CyberNB today will open CyberSmart 2018, a conference that features presentations by cybersecurity experts from around the world.

The conference will develop themes that were brought out at the inaugural  event last year, CyberSmart is the only cybersecurity skills and workforce development event of its kind in North America, said a statement from one if its sponsors, Saint John-based Mariner. It will take place in Fredericton today and Wedneday.

Last year’s event drew more than 300 delegates from across Canada and the United States. Attendees included industry leaders and influencers, all three levels of Canadian government, private and public post-secondary institutions and university and high school students.

“Finding and fostering talented information security professionals is critical for Mariner as we continue to grow our business,” Mariner Innovations President Paul Eisner said in a statement. “The CyberSmart Summit brings together key stakeholders essential to developing the cybersecurity workforce, and provides the perfect forum to exchange valuable learnings.”

The keynote address – International Cyber Readiness: Lessons for Canada – will be delivered by Melissa Hathaway, President of Washington, D.C.-based Hathaway Global Strategies. She spearheaded the Cyberspace Policy Review for President Barack Obama after leading the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative for President George W. Bush.

The schedule includes a session on cybercrime, chaired by Mariner’s Vice-President of Security Solutions Anthony English, as well as seminars on trends in cyber workforce development, building cyber and digital literacy in youth and an international cyber warriors program.

The event will also feature Canada’s first country-wide youth summit for cybersecurity. The CyberSmart Youth Summit will be attended by students from across Canada. It will feature hands-on sessions and an interactive career-path-focused trade show. A number of industry leaders, including Fredericton-based Blue Spurs, will speak at the youth event.

This youth summit is the first of its kind in Canada, organizers said. It aims to be the first step in building a stronger IT-skilled workforce in New Brunswick and establishing the province as the key centre of cybersecurity in Canada.

CyberNB is a division of Opportunities NB that aims to foster the cybersecurity community in New Brunswick.