Vanessa, co-founder of the multidisciplinary law firm Henri & Wolf, is a forerunner in cybersecurity and data governance. A member of the Quebec Bar Association, she holds a Master of Laws from the University of McGill, Canada, with a focus on cyberespionage. Vanessa has not only pioneered the Master of Law in Cybersecurity at St. Thomas University but also mentored there for several years. Today, she continues to share knowledge through Ryerson University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.
Before establishing Henri & Wolf, Vanessa honed her skills at a leading Canadian law firm specializing in emerging technologies and served as a Data Protection Officer and Director of Compliance at a Japanese cybersecurity firm. Her legal practice, encompassing supply chain risk management, telecommunications infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and product development, has earned her a spot in Best Lawyers’ “Ones to Watch” in 2021.
As a member of Quebec’s Ministry of Cybersecurity expert group and a governor of the Montreal Young Bar Association, Vanessa has been influential in shaping cybersecurity practices. Named among Canada’s Top 20 Most Influential Women in cybersecurity in 2020, she has also judged the competition and received international recognition as a Top Global Influencer in Security by IFSEC. Her achievements in 2022 include winning the Women Trailblazer in Cybersecurity award after co-founding Henri & Wolf. Vanessa is a Certified Data Protection Officer and a Senior Lead Implementer for ISO/IEC 27701:2019, mentoring at Next AI, and advising boards of renowned conferences such as BlackHat and Canadian Women in Cybersecurity.
Vanessa’s leadership extends to her service on various boards of directors, including her current role at Data Franca, focused on making technological knowledge accessible in French. She continues to contribute to cybersecurity innovation as a secretary for Cybereco and OpenNorth. Vanessa is a published author and a frequent media commentator, known for her public outreach contributions, notably on “The French Connection,” a podcast managed by Quebec’s principal non-profit technical cybersecurity organization. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has graced industry conferences worldwide, including Code Blue in Japan and the FIC in France and Canada.
In recognition of her significant contributions, Vanessa has been nominated as Cybersecurity Woman of the Year in cybersecurity law and Cybersecurity Woman of the World.
