Polar 2026

It was during his military career with the Royal 22e Régiment that Capt(ret) Waterhouse traded the rifle for the keyboard and became a cyber soldier.

An active trainer and a certified instructor for Websense, Cisco, CompTIA, ISC2 (CISSP) and CWNP, he is a frequent contributor to Canadian media (TVA, LCN, Cogeco Médias, Radio X, CTV, Radio-Canada, CBC, SiriusXM), demystifying information security.

Capt(ret) Waterhouse holds several certifications including CISSP, CCSI and CWNT, and is a PADI Master Diver.

Dominic Villeneuve has been immersed in IT for more than 29 years, with a deep passion for cybersecurity, for passing on what he knows, and for things that unlock… legally.

Senior Director of Cybersecurity at UV Assurance, lecturer at UQTR, trainer, speaker, YouTuber, lockpicker and designer of lockpicking tools, Dominic loves understanding how systems work and, above all, how they can be bypassed.

A respected information security pioneer, advocate, advisor, OG hacker, evangelist, podcast host, teacher, international keynoter, speaker and mentor. Jeff shares over 42 years of experience working in all aspects of computer, network and information security. A Certified NSA Cryptanalyst, he designed NSA’s first software-based cryptosystem, invented a cipher wheel (the Whiz Wheel) used by US Special Forces for over a decade, and was the architect of NSA’s first penetration testing red team. Jeff currently leads the PCI assessment and advisory practice at Secure Ideas.

Mark is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience navigating the evolution of enterprise infrastructure. Working with industry disruptors like VMware and Nutanix, Mark has helped organizations adapt to the major technological shifts that modernized the datacenter.

Building on that foundation, he has spent recent years guiding organizations through the next evolution of IT, transitioning clients to hybrid cloud environments that enable agility and innovation across every major vertical in Canada, including the federal government. He now joins Wiz to enable organizations to navigate the security gaps across hybrid multi-cloud environments.

With more than 20 years of experience in the information technology and enterprise security industry, Karim Benhamouche specializes in securing artificial intelligence ecosystems and in guiding large enterprises through the safe adoption of these new technologies.

Samuel Bonneau is a cybersecurity expert with more than 25 years of experience, recognized for his innovative approach, his leadership and his ability to drive strategic growth. He has played a key role in designing and implementing cybersecurity strategies for Canada’s largest companies.

Now Leader of AI Cybersecurity Strategy and Services at Vooban, he combines cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to strengthen corporate defence strategies, so organizations can take advantage of the latest technological advances for robust, lasting protection.

Éric Hébert has worked in cybersecurity since 1994. Former CISO of Quebecor, Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Groupe Pages Jaunes, he has led major security teams and transformations.

Founder of Sandstorm Cyber, he now advises executives on strategy, governance and risk management. A speaker, mentor, CISSP and CISM, he shares a pragmatic outlook shaped as much by his successes as by the decisions he would make differently today.

Régis Desmeules has been a technology and cybersecurity entrepreneur, investor and author for more than 30 years. As a cybersecurity entrepreneur, he founded and led two consulting firms, and successfully sold the second to a large company.

On the investment side, he is an investor with Anges Québec, an Associate Partner at AQC Capital in Montreal and an LP in Framework Venture in Toronto. He holds investments in many innovative companies in Quebec, across Canada and abroad, and has mentored startup founders for many years.

He is the author of Cisco Self-Study: Implementing Cisco IPv6 Networks (Cisco Press), Réussir son premier financement (2021) and, published in summer 2026, ChatGPT as a Cybersecurity Advisor.