INQ Consulting

Managing Principal and Co-Founder

Owner and operator of a legal and management consulting firm specializing in the development and delivery of privacy consulting services to public and private sector clients.

Principal Consultant

INQ Law

Partner

University of Toronto

Co-teaching the Privacy and Data Governance course in the Global Professional LLM program.

Adjunct Professor

University of Windsor Faculty of Law

Instructor for the inaugural Privacy Law in Canada course.

Sessional Instructor

Cancer Care Ontario

Directed Privacy and Access Office for multi-billion dollar Provincial agency, tasked with ensuring privacy of personal health information of Ontarians under its prescribed statuses under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, and compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Accomplishments include:

Led drafting and ensured adherence to Data Sharing Agreements, resulting in increased compliance with terms by Informatics department and streamlining of process.

Managed relationship with external stakeholders with respect to privacy and access, including IPC, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, ICES, CIHI, POGO, hospitals, and other data partners.

Strengthened governance and accountability by establishing a Privacy Risk and Compliance managerial function, establishing privacy governance bodies across the organisation, and developing performance reporting for both privacy services as well as privacy office performance.

Director, Privacy and Access

Chief Privacy Officer (Acting)

Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority

Chief Of Staff

Courtyard Group

Led the operations of the Access to Care (ATC) Portfolio Office, which involved directing the work of other Portfolio Office resources, providing strategic direction to ATC Director, creating and coordinating the creation briefings and presentations, liaising with key stakeholders,  risk management, and ensuring visibility into procurement across the ATC Portfolio.  Primary focus: ER/ALC Information Strategy.  
Co-facilitated a strategic retreat with the Executive Directors of the 14 CCACs to set the foundation for a new eHealth strategy for the OACCAC
Managed a capacity review of the HSAP Division of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to assess the capacity of the Division to deliver on key priorities of the government, the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the HSAP Assistant Deputy Minister over three years – resulted in the delivery of a roadmap of priority objectives for the Assistant Deputy Minister
Managed the identification of future needs and assessment of gaps in services/programs for the Ontario Regional Cancer Programs - final report outlined actionable recommendations to advance the progress of the regional cancer programs across Ontario 
Led the development of an organizational review of SIMS at UHN, presenting practical advice to senior executives 
Selected to work directly with Managing Partner to develop corporate strategy for an international organization with over $30M in revenue 
Conceived and implemented a contract management process and delegation policy for an international consulting
Helped manage risks of a growth organization through the development of a Privacy Policy.  Acted as Deputy Privacy Officer, supporting Canada, the US and the UK
Led the annual operational planning process of an international company, managing all senior partners in the creation of their client account plans, budgets, and targets
Coached and mentored junior analysts on leadership development and solutions to address specific client engagements

Consultant

-	Contributed to the research and writing on an edited volume on health and human rights
-	Collaborated with a team of lawyers in the development of a skills building workshop for the 2006 International AIDS Conference, which was well-received by participants
-	Annotated recent case law and developed materials for the national and International approaches to Reproductive and Sexual Health Law class at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, which continues to be used

Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Fellow

Heenan Blaikie LLP

	Conducted research regarding privacy issues, actively participated in corporate transaction closings, summarized contracts, reviewed scripts and films for copyright and trademark infringements, participated in due diligence processes, reviewed corporate by-laws and minute books, and translated contracts from French to English
	Investigated human rights issues in labour and employment law; authored papers regarding the duty to accommodate, globalization and international trade agreements, summarized case law for newsletters, drafted termination letters and researched memos analyzing legal issues such as insubordination, fraud, strikes and lockouts, pension benefits and occupational health and safety
	Wrote memoranda on topics including the enforcement of oral contracts, quantifying damages for loss of vision, and various issues under the Employment Standards Act
	Drafted settlement letters, assignments of copyright, and reviewed shareholder agreements and leases

Articling Student

CTV News

Played an integral role in a major transaction by managing the acquisition of documents, preparing the data room, while supervising the performance of, and contributing to, the due diligence process
Researched memoranda including issues regarding the scope of PIPEDA

Summer Student

I make privacy program management simple

Samara is a results-oriented strategic privacy leader, lawyer and consultant, who leverages operational privacy leadership experience into practical strategies for program and project success. Samara is the founder of Drawbridge Consulting.

For Drawbridge, privacy is our business. We believe that “privacy” means individual control over decisions made about data, not complete secrecy. We ask the right questions. 

We understand the importance of good governance and criteria-based decision-making about personal information. We know that strong practical organizational privacy practices reduce risk. We enable access to data using privacy best practices for both private and public sector clients, from IT implementations that help your company’s efficiency to research and innovation technologies that improve health outcomes. 

