Speakers

Detective Constable John Armit has been a member of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for 24 years. John has worked in various roles within the OPP, such as: general investigative duties, major crime, traffic services and as a Community Service & Media Officer. In 2015, John began working in his current position with the OPP’s Anti-Rackets Branch (ARB), investigating major economic crimes, Cyber-Enabled fraud and political corruption. In 2021, John was seconded for almost three years to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) as a Detective Sergeant working as a law enforcement Liaison Officer nationally and internationally. John is a spokesperson for the OPP’s Financial Crime Services, presents at the Ontario and Canadian Police Colleges on cyber-enable and financial crimes. In September 2024, John was the recipient of Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada’s (FINTRAC) Partnership award

Detective Constable Michael Gow has been with the Toronto Police Service for 15 years and their Coordinated Cyber Centre (C3) for 5 years. Within C3, Michael spent 2 years investigating Shootings and Gangs within Toronto, and through that time has developed an OSINT training program that is utilized for training within the Toronto Police Service. Over the past 3 years, Michael has transferred from Gang and Shooting investigations to fraud-related cyber attacks. Michael has been investigating SIM Swap attacks since early 2022 and started “Project Disrupt” as a method to combat the uptrend in these attacks. To date, Project Disrupt has made 13 arrests and laid over 170 charges, with several investigations still on the go.

Jason Timbers - Forensic Specialist Counterfeit Examiner National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau (NACB), RCMP National Forensic Laboratory Services Jason began his career with the RCMP in 2012 and has worked in the National DNA Data Bank prior to becoming a Forensic Specialist with the National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau in 2019. As a Forensic Specialist, he conducts forensic examinations to determine the authenticity of genuine, counterfeit, and altered Canadian, American and foreign bank notes as well as other negotiable instruments, travel and identity documents and Canadian coins. In addition to forensic examinations, his duties also include providing expert court testimony when required. Jason holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biotechnology from La Cité collégiale, and a Master’s of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Ottawa.

Sean Sportun - Chair, Toronto Crime Stoppers Sean is a distinguished security professional with over 30 years of experience in the Corporate Security Industry, earning global recognition for his achievements. In May 2024, he assumed the role of National Director of Loss Prevention & Corporate Security at Sobeys. Before this, he served as Vice President of National Accounts & Community Engagement for GardaWorld Canada and previously led Circle K’s Loss Prevention Team for 15 years. Sean holds an Honours diploma from the Seneca College Law Enforcement Program, along with Leadership and Management certificates from Queen’s University and a Leadership certificate from Harvard University. His professional certifications include Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Level 2 Practitioner, Situation Awareness Specialist Advanced Practitioner, and International Crime Prevention Specialist. He is also an associate member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, contributing to their Community Safety & Well-being Committee, and is a member of the Ontario Gang Investigations Association. A dedicated Community Safety Advocate, Sean has volunteered with the Toronto Crime Stoppers Board of Directors since 2002 and currently serves as the program’s Chair. Sean’s unwavering commitment to community safety has earned him numerous prestigious accolades. He was awarded the Key to the City of Baton Rouge for his Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts in 2005, named Canadian Security Magazine’s Security Director of the Year in 2013, and received the 2016 Mission 500 Humanitarian Award—the first Canadian to do so. In 2021, he was nominated for the Ontario Premier’s Award, and in 2022, he was ranked #1 globally on IFSEC Global’s “Top Influencers” list. In 2024, the Retail Council of Canada honored him with the inaugural Retail Secure Legends Award, and most recently, he received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada. Harvard University’s School of Business has published two business reviews showcasing Sean’s innovative approach to retail crime prevention.

Leila Campbell is the Senior Manager, Anti-Fraud Program with the Canadian Life and Health Association (CLHIA). In her role, Leila facilitates the industry working together to mitigate benefits fraud by collaborating with CLHIA staff and member companies to deliver, manage and administer key industry level services and tools. Leila has over 20 years' experience in health and insurance administration. Prior to joining CLHIA, Leila held positions in Compliance, Life and Disability, and Investigations at Empire Life. Leila graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BSC in Biology, has a certificate in Regulatory Compliance and has the Associate Life Management Institute designation.

Richelle Feddema brings over 15 years of experience in the group insurance industry, having developed a deep understanding of the sector. She has extensive experience building and leading claims investigation teams, where she successfully developed and implemented fraud detection strategies. Richelle has collaborated with both internal and external stakeholders to address and resolve fraud-related challenges, building a strong track record in program development and risk management. Currently, Richelle serves as Senior Manager of Anti-Fraud Member Management at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). In this role, she focuses on key initiatives, such as collaborating with member companies to identify emerging issues and opportunities impacting both members and the broader industry. Richelle also leads industry-wide initiatives, including the multi-year consumer education campaign, as well as provider and plan member education efforts. She is responsible for managing internal anti-fraud marketing and communications for the CLHIA, including the organization’s annual conference. Additionally, Richelle plays a key role in advocacy and strategic planning for the association's Anti-Fraud program.

Jeff Blanchard is a Senior Corporate Investigator at OLG, where he has served for the past decade. With 25 years of experience in Casino Gaming, Jeff plays a pivotal role in the OLG Corporate Investigations Law Enforcement liaison process. He is a primary contact for police agencies handling Break & Enter, Robbery, and Theft complaints, as well as fraud cases related to lottery products and OLG retail locations. Jeff's expertise includes AML interviews and investigations into fraud and misconduct involving customers, retailers, and employees. His work is integral to OLG's commitment to ensuring that lottery prizes are awarded to their rightful owners.

Kyle C. Armstrong is the Director of Law Enforcement Relations at TRM Labs. At TRM, Kyle and his team help public sector partners build infrastructure for disrupting the illicit use of cryptocurrency. TRM helps enable public sector partners to train and equip their workforce, follow the assets, identify the individuals controlling the assets, and seize the assets. Prior to TRM Labs, Kyle investigated illicit finance for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 14 years.