The Cavalry is Us: How Cyber Leaders are Rewriting the Future - Live at BSides Ottawa

The Cavalry is Us: How Cyber Leaders are Rewriting the Future | Wired for Change — Episode 33

In this special live episode recorded at ‪@BSidesOttawa‬ 2025, host Amy Yee brings together leaders from across Canada’s cybersecurity ecosystem — practitioners, advocates, engineers, policy voices, and community builders — to explore a message that echoed across the conference:

The cavalry isn’t coming. The cavalry is us.

From fragile critical infrastructure to legislative blind spots, from community-driven innovation to the power of mentorship, this episode reveals what cyber resilience really looks like when you move beyond theory and into the lived experiences of the people doing the work.

Through candid conversations with keynote speakers, policy leaders, and grassroots organizers, we explore:

Why Canada struggles with cohesion in cyber defence
How policy and legislation shape (and sometimes derail) national readiness
Why critical infrastructure is more fragile than most people realize
The growing gap between retiring experts and the next generation
How BSides communities create the conditions for learning, leadership & belonging
Why cybersecurity professionals must learn to influence policy, not just technology
How leaders can strengthen community, culture, trust, and everyday resilience

If you care about national security, public policy, critical infrastructure, technology governance, or the future of Canada’s cyber ecosystem, this episode is essential listening.

👥 Featuring

George Al-Koura, CD — CISO @ ruby | Principal Advisor @ Ceiba Law | Co-Host @ BKBT Podcast | Canadian CISO of the Year (2025)

David Shipley — CEO & Field CISO, Beauceron Security

James Troutman — Trusted advisor & architect | Co-Founder & Director, NNENIX IXP | Chief of Staff, Skytalks | Leadership Team, DC207

Cheryl Biswas — Cybersecurity Analyst & Researcher 🇨🇦 | Speaker | Mentor | The Diana Initiative | Threat Intelligence & Critical Infrastructure Advocate

Katie — Organizer, Hackers on the Hill (Washington, DC) | Leader in cybersecurity, national security & intelligence operations, and cyber policy


Whether you’re in security, public service, defence, critical infrastructure, tech policy, or leadership — this episode gives you a grounded, human, and strategic view of what’s changing and what must come next.

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Opening & Episode Context
00:17 – George Al-Koura: Patriotism Over Profit
02:04 – Canada’s Cyber Cohesion Problem
04:00 – Innovation, Procurement & Political Will
06:00 – Tech Adoption & Data Sovereignty in Canada
08:00 – Shareholders vs Stakeholders in Cybersecurity
09:15 – Why Community Matters to Leaders

10:42 – David Shipley: Policy Village & National Legislation
13:03 – Bill C-8 & Critical Infrastructure Risks
15:00 – Interpreting Cyber Laws & Legislative Gaps
16:00 – Why Technical Voices Must Influence Policy

19:00 – Cheryl & Jim: Critical Infrastructure Is Fragile
23:00 – Talent Gaps, Training Declines & Legacy Systems
26:00 – We Are the Cavalry: Preparedness & Community Resilience

30:00 – Why BSides Creates Leaders & Belonging
32:00 – Katie: Hackers on the Hill & Policy–Tech Translation
37:00 – Building Better Policy Through Relationships

41:00 – Julien: Launching the Model in Canada
44:00 – How Everyone Can Help — Starting Local
47:00 – Looking Ahead: Scaling Policy Village in 2026

🔗 Connect With Wired for Change https://www.wired-for-change.com ‪@wired-for-change‬

Weekly conversations at the intersection of cybersecurity, digital transformation, defence, public service, and leadership.

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