Cyber Resilience & Leadership Summit· 2026
Cyber Resilience & Leadership Summit · October 5, 2026
Happening during Black Hat Toronto (SecTor) week

Cyber Resilience
& Leadership

Exploring the science of human performance in cybersecurity—bringing together leaders across the cyber ecosystem to advance resilience, leadership, communication, and performance under pressure.

Register →View Schedule
5 · OCT · MMXXVIThe National Club · Toronto80–100 attendees

§ 01AboutA note from the hosts

A note from the hosts

Cybersecurity has invested heavily in protecting systems. The next competitive advantage is protecting the performance of the people responsible for them.

Today’s security leaders operate in environments defined by sustained vigilance, rapid decision-making, constant adaptation, and increasing complexity. As AI reshapes the industry, human performance has become a strategic capability.

The Cyber Resilience & Leadership Summit brings together leaders from across the cybersecurity ecosystem to explore the science of leadership, resilience, communication, and performance under pressure.

Rather than assembling panels made up entirely of CISOs, we’ve intentionally designed conversations that bring together diverse perspectives—including executive security leaders, behavioral scientists, founders, community builders, trusted advisors, educators, and AI leaders.

Because cybersecurity isn’t built by one role alone. It’s built by an ecosystem of people who influence how security professionals lead, communicate, recover, collaborate, and perform.

What to Expect

An intimate evening at The National Club in Toronto on October 5, 2026, featuring thoughtful discussions, practical insights, and meaningful networking.

Every conversation is built around four capabilities essential to modern cybersecurity leadership:

i.
Resilience

Recover, regulate, and sustain performance under pressure.

ii.
Leadership

Build teams that thrive through uncertainty.

iii.
Communication

Lead with clarity, trust, and influence.

iv.
Growth

Develop the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

Who Should Attend?

  • CISOs and senior security leaders
  • Security managers and practitioners
  • Emerging cyber leaders
  • HR and People leaders supporting security teams
  • Founders, advisors, partners, and educators shaping the future of cybersecurity

The Bottom Line

Technical expertise protects systems. Human performance protects organizations.

Join us as we explore the science, leadership, and diverse perspectives shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Hosted by
AnseraHealthDr. Sara Rabinovitch, PhD ↗
EK CyberEvgeniy Kharam ↗
In partnership withCISO Open Mic ↗
The National Club · Toronto
The National Club, Toronto
The National Club, Toronto
303 Bay Street
303 Bay Street
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto

§ 02ScheduleThe National Club · Toronto

Monday · October 5, 2026
5:00pm→ 5:30pm
Talk

Welcome Reception & Registration

Arrival, refreshments, and networking.

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5:30pm→ 5:40pm
Talk

Opening Remarks

Dr. Sara Rabinovitch and Evgeniy Kharam introduce the event and set the tone for sustainable high performance.

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Setting the stage for an evening exploring the human performance layer of cybersecurity.
5:40pm→ 6:40pm
Talk

Inside the War Room: Human Performance Under Cyber Crisis

Midnight in the War Room × Ansera Health. Real Incidents · Human Performance · Decision-Making · Resilience · Recovery

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What happens to people when a cyber incident becomes a crisis? An experiential conversation combining clips from Midnight in the War Room with candid perspectives from leaders who have experienced major cyber incidents. Together, we’ll explore what happens when information is incomplete, decisions carry real consequences, teams have been operating for hours, and the pressure doesn’t stop when the incident is contained. The conversation will examine decision-making under uncertainty, sustained vigilance, team strain, communication, recognizing overload, and what recovery actually looks like after a major incident. The session concludes with Dr. Sara Rabinovitch translating these experiences through behavioral science and leading participants through practical tools for regulating activation, protecting performance, and accelerating recovery.
6:40pm→ 7:00pm
Workshop

Breath Under Pressure

Breath · Regulation · Attention · Performance

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A practical, experiential session exploring how intentional breathing can influence physiological state, attention, and performance under pressure. Minimal lecture. Maximum participation.
7:00pm→ 7:10pm
Break

Networking Break

A brief reset and time to connect.

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7:10pm→ 7:50pm
Panel

Building Resilient Cybersecurity Communities

Trust · Belonging · Communication · Mentorship · Connection · Community Resilience

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Connection, Communication & Belonging in a High-Pressure Industry Cybersecurity is demanding — but no one operates in isolation. This conversation brings together people who have built and sustained cybersecurity communities to explore what makes people feel connected, supported, and willing to show up for one another. How do we build trust in an industry defined by pressure and constant change? How do we create spaces where people can ask for help, learn from one another, build meaningful relationships, and bring the next generation into cybersecurity? And as more of our professional lives become digital and AI-mediated, what role does genuine human connection play in building a resilient industry?
7:50pm→ 8:30pm
Panel

When the Stakes Are High: How Great CISOs Lead Under Pressure

Decision-Making · Uncertainty · Executive Communication · Team Performance · Operational Risk · AI · Recovery

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What does great leadership actually look like when information is incomplete, pressure is escalating, teams are tired, executives want answers, and the consequences of getting it wrong are real? A candid conversation with seasoned CISOs about the lessons that only come from leading through difficult moments. We’ll explore how experienced security leaders make consequential decisions with imperfect information, communicate uncertainty to executives and boards, recognize when teams are becoming overloaded, navigate disagreement, maintain performance through sustained incidents, and know when pushing through becomes an operational risk. We’ll also examine how AI is changing the cognitive demands placed on security leaders — and what leaders will need to do differently as the pace and complexity of cybersecurity continue to accelerate.
8:30pm→ 9:00pm
Break

Networking Reception

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§ 03SpeakersLineup rolling out

Speakers and topics are being confirmed. Cards below hold space on the page — names, roles, and bios fill in as the program firms up.

Evgeniy Kharam
Evgeniy Kharam
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
Discern
Dr. Sara Rabinovitch, PhD
Dr. Sara Rabinovitch, PhD
Founder & Chief Science Officer
Ansera Health
№ 03
To be announced
Speaker · № 03
TBA
№ 04
To be announced
Speaker · № 04
TBA
№ 05
To be announced
Speaker · № 05
TBA
№ 06
To be announced
Speaker · № 06
TBA
№ 07
To be announced
Speaker · № 07
TBA
№ 08
To be announced
Speaker · № 08
TBA
2 / 8+ confirmed

§ 04SponsorsBecoming a Partner

Become a Sponsor

Two ways to partner — a Logo Sponsor for brand visibility across every event touchpoint, or a Community Sponsor to back the people behind the work. Founding slots for Year Two open after the event.

ekharam@gmail.com→

§ 07RegisterIn person · via Luma

Save your seat.

Reserve your seat. Limited to 80-100 attendees at The National Club, Toronto.

  • The National Club · 303 Bay St, Toronto
  • Limited to 80–100 seats
  • By approval via Luma
Register→