RCC President Diane J. Brisebois welcomes attendees to Retail Secure Conference 2023 and Paul Trickett, Chair of the RCC LP Advisory Committee and National Director of Asset Protection and Health & Safety with Staples Canada, shares an update on the committee’s priorities and goals.

The accelerated evolution of modern retail has changed how, where, and when consumers can shop. Risk management professionals are eager to stay 10 steps ahead of bad-actors who are leveraging changes in technology and retail strategy for criminal gain. Tony D’Onofrio, CEO of TD Insights, shares 5 retail trends risk management professionals need to know about to mitigate potential fraud, theft, or violence. Discover new opportunities to fortify your strategy and stand out as a proactive leader with the modern skills required.

The changing face of fraud in retail is challenging to keep up with changing consumer habits and the acceleration of online shopping. In this session fraud experts from Best Buy Canada and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, come together to discuss the rise in ecommerce fraud, how to mitigate it, the tools for investigation and the next generation of protection.

Fast Five Sponsor Highlight

In the face of rising retail theft, Blackbird Security offers an insightful analysis on the results of effective security tactics, implemented and gathered from many of our retail clients across Canada. Learn more about what has worked for other retailers, and what strategies you can adopt to better protect your business, such as uniform versus plain clothes security and hand-off versus use of force approach.

In a challenging labour market building a strong team requires ingenuity and thinking outside the box. This session chats with two retailers who are sharing keys to success to finding and retaining the right people. This session looks at creative ideas and changing priorities in recruitment and what is making a meaningful impact in career development and retention.

Be sure to visit the exhibit hall during the networking break.

The rise of ever expanding digital channels facilitating the sale and purchase of consumer goods has fueled and continues to fuel a rapid increase in the trade of counterfeit products around the world. Lorne Lipkus, Founding Partner at Lipkus Law LLP, shares everything retailers need to know about fighting the proliferation of the illicit trade in counterfeit products including what programs there are to support retailers, the checks and balances available to dispel myths that might be holding your effective strategy back.

Security awareness programs must focus on empowering employees with the knowledge and skills required to become resilient against cyber threats. A culture of cyber security awareness, informed people and engaged cyber heroes set you up for reducing the risk of security breaches, and protecting the organization’s assets and reputation. Theo Zafirakos, CISO at Fortra’s Terranova Security, shares lessons learned in training over 10 million users and is joined by leading retailers who share their challenges and success with implementing a cyber-aware culture in their own organizations.

Enjoy lunch and visit the exhibit hall to connect with vendors and suppliers.

A conversation with Halton Regional Police Service.

Halton Regional Police Service’s (HRPS) Superintendent Robert Gourley sits down with RCC’s Rui Rodrigues to chat about how HRPS is strategically addressing organized retail crime (ORC) and its Retail Theft Unit. Supt. Gourley discusses the recent ORC theft ring dismantled by Project Kingfisher that saw $2 million in stolen goods recovered and the arrest of 11 people laying dozens of criminal charges. In this session retailers will also learn more about how HRPS is operating differently through the work of it’s Retail Theft Unit and how they work to support their community.

With a staggering increase in cyber security incidents, Canadian Retailers feel especially vulnerable to attacks on customer and employee data and the ability to operate. Alexander Rau, Partner, Cyber Security and Response at KPMG shares an outlook on the attacker landscape in Canada, why this seems to be happening so frequently and best practices to respond in active situations. Alexander shares details that will help you prioritize your cybersecure strategy and answers the most pressing questions on insurance and paying ransoms.

Be sure to visit the exhibit hall during the networking break.

The evolution of cybersecurity is a complex and ever-changing process. Google has been at the forefront of this evolution for the last two decades, constantly adapting and innovating. This presentation will discuss Google’s viewpoints on advancements in AI and how the company has been able to stay ahead of the curve. It will also discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for cybersecurity, and how Retailers can position themselves.

New retail experiences create new risks requiring new tools and technology to manage successfully. In this session Adam Oberdick, Lead Director, Asset Protection with CVS Health shares how his team navigates these changes to implement innovative technologies that help operationalize strategic plans. Adam shares insights on the CVS innovation hub, how to get cross-department buy-in on risks and innovative technology, and the critical role partners can play in the process.

News outlets across Canada are increasingly reporting violent crime on transit, in schools and in retail stores. Retailers across Canada are feeling the impact and have serious concerns about employee and customer safety and the risk of declining sales and traffic. In this session our panel discusses how they are strategically working to mitigate criminal behaviour; how they are building partnerships with the community and law enforcement and share actionable tips on how they are supporting employees and securing the budget and executive support for meaningful change.