Toronto’s Top Technology & Security Executives Named at the 2026 Toronto ORBIE Awards

Leading CIOs & CISOs honored for leadership, innovation, enterprise security, and business impact at the Toronto ORBIE Awards on September 9, 2026 at the Fairmont Royal York.

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2026 Toronto ORBIE Awards honored leading chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) from Scotiabank, OpenText, Metrie, Toronto Transit Commission, Humber Polytechnic, TELUS, Western University, and C&R Software for their exceptional leadership. Hosted by InspireTORONTO and TorontoCISO, two of over 50 Inspire Leadership Network chapters, the prestigious award honors CIOs & CISOs who drive business transformation and industry impact. View finalists, partners, and more on the Digital ORBIE Feature. 

This exclusive event brought together top executives and industry leaders from Toronto. The morning honored excellence in technology and security leadership across eight award categories at the Fairmont Royal York.  

“Behind every successful technology and security strategy is a CIO or CISO leading the vision,” said Ranji Narine, InspireTORONTO Chair. “The ORBIE® Awards is the ultimate recognition program for the leaders behind the work.”

“The ORBIE Awards recognize CIOs and CISOs who drive meaningful impact through leadership excellence. Finalists and winners highlight the business value of technology and security initiatives transforming Toronto’s economy,” said Clinton McFadden, TorontoCISO Chair.

Meet the 2026 Toronto ORBIE Award Winners: 

• Stella Yeung, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Global Corporate Functions, Scotiabank, received the Leadership ORBIE.
  
• Shannon Bell, EVP, CDO & CIO, OpenText, received the Global ORBIE for organizations over $1 billion annual revenue and multi-national operations.
  
• Sarah Shortreed, CIO, Metrie, received the Large Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $1.5 billion annual revenue.
  
• Dhaksayan Shanmuganayagam, CIO, Toronto Transit Commission, received the Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $900 million annual revenue.
  
• Scott Briggs, VP & Chief Digital and Enrolment Officer, Humber Polytechnic, received the Corporate ORBIE for organizations up to $900 million annual revenue and multi-national operations.
• Carey Frey, CSO, TELUS, received the CISO Global ORBIE for organizations over $7 billion annual revenue and multi-national operations.
• Brent Fowles, CISO, Director WTS Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Services, Western University, received the CISO Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $600 million annual revenue.
  
• Arif Hameed, CISO, C&R Software, received the CISO Corporate ORBIE for organizations up to $600 million annual revenue.

About the ORBIE:
The ORBIE is the preeminent executive recognition for C-suite leaders. Since 1998, the ORBIE Awards have recognized leadership excellence, building relationships between executives and trusted business partners, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer-adjudicated process led by prior ORBIE recipients based on the following criteria: 

• Leadership and management effectiveness 
• Business value created by technology innovation (CIOs)
• Business protection created by enterprise security (CISOs)
• Engagement in industry and community endeavors

Toronto ORBIE Keynote & Attendance: 

The keynote address for the Toronto ORBIE Awards was delivered by Stella Yeung, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Global Corporate Functions, Scotiabank, who was interviewed by Ranji Narine, CIO Canada, Intact Financial Corporation. Nearly 250 guests attended, representing leading Toronto organizations and their technology partners.

The following partners made the 2026 Toronto ORBIE Awards possible:

• Underwriters: Google Cloud & Slalom
• Gold Partners: CrowdStrike & Zscaler
• Silver Partners: Cloudflare, Nutanix, & SHI International
• Bronze Partners: Amazon Web Services, Between Pixels, Deloitte, HCL Tech, Microsoft, & PwC

To learn more about partnership opportunities and how to connect with leading C-suite executives across North America, click here.

About InspireTORONTO & TorontoCISO:

InspireTORONTO & TorontoCISO are the preeminent peer leadership networks of chief information officers (CIOs) and of chief information security officers (CISOs) in Toronto. As two of over 50 chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, InspireTORONTO & TorontoCISO belong to a national membership organization exclusively comprised of C-suite leaders from public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit institutions.

InspireTORONTO & TorontoCISO are led by a CIO and CISO Advisory Board, with support from an executive director and staff. Underwriter executives support the chapters and ensure the programs remain member-led and exclusive to qualified CIOs, CISOs, and members.

About Inspire Leadership Network:

Inspire Leadership Network is the preeminent peer leadership network of C-suite executives. With over 2,000 members across over 50 chapters, Inspire members serve public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and non-profit institutions. Inspire exists to help leaders thrive in today’s most challenging executive roles.

Media Contact
Nicole Lammes
nicole.lammes@inspirecxo.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f149a7d3-4849-4da4-a834-f2fe2b0a4305

2026 Toronto ORBIE Award Winners

Meet the 2026 Toronto ORBIE Award Winners