Room: International AB
Sponsor(s)
 
Session Description
Securing Your Transit Agency Operations: The Intersection of Cybersecurity and Customer Experience
Stream: Leadership Stream
Moderator: Sabah Lone, Technical Solutions Consultant, Vontas
Speaker:
1. Sabah Lone – Vontas
2. Sylvain Gagn̩ РCysca Technologies Inc.
3. Alexis Dunphy – CUTRIC
4. Derek Sutton – Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
5. Prabhjot Dhami – MiWay
6. Michelle Jones – Jacobs
As transit systems become more connected, cyber incidents increasingly disrupt service, communications, and rider trust. This panel brings together transit agencies, academics, IT professionals, and transit technology partners to examine how cyber risks surface in real operations—and how agencies and partners can strengthen resilience while protecting the customer experience.
Learning Objectives:
Identify and understand common cybersecurity vulnerabilities across transit ecosystems, including phishing and email compromise, ransomware, supply?chain and technology?partner risk, and weaknesses at the IT–OT (Operational Technology) boundary involving both agency? and partner?managed systems.
Understand how these vulnerabilities impact riders and operations, from service outages and loss of real-time information to system disruptions and erosion of public trust.
Apply a shared responsibility model across transit agencies, technology partners, researchers, and IT teams to improve preparedness, incident response, and long-term resilience while maintaining a strong customer experience.
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Sabah Lone – Technical Solutions Consultant, Vontas
Bio:
Sabah Lone is a Technical Solutions Consultant with Vontas with over 15 years of experience in the public transportation industry. Sabah graduated with a MasterÂ’s of Science in International Politics from the University of London, UK and a Bachelor of Arts from Trent University in Ontario, Canada.
Over her career, Sabah has worked with multiple technologies, agencies, and vendors across the United States & Canada specializing in Intelligent Transportation Systems, VoIP, and Yard Management. Her role innovates the way riders, operators, and employees interact with transit applications worldwide.
Sylvain Gagn̩ РDirector of Information Systems Security, Cybersecurity Practice Manager, Cysca Technologies Inc.
Bio:
Sylvain Gagné brings over 20 years of experience securing the technologies that keep critical systems running, across the defense, transportation, and energy sectors.
From connected vehicles to operational systems, he helps organizations better understand and manage cybersecurity risks in environments where reliability and safety are non-negotiable.
Known for making complex topics clear and practical, Sylvain focuses on helping teams take concrete steps to protect their systems in an increasingly connected and evolving world.
Alexis Dunphy – Project Manager, Sustainable Transit Initiatives, CUTRIC
Bio:
Alexis Dunphy is a mechanical engineer and the Project Manager of Sustainable Transit Initiatives at the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC). In this role, they lead comprehensive zero emissions bus (ZEB) feasibility studies, predictive modelling and rollout strategies for diverse transit agencies across Canada, including TransLink, Brampton Transit, Okotoks, Cochrane and many more. To bridge the gap between predictive planning and real-world operations, they also manages Phase Two of the Pan-Canadian Battery Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial and is launching Phase Three which focuses on inductive charging. Alexis manages the operationalization of the provincial OPTA ZEB Dashboard and leads its strategic transition into the secure, national ACES CloudTransit Data Trust. Prior to their current leadership in public transit decarbonization, Alexis developed a strong foundation in technical project management through their previous work in battery management systems, nuclear commercial grade dedication and solar racking systems.Â
Derek Sutton – Chief Information Security Officer, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
Bio:
As Chief Information Security Officer for the Toronto Transit Commission, I lead the enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy that protects critical transit operations, customer data, and corporate systems across one of North AmericaÂ’s largest urban networks. Partnering closely with executive leadership, city stakeholders, and operational teams, I oversee risk management, governance, incident readiness, and regulatory alignment, while modernizing controls across IT and OT environments to safeguard safety-critical systems and service reliability. In this role, I act as a forward-looking security leader, embedding cybersecurity into strategic decision-making, driving a multi-year roadmap of innovation and resilience, and building a culture where cyber risk is managed proactively.
Prabhjot Dhami – Manager, Transit Business Systems, MiWay
Bio:
Prabhjot Dhami PMP, CISSP, TOGAF,ITIL
Prabhjot.dhami@outlook.com
Cell: 905 599 7365
www.linkedin.com/prabhjotd
Strategic IT and transit leader with over 20 years of experience driving technology transformation within the public sector. Currently serving as Manager, Business Systems at MIWay, Prabhjot Dhami leads enterprise initiatives focused on digital modernization, operational efficiency, and customer-centric service delivery.
Prabhjot brings deep expertise in IT strategy, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and governance, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale, mission-critical programs on time and within budget. He is recognized for aligning technology solutions with business priorities, strengthening vendor partnerships, and navigating complex public sector procurement environments.
Prior to MIWay, Prabhjot held progressive leadership roles with the City of MississaugaÂ’s IT division, including Network Architect, Program Manager, and Senior Manager of Infrastructure Services. He is known for fostering high-performing teams, enabling data-driven decision-making, and driving innovation through cloud adoption and modern enterprise systems.
Michelle Jones – Senior Project Manager, Jacobs
Bio:
Michelle N. Jones is JacobsÂ’ Market Growth Lead for Transportation Decarbonization and a Senior Project Manager specializing in zero?emission transit and facility decarbonization. Before joining Jacobs, she held senior roles at the Toronto Transit Commission, where she worked on early battery?electric bus initiatives, facility readiness, and renewable energy programs.
At Jacobs, Michelle supports transit agencies and municipalities in developing practical approaches to fleet electrification and facility decarbonization, including charging infrastructure planning, facility upgrades, operational readiness, and the day?to?day interface between vehicles, chargers, and depot operations.
At OPTA OTE, Michelle is contributing to two sessions:
• ZEB Day – Operationalization: From Procurement to Pull?Out, sharing infrastructure and commissioning lessons learned.
• Cybersecurity in Transit, discussing how cyber risks appear at the intersection of vehicles, chargers, facilities, and IT–OT systems.
Moderator(s)
Sabah Lone – Technical Solutions Consultant, Vontas