Behind the Curtain: Secrets of a Former Spy

Andrew Kirsch is a former intelligence officer who served with the Canadian Security Intelligence
Service (CSIS) for nearly a decade. In this role, he held various positions such as policy analyst and
field investigator and was responsible for leading teams on secret operations. His memoir, “I Was
Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffee’s, Code Names and Covert Operations in the Age
of Terrorism,” was a national bestseller, and provides a fascinating insight into his career as a spy.
After leaving CSIS, Andrew was one of the founding members and the first-ever Department
Security Officer of Ontario’s Office of the Provincial Security Advisor. He has also served on the
Ontario Expert Panel on Cyber Security, advising the government on how to improve cybersecurity
practices in the public sector.
Today, Andrew is the President of Kirsch Group (KG), a boutique risk consultancy firm serving
government, corporate, and private clients. He and his team work to identify and mitigate physical
and cyber security vulnerabilities. Andrew is a public speaker on security issues and draws on his
own experiences to provide entertaining and educational insights into the world of intelligence and
security.
Andrew Kirsch holds a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation from ASIS International
and a Public Policy degree from Brown University. He is also a former Canadian forces army
reservist and a member of the Inclusive Workspace and Supply Council of Canada. Andrew is
married with two young children.