CIO Peer Forum® 2025

(Moderated by Veronica Farmer, VP Marketing at Wesley Clover.)
Join a visionary CIO, Mike Muldner and emerging technologist, Eric Norton as they decode the future of tech leadership. From mindset shifts to strategic reinvention, discover how today’s CIOs are shaping tomorrow—balancing AI, cybersecurity, and board expectations—and what advice they’d give the next wave of fearless change-makers. Ready to lead what’s next?

Endpoints are no longer defined by physical boundaries. They’re fluid and invisible—a challenge for traditional security. Large Language Models (LLMs) are changing the game. They predict, not just detect, leveraging global threat data and your internal knowledge for real-time, adaptive defense. Imagine AI-powered responses to new malware instantly, without waiting for patches.

But the threat evolves. AI strengthens attackers, too, creating polymorphic malware that outpaces traditional defenses. This talk explores how AI-driven security strategies—reasoning frameworks, dynamic re-calibration—can secure modern endpoints. We’ll confront the critical question: How do we ensure our defenses with the right strategy in an era of AI-driven attacks?

Key takeaways:
• Have a strategy: A strategy that aligns tools, people, and processes and is based on organizational policy would give better visibility to your digital assets.
• Proactive AI Defense: Embrace LLMs to move beyond reactive security, leveraging predictive analytics for real-time, context-aware threat mitigation.
• Zero-Trust Imperative: Adopt a Zero-Trust approach, understanding that endpoints are fluid and boundaries are blurred, requiring continuous verification and adaptive security frameworks.

Madelin is one of Gartner’s leading analysts who works closely with CIOs in developing themselves as executive leaders and re-imagining the future of leadership. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, a successful partnership with C-suite peers, is vital for CIOs to deliver value and broaden their influence. A trusting relationship accelerates progress on strategic goals and enables smarter decisions for the organization. But what does a trusting relationship, or trust, mean in the context of C-suite leadership?
Join this keynote to discuss:
• Evolving expectations and role of the CIO
• Executing actions to build trust across the C-suite
• Overcoming common trust barriers and applying principals of the trust compass

Moderator: Dave Aeri (CIOCAN Board Member) – Chief Information Officer & CTO, Nine.Zero.Five

This panel session unites Canada’s leading experts working to safeguard the country from cyber threats. The discussion will include identification of the resources available to CIOs and CISOs to enhance their organizations’ cybersecurity maturity and resilience. By the end of the session, you’ll gain insights into how Canada defends its citizens and businesses against sophisticated global cyber threats, and how you can tap into these resources to strengthen your own cyber infrastructure.

• Understanding Cyber Threat Landscape: Learn about the sophisticated global cyber threats facing Canada and how the country is defending itself from these dangers.
• Cybersecurity Resources for CIOs and CISOs: Discover the tools, resources, and frameworks available to help CIOs and CISOs strengthen their organizations’ cybersecurity posture.
• Building Cyber Resilience: Gain insights on how to create a resilient cyber infrastructure within your organization by leveraging Canada’s cybersecurity initiatives.
• Collaboration and Best Practices: Understand the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance overall cybersecurity efforts.
• Strategies for Cybersecurity Maturity: Learn actionable strategies and practices that can help improve your organization’s cybersecurity maturity over time.
• Protecting Citizens and Businesses: Understand the broader context of protecting both individuals and businesses within Canada from emerging cyber threats.

In this session we will explore and learn about the importance of building trust in your MetaData and how that will positively impact your relationship with legal and governance. We will also uncover and discuss how tracking MetaData with standards will immediately improve your AI position and further set you up for success with your corporate partners who are also struggling to manage this growth and demand for speed.
Mr. Fraser is a Partner at Noticia LLP an Ottawa based law firm specializing in modern technology-based approaches to legal Discovery and Governance in Canada. He is an expert in the field of how corporate legal procedures need to adapt to an accelerating use of AI, MetaData and advanced technologies that disrupt historic approaches to issues impacting corporate programs, particularly as it relates to your Legal and Governance teams.
Duncan will provide us guidance and thoughtful insight on:
• The legal challenges CIO’s can expect to face in this emerging AI driven landscape.
• Opportunities, legal priorities, and modern methods of how we can all think about standardizing MetaData across our organizations to create trust and value.
• The hidden high value elements of data that your corporate partners are looking for in this fast-paced AI driven economy.
This is an excellent opportunity to hear ideas, ask questions and learn about what is driving legal expectations surrounding the need for reliable, trustworthy MetaData across Canada.