and government standards, offering actionable best practices for institutions to remain agile and compliant.
Importance of Data Governance in an AI-Driven World
In a thought-provoking presentation, Alexander Poizner (Parabellyx) outlined how organizations can craft an AI governance roadmap that balances accountability with innovation through key performance indicators, bias detection, and security compliance. Alexander demonstrated how robust governance transforms data into a trusted product and AI into a sustainable service.
Privacy Impact Assessment Panel
Duane Scott (Centennial College), Alvaro Araya (Ontario College of Art & Design University), Terrence Shipclark (ORION), and Sara Chalmers (Humber Polytechnic) discussed the role of privacy impact assessments in higher education. They considered how these assessments support innovative initiatives and institutional requirements. The panel emphasized the importance of cybersecurity and legal teams working together to ensure privacy impact assessments are an effective risk management tool.
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility.
ON-CHEC Day continues to create a space for knowledge sharing and community building, enabling institutions to learn from one another and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Thank you to everyone for making this event a success.
If you have any questions about ON-CHEC or want to join the program, please contact onchec@orion.on.ca.