2026 UBC Security Forum: Prepared. Connected. Empowered. 

Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon started a five-year term as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia on November 1, 2023. In this role, he leads the academic mission and operations of UBC as it strives to make an ever-greater positive impact on BC, Canada and the world. 

Before joining UBC, Dr. Bacon served in several academic leadership roles, including as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University in Kingston, and as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at Concordia University in his hometown of Montreal.

Dr. Bacon holds a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal, after which he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His research in the field of cognitive neuroscience focuses on the links between brain activity and perception in the visual, auditory and vestibular systems, as well as on multisensory integration.

Sharing his own lived experience, he advocates nationally for open conversations about mental health and substance use. These efforts have notably been recognized with awards from Excellence Canada, and the Royal Ottawa Hospital, as well as the Honorary Presidency of the Canadian Psychological Association. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Sam Stephens (he/him) is the Director of Campus Security at the University of British Columbia, one of Canada’s largest universities and a global leader in teaching, learning, and research. He oversees comprehensive community safety programs across a large and diverse campus, with responsibility spanning security operations, risk management, community support, security systems, and threat management for the UBC community.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Sam has built a well-rounded career designing and leading customer-centric risk mitigation programs for complex public organizations, including UBC, the City of Vancouver, and BCLC. He is passionate about creating exceptional customer and employee experiences, and demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement. 

Sam holds a Bachelor of Economics from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Enterprise Risk Management (MSc) from Boston University, and multiple industry designations. Outside of work, he can be found coaching lacrosse, riding his bike, or exploring something new with his wife and three kids. 

Dr. Alathari is the Chief of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), where she oversees the center’s targeted violence behavioral research program. The findings from these projects have identified behaviors, motives, and triggers of individuals who engage in various forms of targeted violence to include school violence, workplace violence, terrorism, attacks against government officials and facilities, and mass attacks in public spaces.  
 
Dr. Alathari also oversees NTAC’s training and consultation programs. She has testified before congress, frequently presents on threat assessment, and provides guidance to government agencies, K-12 schools, universities, and corporations on threat cases and establishing threat assessment programs.  
 
Dr. Alathari was named a 2020 Safety, Security and International Affairs Finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, and was the recipient of the 2024 DHS Secretary’s Meritorious Service Silver Medal Award, the 2022 DHS Secretary’s Award for Innovation, 2019 Secret Service Director’s Team Impact Award, and the 2015 DHS Law Enforcement Information Sharing (LEIS) Visionary Award.  
 
Dr. Alathari’s previous experience includes mental health treatment, behavior analysis, and crisis intervention. Immediately prior to joining the U.S. Secret Service, Dr. Alathari worked at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, an inpatient state psychiatric facility, where she oversaw the behavior management program for patients who posed a risk for violence, self-harm, and suicide.  
 
Dr. Alathari earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuropsychology from The George Washington University. 

Peter has dedicated his professional life to keeping others safe. Whether it be during his career as a Toronto Police Officer where he oversaw all Detective Operations, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Services and the Professionalism and Accountability pillar, or as the Resident Security Agent for Major League Baseball in Toronto for the past nine Toronto Blue Jays seasons.  

Peter’s experience in delivering major events while a Senior Officer with the Toronto Police Service, include Incident Management roles of Incident Commander, Chief of Operations, Investigations, and Planning for such Toronto area events as the Invictus Games (2017), the NBA All-Star Game (2016), the Pan Am Games (2015), the 100^th edition of the Grey Cup (2012), and multiple major parades and festivals, including the Caribbean Carnival and the Pride Parade.

Peter is grateful to continue to play a prominent role in public safety as the FIFA Canada Executive Director of Safety and Security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will do so by maintaining his belief that with collaboration comes trust, and with trust comes safety.

Peter is a proud recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s Order of Merit of the Police Forces at the prestigious Officer Level, the Canadian Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal (double bar), the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission – Kosovo (UNMIK) Service Medal (double mission). 

