Edward Snowden speaking at SecTor 2016

PRESS RELEASE

TORONTO, July 14, 2016 – Security Education Conference Toronto (SecTor) is pleased to announce former intelligence officer and whistleblower Edward Snowden as this year’s opening keynote speaker.

Three years on from being charged with espionage despite also being responsible for the most significant reforms to US surveillance policy since 1978, Edward Snowden will engage audience members via video link from his exile in Russia.

SecTor marks Snowden’s first and only commercial conference appearance in North America this year. In the spirit of SecTor’s education focus, his keynote will address his take on today’s most threatening cybersecurity issues, while also providing a unique view on matters closer to home, including government surveillance and Bill C-51.

Edward Snowden is one of many leading security researchers to join this year’s conference. A complete list of first-round speakers and their sessions is available at www.sector.ca/speakers.

•                     WHAT: Edward Snowden Keynote Address at Security Education Conference Toronto (SecTor)

•                     WHEN: 09:00am Tuesday, October 18, 2016

•                     WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building (level 800)

•                     REGISTRATION: www.sector.ca

“SecTor is first and foremost an education conference, so our aim is to bring together the right mix of security experts, professionals, academics, sponsors and luminaries for the audience to engage with and learn from,” SecTor director and co-founder Brian Bourne said.

“Edward Snowden is not only one of the biggest names in cybersecurity, but his unique situation and cybersecurity experiences also make him one of the most important and influential.”

“Cybersecurity is a fascinating and challenging industry that impacts every part of society and moves at such a pace it’s easy to fall behind,” Mr. Bourne said.

“That’s why it’s important to have the likes of Edward Snowden appear in front of the Canadian IT community, so we engage and inspire today’s security professionals and don’t fall behind.”

Mr. Bourne also billed SecTor 2016 as one not to miss, anticipating a record-breaking attendance in what is also the conference’s tenth year.

“We’re proud to have grown SecTor from its humble beginnings into Canada’s premier IT security conference over the past ten years,” Mr. Bourne said.

“The calibre of speakers already listed, along with our sponsors, activities and the pre-conference sessions and training, plus the next round of speakers set to be announced mid-September, are all shaping up to make this year’s conference our biggest and most exciting to date.”