Kush Sharma
CISO
City of Toronto
Kush Sharma is a cyber industry leader with 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Widely respected by his peers, Kush is a trusted advisor known for his innovative thinking, strategic partnerships, and exceptional service delivery. His broad leadership experience spans various industries, from cyber to technology to change management to business transformation.
In 2019, Kush was appointed as the City of Toronto's first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). As the CISO, Kush designed and implemented Toronto's cyber strategy. Kush works closely with the City's 45 Divisions, Agencies, Corporations, and City Council to protect critical infrastructure and assets to protect its citizens, build resilience and mitigate risk.
Prior to joining the City of Toronto, Kush was the first Global Director of Cybersecurity and Compliance for Saputo Inc. Previously, Kush consulted for 2 of the world's top management consulting firms - Accenture and Deloitte. These roles allowed Kush to serve as a trusted advisor to leaders of global 50+ clients and governments.
Kush is currently a Governing Body member for Evanta Toronto and Global. He is also a member of the Public Sector CIO Council as a representative of the Municipal Information Security Association (Eastern Canada). He is an accomplished speaker, lecturer, trainer, and author.
Learn more about leaders in the Toronto CISO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
Cyber has always been a key driver throughout my career. At the same time, I believe an executive must have experience in a variety of industries. I made a conscious decision to work in a variety of industries and functions (cyber, M&A, technology, change management, business transformation). Today, I'm the CISO of the City of Toronto, and I'm thrilled to wake up every day and serve my hometown and Torontonians.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Thinking boldly to tackle society's toughest challenges is a principle that guides me every day. At the City, I've assembled a highly skilled team of professionals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and talents. I tell my team that they should use their unique talents to push the boundaries of the innovative work we are doing to better serve our citizens.
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 the head of the City's newest Division, I'm focused on building the foundational pillars to protect City infrastructure and assets. I anticipate that quantum computing will become a disruptive threat, and my team is preparing to meet this challenge. I'll be working closely with a national coalition on threat intelligence to enhance cyber defences. We have established a Digital Trust team to enhance public confidence in the digital delivery of City services. I've established a municipal cyber diplomacy practice, a global first to my knowledge. As part of this, I'll be developing the practice and forging partnerships with public, private, and academic sectors.
I also see my role as leveraging cyber to enable more equitable outcomes for citizens. How can cyber be leveraged to support people from vulnerable communities? How can cyber help children from at-risk neighbourhoods obtain the skills to lift them out of poverty? These are some of the challenges that energize me when I consider my role heading into the next 1-2 years.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the role as a CISO?
It's important to take stock of the situation, have a clear view of where you want to go, and inspire and motivate your team to come with you. It's equally important to identify meaningful ways to serve society, regardless if you are a CISO in the private or public sector.
Tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.
- I've gone trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas.
- I've been indoor skydiving.
- I've gone zip lining in many countries around the world.
What is the value of participating in a professional community through Evanta?
The value that the global depth and reach of the Evanta community brings is immense. Our community is an influential group of CISOs. We share bold ideas, compare notes on best practices, and discuss challenges facing the industry. Being able to connect and collaborate with smart and talented CISOs has been the most rewarding part of participating in Evanta. I would encourage CISOs to consider joining Evanta to experience how our community can benefit them, but also how they can contribute to the community.
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