Aaron is a nationally recognized and respected leader in security and crowd safety management, bringing over three decades of combined experience working with the Correctional Service of Canada and at over 1,200 live events. He has led security teams at some of the highest profile and complex events, including the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup, 2010 Winter Olympics, 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2018 G7 Finance and Development Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings, 2024 Grey Cup Festival, and 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Other events have included the BMO Marathon – Vancouver, Canada Day – Vancouver, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, the Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park, and various other Live Nation festivals and stadium concerts in western Canada.

Aaron currently serves on the Event Safety Alliance of Canada Board of Directors. He is the Senior Manager, Safety & Security – Vancouver for the competition venue to the last mile for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup; a position he accepted after taking leave from his position as Senior Director of Special Projects & Training with Guardteck Security Co.

As a long-standing advocate for creating safer event spaces, Aaron brings a deep commitment to collaboration, education, and evidence-based practice. He has worked extensively with multidisciplinary teams to improve safety and security through site design, operational planning, incident and emergency response and recovery across the live-events sector. As a recognized educator and speaker, he has presented at several major industry conferences, helping strengthen safety literacy and shared learning.

Aaron is dedicated to advancing safety standards and fostering local, regional, national and international collaboration to build a more resilient, informed, and proactive event safety culture.

David Jones, O.O.M., began his policing career in 1982 with the New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) as a volunteer reserve police Officer and worked through the ranks becoming the Chief Constable for the NWPD in 2011. In 2019 Chief Jones was selected as the new Chief Officer of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and in 2023, he was contracted to Co-Lead the Vancouver Integrated Safety and Security Unit in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup event.

During his career, Dave worked in a variety of sections including Patrol, Major Crimes Section, Special Operations Unit, Drug Section, Community Services Section, and Street Crimes Unit. In addition, he has worked on a variety of joint policing initiatives including a secondment with the RCMP Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit. He has received recognition in the form of Chief Constable Commendation, Sr. Officer’s Commendation, Queen’s Jubilee Medal, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2013, the Governor General of Canada presented the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and he was later promoted within the Order to “Officer” level.

In 2016 Dave was recognized by Douglas College with their prestigious Honorary Fellowship Designation, and holds a Master of Law Degree – Osgoode Hall Law School, a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Simon Fraser University on Leadership, Senior Executive leadership and Strategic Planning certification from Queens University – Smith School of Business. He has held key leadership positions including, Chairperson PRIME BC, Co-Chair National Police Services Advisory Committee, Executive Board, Chair of BC Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Executive, board member Organized Crime Agency BC and has served as the Judicial Chair for the BC Soccer Association.

In his leadership role, Dave has worked with and presented to local communities, educational institutions, and other justice system partners, including working in partnership with all levels of government and has presented at international symposiums on leadership. He is actively involved in local community soccer and sports programs and currently chairs the Coquitlam Field Sports Association.

Kathryn is an Executive Director responsible for adult mental health and substance use at British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services. This includes θəqiʔ ɫəwʔənəq leləm’ (Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction), Heartwood Centre for Women, Provincial Assessment Centre, and Provincial Specialized Substance Use Treatment Program for Adults. 
Kathryn is a registered nurse and has 22 years of direct care and leadership experience in acute psychiatry, correctional health, and tertiary mental health and substance use services. 

Kathryn is dedicated to high quality, patient-centred, and innovative mental health and substance use care, with significant experience leading clinical teams through change, transformation, and service start up. She co-led a redesign of the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction in 2011, led the operational planning for the acute units of the Joseph and Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, started up the psychiatric assessment and triage unit at VGH ER, and led the operational planning for the 105 bed Red Fish Healing Centre that opened October 12, 2021. 

Kathryn has dedicated her career to the development of accessible, innovative, patient-centred, anti-racist programs that meet the needs of complex clients with mental health and substance use challenges. 

