Farshad Abasi is an innovative technologist with over twenty years of experience in software design and development, network and system architecture, management, and technical instruction. With a keen interest in security from the start, he has become an expert in that aspect of computing and communication over the last 16 years.
He is currently the CSO at Forward Security, with a mission to provide world class information security services, particularly in the Application and Cloud security domains. In addition, he co-founded Mirai Security, and spent the last decade as a senior member of HSBC Group’s IT Security team with the most recent positions being the Principal Global Security Architect, and Head of IT Security of the Canadian division. Farshad is continuing a sixteen year stint as an instructor at BCIT where he shares his passion for information and network security, helping others build a career in this exciting field. He is also the security correspondent for CFAX radio, BSides Vancouver/MARS board member, Vancouver OWASP chapter lead, a CISSP designate, and a UBC CS alumnus.