Speakers

Keynote Speaker - Chris Mathers

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.

Marion Benkaiouche is a Mitacs Accelerate Researcher with DRI Canada and Principal of Cascadian Continuity Leadership Group, working with organizations such as Urban Climate Leadership and New Curriculum Group. Marion is a Master of Urban Studies candidate at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. Prior to her Master's, Marion completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of British Columbia. She went on to work for apparel company Arc’teryx Equipment in digital transformation and indirect procurement, eventually bringing this experience to KPMG Canada’s management consulting practice in Supply Chain and Operations. There, she led policy research in emergency management and community resilience. This work inspired her to return to academia to pursue further research in urban studies and climate resilience. Her thesis project is a collaboration with DRI Canada, exploring the role of the law in business continuity planning. 

Suzanne Bernier, a former journalist and government press secretary, Suzanne is now an international, multi-certified, award-winning crisis management consultant, trainer, speaker, and author.  She has helped governments, communities and companies plan for, respond to, and recover from disasters for almost 30 years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for RIE Toronto and serves as Global Ambassador for Stars of HOPE USA and as an advocate for mass attack survivors.

Suzanne has had numerous career highlights that include being a guest speaker at The White House, developing and delivering the first Pandemic Tabletop Exercise and Action Plan for the United Nations Headquarters (New York), receiving BCI’s Continuity & Resilience Consultant of the Year – North America, and of course, authoring the critically-acclaimed book, Disaster Heroes.  She is also a current faculty member of DRI International, acting as their international crisis communications instructor.

Gary Campbell is the Business Resilience Manager at London North Eastern Railway (LNER), specializing in business continuity, crisis management, and emergency planning. With extensive experience across public, private, military, and critical infrastructure sectors across Canada and the UK, Gary has led transformative strategies that prepare organizations to navigate complex challenges.

Gary’s work includes addressing operational disruptions, fostering leadership in high-pressure situations, and enhancing organizational adaptability in dynamic environments. Drawing from his role as a Business Resilience Manager in the UK rail industry, Gary brings a unique perspective on how to manage systemic risks and build resilience in the face of labour disruptions, climate change, and political uncertainty.

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est spécialiste au sein de l’équipe Résilience d’Ubisoft, où il contribue à façonner et à faire évoluer les programmes de continuité des activités, de gestion de crise et de relève informatique. Fort d’une expérience dans des secteurs réglementés et non réglementés, il propose une approche pratique et adaptable de la résilience, alignée sur les besoins variés des organisations.

Etienne Després is a Specialist on Ubisoft’s Resilience team, where he helps shape and advance the company’s business continuity, crisis management, and disaster recovery programs. With experience in both regulated and unregulated sectors, he offers a practical and adaptive approach to building resilience that aligns with diverse organizational needs. 

Akli Feraoun est un expert en continuité des activités et en relève informatique (BC/DR)  avec plus de 30 ans d’expérience, dont 12 ans en tant que consultant chez CGI, neuf ans en continuité des affaires pour la Banque Nationale du Canada (Marchés Financiers) ainsi qu'une année chez PSP Investissement en relève informatique. Akli a eu son diplômé d'ingénieur en informatique en 1983 à l'ESI (Ex. INI-Alger), il a également obtenu une maîtrise en systèmes d'information en 1994 à HEC Montréal où il a mené des recherches sur l'implantation des plans de reprise après sinistre TI dans les entreprises québécoises. Akli est certifié CBCP depuis plus de 15 ans. Depuis janvier 2024, il est président de sa compagnie de consultation (Groupe de Gestion Feraoun Inc.), ainsi que membre de la commission d'éducation de la DRICanada depuis 2006 et membre de RECO-Québec depuis 2004. Son palmarès distingué de succès témoigne de son expertise en BC/DR et en résilience organisationnelle.

Durant sa carrière, Akli Feraoun a contribué à de nombreux projets stratégiques pour plusieurs entreprises prestigieuses, parmi lesquelles figurent notamment la Banque Nationale du Canada, Desjardins, IBM, Kyndryl, la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Hydro-Québec, Via Rail, Équifax Canada, Télé-Québec, la ville de Montréal, Bombardier,  Alcan ect.... Ces mandats reflètent la diversité de son expertise et sa capacité à répondre aux besoins variés des organisations dans des secteurs clés.

Tarek Habib is a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Advisory practice and specializes in business resilience and information security. Supporting business leaders and CISOs in various organizations and industries, including manufacturing, financial services, consumer goods, law enforcement, government and multi-national entities, Tarek has led numerous information security and business resilience initiatives to assess compliance, design safeguards and implement recommendations across crisis management, disaster recovery, business continuity and incident/emergency response.

Tarek is also an active speaker on the topics of cybersecurity and business resilience, providing insights into current trends and practical approaches for businesses of various sizes and non-profits to protect themselves against cyber-attacks and business disruptions.

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Claire Mechan is a highly experienced business continuity and emergency management strategist and leader with expertise across various sectors, including education and government. She holds the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) designation, a Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management (MADEM) from Royal Roads University (2013), and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Vancouver Island University (2006). Claire has been actively involved in emergency management and business continuity since 2012.  

Claire is the Owner and Primary Consultant of AILM Resiliency Consulting Agency. She is also the Manager of the Emergency Management and Business Continuity department at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), where she is also the Director of the Emergency Coordination Centre. Claire has led transformative initiatives at NAIT, including steering NAIT’s COVID-19 response and recovery as Director of the Coordinated Response Team. Since 2015, she has also been a dedicated instructor in NAIT’s Disaster and Emergency Management academic program.  

Claire is deeply committed to empowering women in her field, volunteering with the Mentor for Women in Business Continuity Management program through the DRII Foundation. She also served on the CSA Group technical committee for emergency and continuity management, where she contributed to the development of the CSA Z1600-17 standard. A member of IAEM, DRI Canada, and BCI, Claire continues to advance resilience and leadership in the business continuity and emergency management industry. 

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Caroline Mellor is an experienced emergency management professional with nearly 20 years in municipal and healthcare settings. She led the development of Canada’s first municipal Hazard Mitigation Plan and has contributed to major infrastructure and planning projects, including the Toronto Harbourfront LRT and Ottawa’s new hospital. Caroline specializes in aligning emergency management with enterprise risk, accessibility, and ethical standards. She has supported major events like the G20 and Canada 150, and designs high-impact exercises for scenarios including mass casualty and cyber-attacks. Currently completing a Master’s in Disaster and Emergency Management at Royal Roads University, she is known for her collaborative, safety-driven, and inclusive leadership style.

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