Cyber Attribution Data Centre
The Cybersecurity Attribution Data Centre (CADC), located at the University of New Brunswick within the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, is a pioneering national hub dedicated to advancing cyber attribution capabilities.
CADC collects and analyzes data from diverse sources using cutting-edge AI-driven attribution methodologies. Our mission is to provide actionable intelligence that strengthens Canada’s cybersecurity posture and supports global efforts to combat cyber threats. CADC also plays a critical role in training the next generation of cyber attribution specialists for careers in government, academia and industry.
Driving our mission
Objectives
- Advance cyber attribution research: Develop AI-powered frameworks to accurately identify and attribute cyber threats.
- Enable secure intelligence sharing: Identify malicious cyber actors threatening national security and economic prosperity. Provide tiered-access reports and datasets to key stakeholders.
- Support policy and decision-making: Deliver insights that inform national cybersecurity strategies and operational planning.
- Train future specialists: Offer education and hands-on training for professionals and students.
- Foster collaboration: Build partnerships across government, industry and academia to strengthen collective cybersecurity resilience.
Core areas of focus
- Cyber attribution intelligence: Leveraging AI and advanced analytics to identify threat actors and their tactics.
- Data collection and analysis: Gathering and processing data from government, private sector and international partners.
- Research and innovation: Developing new attribution technologies and methodologies.
- Education and training: Equipping professionals and students with practical skills through workshops and academic programs.
Intelligence reporting and outputs
- Reports: the Cyber Attribution Data Centre produces detailed attribution reports for member organizations. These reports are not publicly available and are shared securely based on organizational roles and responsibilities.
- Datasets: Benchmark datasets for research and validation of attribution/cybersecurity solutions. Cybersecurity datasets play a vital role in the development and evaluation of modern security technologies. They provide researchers and practitioners with realistic data to train and test machine learning models, simulate cyberattacks and validate defence mechanisms.
Training programs
Specialized workshops, certifications and courses designed to build expertise in cyber attribution.
The team at the Cyber Attribution Data Centre is composed of experienced researchers, faculty members, technical specialists and students who are deeply committed to advancing the science of cyber threat attribution.
Drawing on diverse academic and professional backgrounds, the team collaborates across disciplines to develop innovative tools, curate high-quality datasets and support evidence-based cybersecurity research.
Advisory board
The Cyber Attribution Data Centre is governed by the Advisory Board for the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity.
Meet our experts
Leadership team
Hugh Hicks, Interim Deputy Director of Operations
Hugh Hicks, MBA, brings extensive experience in finance, economic development, and strategic innovation across sectors such as smart grid, oceans, and cybersecurity. He played a key role in launching Canada’s National Cybersecurity Consortium funding program and now leads the Cyber Attribution Data Centre at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, advancing tools, intelligence, and training to strengthen cyber resilience.
hugh.hicks@unb.ca
Dr. Kwasi Boakye-Boateng, Research Associate and Cybersecurity R&D Team Lead
Dr. Kwasi Boakye-Boateng is a Research Associate and Cybersecurity R&D Team Lead at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, specializing in securing critical infrastructure and mission-critical systems. He has collaborated with industry leaders and military partners to develop detection systems and risk management strategies, bringing over a decade of telecommunications experience to his work in cyber defense.
Kwasi.Boakye-Boateng@unb.ca | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Support staff
Pamela Kitchen, Project and Operations Manager
Pamela Kitchen, a UNB Computer Science alumna, brings extensive experience in IT and project management from her career with the Government of New Brunswick. She led major initiatives, including creating a centralized HR data repository, and trained thousands of employees in MIS. Since 2017, Pamela has served as Operations and Project Manager at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, overseeing research projects and driving strategic growth.pamela.kitchen@unb.ca
Vasundhara Madigela, Administrative Assistant
Vasundhara is an accounting and administrative professional with experience in financial operations and organizational management across nonprofit, healthcare, and corporate sectors. She brings expertise in recruitment, records management, and workforce development, consistently ensuring efficient and accurate operations.vasundhara.madigela@unb.ca | LinkedIn
Technical support and developers
Yair Vanegas, Digital Forensics Analyst
Yair is a computer forensic analyst with over 10 years of experience managing and processing digital evidence for criminal and legal investigations. He has implemented forensic labs, developed investigation procedures, and worked as a consultant in digital forensics and incident response. Yair holds certifications as an EnCase Examiner (EnCE) and Forensics Examiner (PECB), along with credentials in systems engineering and network security.