Guy Felicella is an international public speaker and advocate for drug policy reform.

Overcoming a two-decade substance use disorder, he has turned his life around after years of homelessness, gang involvement, and surviving overdoses in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Now, Guy passionately promotes harm reduction, trauma therapy, and faster access to treatment, using his story of resilience and recovery to inspire others and push for compassionate drug policies and addiction support.

Barry Shaul has spent more than two decades protecting people, strengthening organizations, and advancing the idea that security, at its best, is about leadership, service, and trust.  
 
A career defined by service, leadership, and accountability across complex, high-stakes environments, Barry’s professional journey spans local law enforcement, federal service, and global corporate security leadership. He began as a police officer in Orange, California, before serving over a decade as a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. During his federal service, he protected Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and held multiple domestic and international assignments, including a multi-year post in Rome, Italy.  
 
Barry later led global security programs at General Mills and then Cargill, serving as Senior Vice President of Global Security, overseeing enterprise-wide efforts in crisis management, executive protection, investigations, and workplace safety. His approach has consistently focused on aligning security with mission, culture, and human impact.  
 
Today, he continues this work through Shaul Consulting, partnering with organizations to create security programs that strengthen growth, build resilience, and safeguard reputation.  
 
Beyond his professional roles, Barry is committed to building the next generation of leaders and supporting communities through non-profit service. He is a former President of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation and continues to mentor young professionals with the National Stuttering Association.  
 
Barry holds degrees from Cornell College and the University of Minnesota, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Scholar.

Steve Reinharz is one of today’s most outspoken and visionary voices in artificial intelligence, robotics, and security. As founder and CEO/CTO of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) and its RAD subsidiaries, he is often compared to Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang for his ability to anticipate what is next and turn ambitious ideas into real-world solutions. 
 
Reinharz has led the creation of breakthrough innovations including the ROAMEO mobile security robot, RADDOG LE robotic dog, RADCam talking home camera, and SARA, the first commercially available agentic AI platform for physical security and monitoring. These technologies are changing how organizations think about guarding, safety, and automation. 
 
His journey is defined by resilience and sacrifice. To keep his company alive in its early years, Reinharz sold his house, lost his cars, and poured every available dollar into development and operations. That level of commitment, rare even among entrepreneurs, has positioned AITX and RAD as leaders in a rapidly expanding global market. 
 
Reinharz is also a trusted commentator for media. Over the past five years he has appeared in nearly 100 television, radio, and press interviews, speaking on the future of AI, the failures of outdated surveillance, and the opportunities technology creates for society. His published essays, including ‘AI Isn’t the Enemy, Standing Still Is’, ‘Logos Spark Protests, Shootings Spark Silence’ and ‘The Illusion of Safety, Cameras That Watch but Don’t Act’, have circulated widely among journalists, business leaders, and policymakers. 
 
With more than 28 years of experience in the security industry, Reinharz began his career as a systems integrator, building one of California’s leading firms before turning to technology development. Today he serves on the Security Industry Association’s Board of Directors and chairs its AI, Drones, and Robotics Interest Group, shaping policy and innovation for the sector. He is also a frequent speaker at ISC East, ISC West, GSX, and ASIS conferences, where he is recognized as a leading authority on the future of security. 
 
For reporters, producers, and editors seeking a bold and insightful perspective on AI, robotics, and the future of security, Reinharz is a proven source who brings both authority and candor to the conversation. 

Phil Eastwood is a dynamic, energetic presenter, whose story-telling style educates, inspires, and entertains his audiences big and small.   
 
But it wasn’t always like that. Phil spent 35 years as a police officer – 8 in London, England with the Met Police and 27 with the New Westminster Police.   
 
The experience of working with humans outside and inside the police station left him learning lessons and having stories to share.  
 
Now one of Canada’s premier human resource training facilitators, and 1 of only 62 Certified Speaking Professionals in Canada, Phil’s passion and inspirational energy connects and provokes from the platform.