Samara can be contacted at samarastarkman@drawbridgeconsulting.com
Http://www.drawbridgeconsulting.com

Samara Starkman

PwC Canada

• Leading the GenAI Transformation activation efforts at LoS level, driving strategic implementation and adoption across the firm

• Designing and implementing Secure by Design principles for client services and products, resulting in enhanced security outcomes and reduced vulnerabilities

• Leading client engagements to assess AI & Cybersecurity risks, developing and implementing targeted solutions to strengthen security posture and incident response capabilities

• Guiding clients in aligning AI and Cyber Strategy with industry frameworks (NIST, CMMI), ensuring successful compliance with SOC, ISO 42001 & 27001 requirements

• Directing AI & security audits and vulnerability assessments, providing actionable recommendations and overseeing remediation strategies

• Managing complex, multi-stakeholder engagements while ensuring effective communication and collaboration between teams to achieve project objectives

• Driving AI innovation through continuous learning and knowledge sharing, contributing to improved cybersecurity practices and education across client organizations

Senior Consultant - Digital & AI Risk, GenAI Transformation

Consultant - Digital Risk 

Better

•Conducted a thorough and comprehensive analysis of policies, practices, and governance for clients in 20 US states, successfully identifying discrepancies and vulnerabilities in compliance with federal laws and regulations. This resulted in the implementation of robust risk mitigation strategies that ensured the security and integrity of the client's assets.

•Conducted extensive gap assessments against industry-standard best practices, resulting in the identification of potential risks and vulnerabilities. With my expert recommendations for risk mitigation, my clients were able to proactively manage their risks and prevent any potential breaches.

•Applied industry best practices to ensure compliance with various federal policies, and constantly monitored and managed risks. My expertise in this area enabled my clients to meet their compliance requirements while staying ahead of potential threats.

•Provided expert advice, findings, and recommendations to clients and team leaders on potential risks and vulnerabilities identified during assessments. My recommendations were highly valued by my clients and team leaders and led to the successful implementation of risk mitigation strategies.

Risk Management Analyst

KPMG

•Demonstrated expertise in conducting comprehensive risk assessments for public sector clients, ensuring compliance and audit standards are met with precision. 

•Facilitated risk identification and assurance during the transformation of public sector units, maximizing operational efficiency. 

•Conducted internal audits and reviews, utilizing data analytics to optimize information flow and ensure top-tier client satisfaction. 

•Successfully managed multiple client engagements of varying size, scope, and complexity, showcasing exceptional project management skills.

Risk Associate

Harsh is an experienced Digital Risk Consultant with extensive experience across North America, Asia, the Pacific, and Europe. He excels in leading complex engagements with multiple stakeholders, focusing on AI strategy and governance to drive innovation and competitive advantage. Harsh has a proven track record in assessing AI risks, ensuring ethical AI practices, and guiding organizations through their digital transformation journeys. Certified as an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, he has also helped numerous clients achieve compliance with NIST (AI RMF, 800) and ISO(27001,42001) standards.

A passionate advocate for ethical and responsible AI, Harsh has specialized in AI Strategy, AI Risk Management, and Digital Transformation. His in-depth knowledge of emerging regulations such as the EU AI Act, AIDA, PIPEDA, and GDPR positions him as key in bridging the gap between technology and business strategy.

In addition to his technical skillset, Harsh is well-versed in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Identity Theft Management, Security by Design, RegTech, and Cloud Governance. His academic background and hands-on experience make him a core figure in the integration of AI with business and risk management.

Outside of his professional space, Harsh is an accredited wine connoisseur who delights in exploring diverse grape varieties and wine regions, enriching his global perspective with a touch of cultural appreciation.

Harsh Sahni

I'm happy to share that I'll be speaking at the Ottawa Responsible AI Summit 2025 next week!

🗓️ When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
🌐 Where: Invest Ottawa - 7 Bayview Station Road
🎤 Panel: AI, Policy, and Community Data Justice: Who Owns Our Neighborhood's Story?

This panel is a perfect extension of our recent discussions, focusing on the critical issues of data ownership, AI accountability, and community impact.

If you're in the Ottawa area, I would love to meet you! 

Please head to Ottawa Responsible AI Hub for more details on this event.

#ResponsibleAI #AIEthics #AIGovernance #CanadaAI #ORAISummit #Ottawa #OttawaTech #DataJustice #AIPolicy

Responsible AI Leader | Leading GenAI Activation @ PwC Canada

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Harsh Sahni

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The Battle

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Harsh Sahni

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Posts

Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Harsh Sahni's LinkedIn Performance

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