yair.vanegas@unb.ca | LinkedIn
Tianhao Zhao, Cybersecurity Software Developer
Tianhao Zhao is a cybersecurity-focused software developer with a master’s degree in applied cybersecurity and over four years of experience in backend, automation, and cloud development. Skilled in Python, Java, API design, Docker, and AWS, he builds secure, scalable systems and user-friendly applications while leading technical projects and mentoring developers.
tzhao6@unb.ca
Arash Kariznovi, Cybersecurity Software Developer
Arash Kariznovi is a cybersecurity specialist and software developer at the Cyber Attribution Data Centre, where he designs secure software development processes and deploys enterprise-grade security platforms for proactive threat detection. He previously completed a security apprenticeship at Nethermind, gaining hands-on experience in secure software practices. Arash holds a Master’s in Computer Science from UNB and conducts research in cryptography, data privacy, and secure software engineering.
arash.k@unb.ca | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Sebin Abraham Maret: Cybersecurity Software Developer
Sebin Abraham Maret is a cybersecurity software developer at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, specializing in building scalable and resilient systems. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from UNB and previously worked at Publicis Sapient, where he designed cloud-native architectures using Python, Java, and Azure. Sebin’s expertise includes containerization, microservices, CI/CD, and distributed systems monitoring.
sebin.maret@unb.ca | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Raphael Ferreira, Cybersecurity Software Developer
Raphael is a Cybersecurity Software Developer at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity. A UNB Computer Science graduate, he contributed to the development of three IoT datasets during his co-op terms, supporting research in anomaly detection and network security. He now focuses on building secure and high-performance software solutions.
raphael.ferreira@unb.ca | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Chathrie Wimalasooriya
Dr. Chathrie Wimalasooriya holds a PhD in Software Engineering from the University of Otago and a master’s from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She brings experience as a lecturer and software engineer, with research interests in software maintenance, cybersecurity, and applications of machine learning and data science.
chathrie.wimalasooriya@unb.ca | | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Dr. Hamida İrfan
Dr. Hamida İrfan is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, focusing on advanced cybersecurity techniques and threat attribution. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from IBA, Karachi, and brings over 15 years of academic and research experience, including work on wireless networks and AI-driven communication technologies at Koç University in Turkey.
hamida.irfan@unb.ca | Google Scholar
Specialized team members
- Dr. Windhya Rankothge, Research Associate
- Morakinyo Omolaja Oke, Project Coordinator
- Mohamed Salem, Senior Systems Administrator
- Alireza Anbiyaei, Client Support Analyst
- Dr. Mohammad Jafari Dehkordi, Research Scientist
- Dr. Vikas Chouhan, Research Scientist
- Dr. Mahdi Rabbani, Research Scientist
- Dr. Hessam Mohammadian, Research Scientist
- Dr. Ehab M. Alkhateeb, Postdoctoral Fellow
Their work is guided by a shared mission to improve global cyber resilience through rigorous analysis, open data sharing and strategic partnerships with industry, government and academia.
Partner with CADC
The Cyber Attribution Data Centre provides organizations with exclusive access to advanced cyber attribution intelligence, datasets and collaborative opportunities.
Benefits include:
- Priority access to intelligence reports: Receive detailed, actionable insights tailored to your organization’s needs.
- Benchmark datasets: Access curated datasets for research, testing and validation.
- Collaborative research opportunities: Partner with leading experts in cybersecurity and AI-driven attribution.
- Training and workforce development: Gain access to specialized training programs.
- Policy influence: Contribute to shaping national cybersecurity strategies and frameworks.
- Networking: Connect with government agencies, industry leaders and academic institutions.
Contact us
General inquiries: cic@unb.ca
Communications and media: media@unb.ca
