About Us

Your Trusted Security Advisors

“At FWDSEC (Forward Security) we are all about doing application, cloud, and information security better. Our team tackles security using a systematic approach, leveraging standards based and repeatable processes. We are incredibly passionate about delivering the best security solutions, and are driven to help our clients achieve the highest level of security to enable business growth.”

Farshad Abasi
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Who we are

Forward Security is a group of highly accomplished security professionals, who focus on delivering best-in-class security solutions. Our team has experience with some of the world’s largest organizations including HSBC, Intel, and Motorola. In our day-to-day we love working closely with fast-growing start-ups and medium-sized enterprises to provide the security expertise they need to build their businesses with peace of mind.

How we came to be

When it comes to certain domains of security – particularly application and cloud – there is a shortage of quality service providers who have a deep understanding of the subject matter and evolving technology landscape. At Forward Security we have brought together some of the best and the brightest in the industry to provide leading expertise in these domains. We are truly passionate about security. Our team is here to deliver the most effective security for your business, following standardized, systematic, and repeatable processes.

Our values

We believe in leading by providing expertise across all levels of security. Facing security issues can feel daunting; we take a straight-talk approach, providing clarity and transparency for your organization with solutions you can trust. We are positive and encouraging as educators and service providers, always striving to work hard and work smart. We aim to provide our clients with thought leadership in security, and pride ourselves on always staying at the leading edge of best practices

What you can expect

As your trusted Cybersecurity advisors, you can always expect us to provide consistent and top-quality service tailored to your business. Tap into our specialized security understanding to solve your most challenging security problems with expert advice. We also know efficiency is key. People want high quality deliverables without the extraneous layers, so we get straight to the point (but with a smile, of course).

Meet Our

A-Team

Farshad Abasi

Founder, Chief Executive Officer
LinkedIn

An innovative technologist with over twenty years of experience in security, software design and development, network and system architecture and management. Farshad spent a decade as a senior member of HSBC’s IT security team and currently leads OWASP’s Vancouver chapter.

Designations & Certifications: CISSP, AWS Security Professional, Azure Security Engineer

Mathieu Chretien

Chief Operations Officer
LinkedIn

Matt brings 17+ years of experience in IT program & project management, as well as cash flow & supply chain optimization with companies of all sizes from Deloitte, EY, BC Hydro, and GE, to emerging tech start-ups. When he’s not helping clients, he enjoys kayaking, skiing, and spending time with his children and close friends.

Designations & Certifications: PMP, CSCP, AWS Cloud Practitioner

Iman Sharafaldin

Application & Cloud Security Lead
LinkedIn

Passionate about all things code, Iman has more than 8 years of cybersecurity and software related experience. He is also a PhD candidate in computer science with more than 1000 citations on his cybersecurity related publications. Iman enjoys hiking in his spare time.

Designations & Certifications: PhD Comp. Sci., AWS Solutions Architect, OSWE, AWS Certified Security – Specialty

Jordan Sherman

Application & Cloud Security Lead
LinkedIn

Jordan brings over 8 years of experience as a software engineer in FinTech. As an AppSec consultant, he is passionate about secure coding, pentesting and DevSecOps. With his wealth of experience, and a bucket of the finest single-origin coffee, Jordan is eager to help you secure your companies’ most valuable assets.

Designations & Certifications: OSWE, AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Security – Specialty
Jared Meit

Jared Meit

Senior Application Security Consultant
LinkedIn

Jared has always had a passion for taking things apart, learning how they work, and forgetting how to put them back together. He brings more than 12 years of professional software development, and a zeal for all things security. His AppSec experience at one of the “Big Four” accounting firms informs the deep level of care and scrutiny that he applies to all projects.

Designations & Certifications: OSWE, Azure Security Engineer, AWS Certified Security – Specialty

Ewan Maalerud

Director of Marketing
LinkedIn

Ewan graduated from the University of British Columbia and BCIT and brings over a decade of experience in marketing, design, and sales. An entrepreneur at heart, he thrives in start-up environments where he can help small companies compete. He applies his passion for creative problem solving, psychology, brand building, and design to impact the way consumers think about and interact with brands.

Jessie Reyes

Marketing Coordinator (Co-Op)
LinkedIn

Jessie is currently a fourth-year Media Studies and Arts Co-op student at the University of British Columbia. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a knack for design, she is mastering the art of marketing through visual harmony, strategic communication, and user-centered creativity. She’s driven by transforming collective efforts into extraordinary achievements and loves to take on any kind of creative project.

Marnie White

Operations Lead
LinkedIn

With a passion for optimizing operational efficiency, supporting financial processes, and driving organizational success, Marnie brings over a decade of experience in diverse office environments. She possesses a wide range of skills in operations, facilities management, and office management.

Danylo Lapin

Application & Infrastructure Security Consultant
LinkedIn

Danylo is an experienced software engineer with advanced skills in penetration testing, and application security. Building the apps is one of his favorite activities, but his “real” passion is Cyber Security . As a hacker in nature, he is always eager for new challenges, the solution of which will make your company safer.

Designations & Certifications: OSEP, OSCP, AWS Cloud Practitioner, CRTO
Meet Our

Advisory Board

Dominic Rubino

Dominic Rubino

LinkedIn

Dominic is a serial entrepreneur, having started, bootstrapped, built and sold a number of companies in fields such as construction, pharmaceuticals, real estate, franchising and business advisory services. He believes in building high performing teams held together with a strong culture and simple systems.

Goran Kimovski

Goran Kimovski (Kima)

LinkedIn

Kima is a software industry veteran with 20+ years of experience building products & solutions on a variety of technology platforms. He is also a successful entrepreneur, co-founding and leading TriNimbus, a major Canadian AWS consulting business, through rapid growth and acquisitions by Onica and later Rackspace that enabled the business to become the largest AWS partner in North America.

Bob Wang

LinkedIn

Bob is currently a Principal at Broadtree Partners. He’s passionate about helping teams succeed and organizations thrive. Previously, Bob was the head of finance at Traction Guest, an Enterprise software company, that was acquired by a PE Group. He also started his own accounting firm, which Deloitte acquired. Bob won the Top 40 under 40 Award from the CPA Practice Advisor, recognizing Top Accountants who have significantly impacted the Accounting Industry in a meaningful way.

Sasa Djolic

LinkedIn

Sasa has 20 years of experience with high-performing engineering teams, VP and Program Owner, Data Science Services as Mastercard, previously worked at Persistr and Kater, and defined the concept of Event-Driven Design (EDD)

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