# Operation Defend the North Ottawa

- Dates: 15 September 2026
- Location: National Arts Centre Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Organiser: siberX
- Industry: Cybersecurity

## About

Operation: Defend the North 2026 in Ottawa is a cybersecurity tabletop exercise focusing on AI-driven government oversight, automated risk scoring, government services, and policy compliance. It is designed for government sector participants to examine AI decision scrutiny and real-world consequences.

## Official links

- [Official website](https://siberx.org/?srsltid=AfmBOopGIRNgDFLEdmVQN_PiZkpaC_HWHpRX8EKySrBOSaoSy5i0GUNQ)
- [Agenda](https://www.youtube.com/live/tTIN5n0Pmd8)

## Topics

- IT & Technology

## Speakers

- Adriana Gliga-Belavic, Partner, Cybersecurity and Privacy Lead, MNP Digital
- AJ Khan, CEO, CloudGRC Inc
- Ali Abbas Hirji, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Cyber Defence
- Amit Maraj, Researcher / Principal Investigator, AI Hub
- Amit Meltzer, Cyber Security Specialist, Matrix IFS
- Ana Andreasian, Director, Women's College Hospital
- Bob Gordon, Strategic Advisor, Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange
- Bonnie Butlin, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Security Partners’ Forum (SPF)
- Carl Hayes, Partner and Vice President of Business Development, Stratejm
- Cat Coode, Privacy and Data Strategist, Binary Tattoo

## Sponsors and partners

- SANS

## Where to stay

- **Sonder The O'Connor**: 590 m from the venue, 377 O'Connor Street
- **The Business Inn & Suites**: 950 m from the venue, 180 MacLaren Street
  - [Hotel website](https://www.thebusinessinn.com/)
  - Phone: +1-613-232-1121
- **Delta City Centre**: 960 m from the venue, 101 Lyon Street North
  - [Hotel website](https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yowdm-delta-hotels-ottawa-city-centre/)
- **Alt Hotel Ottawa**: 970 m from the venue, 185 Slater Street, K1P 0C8
- **Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament Hill**: 990 m from the venue, 402 Queen Street
  - [Hotel website](https://www.radisson.com/ottawa-hotel-on-k1r5a7/onottawa)
  - Phone: +1-613-236-1133
- **Hilton Garden Inn**: 1.0 km from the venue, 361 Queen Street
  - [Hotel website](https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yowcdgi-hilton-garden-inn-ottawa-downtown/)
  - Phone: +1-613-238-6000
- **Homewood Suites Ottawa Downtown**: 1.0 km from the venue, 3 stars, 361 Queen Street, K1R 0C7
  - [Hotel website](https://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/ontario/homewood-suites-by-hilton-ottawa-downtown-YOWQSHW/index.html)
  - Phone: +1-613-234-6363
- **ARC The.Hotel Ottawa**: 1.0 km from the venue, 140 Slater Street

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Source: https://www.luminik.io/events/operation-defend-the-north-ottawa/