Alpha Chan
CISO
Toronto Police Service
Alpha Chan has 30 years of multifaceted policing experience that translated well into cyber security. His cross-functional experiences include dynamic crisis resolution, incident response, creation and delivery of specialized training, corporate governance development, regulatory compliance and building and managing high performance teams.
Learn more about leaders in the Toronto CISO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
My success in expanding the organization's cyber capability towards greater public safety was a factor for recognition. I was given an opportunity to pivot into the cyber security portfolio, and it has been an incredible journey of learning and improving our cyber posture.
What are your guiding leadership principles?
A well-trained, cohesive team can achieve anything. Leadership is building and maintaining that state for a long period of time.
With disruption being a key theme of the past year, where do you see your role as a CISO going in the next 1-2 years?
As aspects of security become more mature and specialized, the role of CISO will evolve even further from operations and tighter towards the fold of organizational strategy.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the role as a CISO?
Know the business and its mission with clarity. Expand your network as you'll find that many others are facing the same challenges. Help others when you can - it's a team effort!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I once re-routed my return flight in the opposite direction - so I could get a burrito in San Francisco. It was worth it.
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