Keynote Speaker — Toronto & Worldwide

Ross
Saunders

Privacy engineer, governance practitioner, and keynote speaker who has spent 10 years turning complex regulatory topics into talks people actually remember.

HEADSHOT PLACEHOLDER
10+ Years on Stage
20+ Years in Tech
15 Years in Privacy & Security

Ross is extremely enthusiastic about his work which is infectious.

Head of Operations — Global FinTech Payments Platform

Three Keynotes.
One Speaker.

Each talk can be tailored in length, depth, and focus for your specific audience. Ross works with event organizers before every engagement to make sure the content lands.

Your Data, Your Rules

How to Protect Your Data in a World That Won’t

This entertaining talk dives into easy-to-apply fundamentals of protecting yourself from cyber threats, along with the rights you have in terms of your data. Practical, accessible, and built for general audiences who don’t spend their days thinking about compliance.

Audiences leave with real, actionable steps — not vague advice about being careful online.

  • What your data is actually worth to the people collecting it
  • The rights you have under privacy law (and how to use them)
  • Practical threat protection for everyday digital life
  • How to spot when a service is collecting more than it should

Best for: Public events, consumer audiences, general staff

KEYNOTE STAGE PHOTO

Racing Regulation

Mastering GRC in the Age of Unstoppable Innovation

How do you manage compliance when the goalposts never stop moving? This keynote explores practical strategies for building governance frameworks that can flex with disruption while maintaining compliance.

Among others, Ross covers rapid risk assessment of emerging technologies, methods for creating living policies, and managing shadow IT and AI — the issues keeping your GRC team up at night.

  • Rapid risk assessment frameworks for emerging technology
  • Building governance policies that evolve without full rewrites
  • Shadow IT and shadow AI: identification and remediation
  • Keeping compliance teams aligned with product velocity

Best for: Tech companies, corporate and executive audiences

KEYNOTE STAGE PHOTO

Key Risqué Indicators

Governance Gymnastics & Compliance Calisthenics

Explaining risks and controls to teams has never been this visual, this exciting, or this memorable. A one-of-a-kind keynote that physically demonstrates how privacy and cyber risks materialize.

Audiences leave seeing Governance, Risk & Compliance in a completely new light — and with a visceral understanding that peak GRC performance comes from a balancing act of strength and flexibility. A different type of podium rises on stage for this one.

  • The physical metaphor of risk, control, and compliance failure
  • Why governance requires both strength and flexibility
  • How to explain GRC concepts to any audience without losing them
  • Audience participation that makes risk tangible

Best for: Any audience — wildly flexible in length and format

KEY RISQUÉ PHOTO

What Working
With Ross Looks Like

Booking a speaker should be the easy part. Here is what you can expect from the moment you reach out.

  • Pre-event consultation to tailor content to your audience and objectives
  • Customization of talk length, depth, and focus for your format
  • Speaker bio, headshots, and AV requirements provided promptly
  • On-time arrival and full technical setup readiness
  • Post-event follow-up — Q&A overflow, resources for attendees
  • Availability for pre-event promotion (podcast, interview, social content)

 

  • Workshops and lunch-and-learns available as add-ons or standalone
  • Training sessions for technical or executive sub-groups at your event
  • Ross holds professional speaker training and has presented internationally
  • All three keynotes are available in 20, 40, or 60-minute formats
  • Virtual delivery available for hybrid or fully remote events
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Upcoming Appearances

Toronto Tech Week — May 2026
Privacy & Pilates
Imprint Pilates, Downtown Toronto

A short, jargon-free session for Toronto tech leaders covering what privacy obligations actually matter at your stage. Paired with a guided Pilates session because why not strengthen both your compliance posture and your core.

Enquire
Toronto Tech Week — May 2026
Toronto Product Con
Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto

Toronto’s first conference for working PMs and product leaders. 300+ attendees. Ross is speaking on privacy in the product lifecycle.

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Recurring
Book Ross for Your Event
Worldwide — In-person or Virtual

Ross is available for conferences, corporate events, workshops, panels, and lunch-and-learns. Get in touch to check availability for your date.

Get in Touch

Ready to Book Ross?

Send a speaking inquiry and Ross will get back to you within one business day.