Shaping the Future of Enterprise Security and AI-Driven Risk Intelligence
In a world where cyber risks evolve faster than many organizations can respond, only a few professionals demonstrate the rare ability to not just keep up but stay ahead. Olufemi James, winner of the 2024 Dratech Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Award, is one such individual.
A seasoned cybersecurity leader and enterprise risk strategist, Olufemi brings over fifteen years of global experience across some of the most tightly regulated and technology-driven industries. With a résumé that spans banking, consulting, and enterprise IT security, and credentials that include CISSP, CISA, ISO 31000 Lead Risk Manager, and a Postgraduate Certificate in IT Business Analysis, Olufemi has consistently delivered transformational impact in high-stakes, compliance-intensive environments.
What truly sets him apart and why the Dratech panel selected him from a pool of 25 high-caliber nominees is how he merges cybersecurity fundamentals with advanced AI-driven insights, leveraging cutting-edge tools to redefine how risk is monitored, communicated, and mitigated in real time.
A Legacy of Precision and Practical Innovation
Olufemi’s professional story is one of layered expertise and forward-thinking execution. In his current role as an independent Senior Security Specialist with Expertedge Consulting Group in Toronto, he leads complex third-party risk assessments, manages vendor lifecycle security, and provides specialized consulting while balancing family health responsibilities. and architects frameworks for regulatory compliance aligned with NIST RMF, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2. Using industry-standard platforms like RSA Archer, CyberArk, and ServiceNow, he doesn’t just assess risks, he builds automated processes that translate technical risk into executive insight.
Under his leadership, the firm has implemented streamlined, audit-ready governance strategies that allow seamless compliance tracking while integrating AI and machine learning triggers for real-time risk scoring and KRI tracking. His security dashboards and predictive models don’t just inform decisions, they anticipate them.
After completing a postgraduate program in Information Technology Business Analysis to deepen his expertise, Olufemi resumed his career at Laurentian Bank as an IT Audit Lead. In this role, he was entrusted with leading audits of enterprise infrastructure, acting as audit lead for high-complexity IT assessments. His strategic oversight enabled the institution to identify security gaps, strengthen controls, and proactively align with the rigorous standards of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), Canada’s foremost financial regulator.
At Guaranty Trust Bank, Olufemi held multiple roles, culminating in his leadership of cybersecurity audits and IT compliance programs that protected customer data and institutional integrity. From directing PCI-DSS reviews to automating security risk frameworks, he infused digital intelligence into every corner of the bank’s technology infrastructure, demonstrating his core strength: translating enterprise objectives into cybersecurity action.
Dratech’s Rationale: A Model of Scalable Cyber-AI Integration
The Dratech Cybersecurity and AI Innovation Award is not simply given to the most qualified. It is awarded to the professional who, through work and vision, creates scalable impact across industries, while showcasing leadership in both technical mastery and strategic governance.
In Olufemi, the jury found an exceptional example of what cybersecurity should look like in the AI age: intelligent, compliant, anticipatory, and adaptive.
“He didn’t just plug risk gaps, he redesigned the system that identifies them. That’s the kind of innovation we look for. In AI-integrated ecosystems, governance is not just about rules it’s about velocity, trust, and strategic foresight. Olufemi James understands that deeply.”
— Dratech Innovation Award Committee, 2024
What also impressed the committee was his unique mix of technical skills and business fluency. Whether it’s using Power BI and Tableau for analytical storytelling or producing audit-grade presentations that influence executive decisions, Olufemi has demonstrated fluency in both IT language and boardroom strategy.
Educated for Excellence, Trained for Leadership
Olufemi’s educational background reflects his strategic, data-centric approach. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, he pursued a Postgraduate Certificate in IT Business Analysis at Conestoga College in Canada an investment that enabled him to pair deep analytical thinking with operational execution.
His ongoing professional training includes:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- ISO 31000 Lead Risk Manager
- CompTIA Security+
- Chartered Professional Accountant Canada (CPA ,CGA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountant
These certifications are not just academic achievements, they’re proof of a lifelong commitment to staying relevant in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Projects That Define His Impact
Across all his roles, Olufemi has delivered work that’s measurable, innovative, and high-impact. A few career-defining highlights include:
- Automated Risk Governance: Designed and deployed automated workflows using RSA Archer, eliminating manual processes and accelerating compliance reporting across dozens of third-party vendors.
- AI Risk Analytics: Developed predictive models to identify risk trends and support pre-emptive interventions using Power BI and Excel dashboards, integrating historical breach data with real-time system behavior.
- Cross-Border Audit Leadership: Directed enterprise-wide audit exercises across international offices, translating global compliance frameworks into region-specific action plans.
- Penetration Testing & Security Control Design: Led multiple successful engagements that combined ethical hacking with strategic remediation, ensuring organizations could both detect and defend against advanced persistent threats.
- Cybersecurity Governance Frameworks: Aligned organizational security posture with ISO 27001, HIPAA, and COSO, making institutions audit-ready and strategically aligned with investor expectations.
Vision for the Future
As enterprise security moves into an era of decentralized infrastructure and AI-enabled automation, Olufemi’s experience becomes not just relevant but critical.
His ongoing mission is to bridge the trust gap between data, systems, and people leveraging AI responsibly while embedding ethical cybersecurity practices across organizational culture. He continues to consult with C-suite leaders, IT departments, and governance boards to ensure cybersecurity is seen not as a cost center, but as a core business enabler.
About the Dratech Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Award
The Dratech Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Award recognizes outstanding leaders driving the future of security governance, AI implementation, and digital resilience across Africa and beyond. Winners are selected based on their proven track record, innovative solutions, regulatory leadership, and ability to inspire transformation at scale.
In 2024, the award received submissions and nominations from over 25 countries. Only one winner was selected in this category.
Looking Ahead: A Cyber Leader the World is Watching
Olufemi James is not just a cybersecurity expert. He is a strategist, a builder, and a changemaker. His body of work exemplifies the kind of leadership needed in a future shaped by both opportunity and uncertainty.
As organizations navigate regulatory complexity, rising cyber threats, and AI integration challenges, leaders like Olufemi are essential not just to defend digital ecosystems, but to reimagine them.
