Dr. Janos Botschner is a behavioral scientist with deep experience in applied research and evaluation, program and policy development and implementation, post-secondary education and training, organizational leadership, and strategic consulting across a range of organizations and community groups. Janos holds a joint doctorate in applied social and developmental psychology and has held adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Guelph and at Wilfred Laurier University. He has two decades of leadership experience in the broader public sector, including as founding director of a community-based research institute, senior manager in the Ontario Public Service, and as an associate dean of a large academic department delivering community safety focused programming. Janos’ professional work covers the spectrum of issues related to collaborative public safety and well-being, with a focus on understanding, and responding adaptively to, the complex issues and emerging opportunities of today and tomorrow. Using engagement and inquiry, Janos works with organizations and groups to strengthen their capacity to support a safe, healthy, inclusive and prosperous Canadian society.
Neil Dubord is an accomplished law enforcement professional and leader with over thirty-five years of experience in policing and public safety. Career highlights include executive leadership roles as the Chief of the Delta Police Department, the Chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and the Deputy Chief of the Edmonton Police Service. A respected thought leader, he has contributed to national and international discussions on incident command, crisis management, and public trust. He has delivered keynotes at major conferences, participated in international committees, and published in prominent journals on topics related to policing, leadership, and organizational change. Neil holds a Doctor of Business Management (Ph.D.) and a Master's in Leadership and Training. His educational background is complemented by certifications from the FBI National Academy, the University of Virginia, and various specialized certifications in human resources, cybersecurity and financial crime. Neil’s academic accomplishments are matched by an array of awards, including the Officer of the Police Order of Merit from the Governor General of Canada, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and multiple Police Exemplary Service Medals. Neil has been happily married to his wife for forty years. They live with their beloved dog.
Ritesh Kotak is a Technology and Cybersecurity analyst and a licensed lawyer in Ontario. He practices in the area of Privacy, Cybersecurity and Emerging Tech. He started an eight-year career in policing which involved two police agencies within Canada along with several international assignments. He co-led the creation of the Cyber-Crimes unit and the Research and Innovation portfolio focusing on digital transformation. Ritesh then transitioned to the Private sector where he worked with different Fortune 500 Tech companies on global projects related to cybersecurity, privacy, investigations and digital transformation. In 2017, he completed an MBA from the University of Edinburgh with an exchange at Peking University in Beijing, China. He also holds a BBA from the University of Toronto. Ritesh has also completed his J.D (law degree) with an option in Technology Law from the University of Ottawa.
Ritesh has had the privilege of working and presenting around the world including the World Internet Conference in China, the training academy for the Jamaican Constabulary Force, Intersec in Dubai, the Major City Chiefs/FBI National Executive Institute Conference, NATO-sponsored Cyber-Security Conference in North Macedonia and several other events in the Middle East, North America and Europe. Ritesh has appeared three times as a witness in the House of Commons, addressing competitiveness and digital technology in Canada.
Ritesh has written several articles for the Financial Times, the Economist and several other publications. He also frequently appears in mainstream media as a subject matter expert on tech and cyber-related stories.
Barb Mantello has a practical and instructional background in criminal justice. Barb spent 10 years working with young offenders before embarking on a post-secondary teaching and research career. Prior to retiring as Chair of the School of Justice Studies at Lethbridge College, Barb spent most of her academic years teaching and supporting students in pursuit of corrections, policing and other public safety careers. Barb has extensive experience with the development and implementation of applied learning at the college and university level. Part of that experience includes developing courses for face-to face and online teaching platforms; completing curriculum reviews; and designing a specialized, competency-based cadet training program aimed to assist police agencies in hiring selections for their service. Based in Lethbridge, Alberta, Barb now provides research, advising, and developmental support to community safety organizations in Canada.
Mark Neufeld is a seasoned police and public safety executive with 33 years of service across multiple Canadian jurisdictions, including the Vancouver, Edmonton, Camrose, and Calgary Police Services. A former Chief Constable of the Camrose and Calgary Police Services, he has held senior operational, investigative, and executive leadership roles spanning frontline policing, major case investigations, professional standards, human resources, emergency management, and police accountability. Neufeld played a foundational role in the creation and evolution of Alberta’s Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), serving twice on secondment, including as Director of Investigations with province-wide responsibility. Widely respected for his expertise in police oversight, regulatory frameworks, and complaint and discipline processes, he has advised and presented to police leaders, governments, unions, and oversight bodies across Canada. He holds a Master’s Degree in Police Management with a concentration in Evidence-Based Policing from the University of Cambridge. Neufeld has served as President of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, Vice President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and as a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Dr. Chad Nilson has a wide background in developing and measuring collaborative social innovations for non-profit, municipal, provincial, federal and Indigenous organizations. As a community-engaged researcher, advisor and evaluator, Chad has contributed broadly to the field of community safety and well-being. Chad’s reputation and expertise has drawn him into many national and international projects of high profile and impact.
Mark Reber is a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with over 20 years professional experience in policing and security sector reform. His initial work was with the Internal Affairs Branch on internal discipline, public complaints and conflict of interest, as well as the RCMP’s first targeted anti-corruption effort. He then became Executive Officer to a number of senior RCMP officers, including the Deputy Commissioner for Organizational Strategy, before leading a number of organizational change initiatives in areas including strategic planning, performance management and police labour relations. Prior to leaving the RCMP Mark was seconded to a number of international police reform and oversight agencies, initially for five years as Chief of Staff to the Oversight Commissioner for Policing Reform in Northern Ireland, and then for a further eighteen months as a Senior Inspector with the newly-formed Garda Síochána Inspectorate in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. His subsequent professional focus has been on international police reform and governance projects particularly in post-conflict countries such as Somaliland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, DR Congo and Colombia among others. He has also designed and overseen multi-year investigations and organizational strengthening initiatives for law enforcement and judicial agencies in Costa Rica, Botswana, Tanzania, Palestine, the Philippines, Egypt and Ukraine among others. Mark holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Practice from Ulster University, Belfast, where he was also a Visiting Professor in the School of Criminology from 2013 to 2018, and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. He also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations from Carleton University, and in Political Science from the University of Toronto. Mark is a certified United Nations Security Sector Reform Advisor, and a certified Organizational Assessor under the European Foundation for Quality Management.