Full Name
Ms. Sem Ponnambalam
Job Title
President
Company
xahive
Bio
Sem Ponnambalam is the CEO and founder of xahive, a Cyber-Security company established to fulfil the need to provide safe, secure cybersecurity solutions in the ever-expanding internet-based communications space. She has a proven track record of success with over 18 years of private and public sector
experience with Secret Clearance from the Canadian Federal Government. She has served as a former Senior Trade Policy Advisor for Prime Ministers Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau and numerous Federal Cabinet Ministers.
In 2017, Sem was selected as a cyber panellist to represent Canada at the World Economic Forum and G20 Youth. In the same year, she was selected as the only start-up to participate in a business delegation with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada to Italy. Sem has successfully negotiated global partnership agreements between xahive and IBM as well as Red Hat & BlackBerry. She has further fostered relationships between xahive and the United Nations, NATO, U.S. Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security-Cyber Intrusion Group, London & Partners, P20 Payments, New York Academy of
Sciences, and HIMSS to elevate xahive’s global profile and to engage with targeted government and industry stakeholders.
In 2021, Sem was recognized as one of the 10 Women Lead Start-ups to invest in globally by KPMG, Viva Technology, & 50inTech. In the same year she received special U.S. Congressional recognition for having been selected as a cybersecurity panellist for the World Summit on the
Information Society.
Sem is the co-author of three books on cybersecurity as well as numerous articles and white papers. She appears regularly in interviews relating to the importance of cybersecurity in Canada and the United States. Sem is currently a Lecturer and Facilitator of cybersecurity governance workshops and
courses for businesses, associations, and academic institutions in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
She is the proud mother of four beautiful children.
experience with Secret Clearance from the Canadian Federal Government. She has served as a former Senior Trade Policy Advisor for Prime Ministers Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau and numerous Federal Cabinet Ministers.
In 2017, Sem was selected as a cyber panellist to represent Canada at the World Economic Forum and G20 Youth. In the same year, she was selected as the only start-up to participate in a business delegation with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada to Italy. Sem has successfully negotiated global partnership agreements between xahive and IBM as well as Red Hat & BlackBerry. She has further fostered relationships between xahive and the United Nations, NATO, U.S. Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security-Cyber Intrusion Group, London & Partners, P20 Payments, New York Academy of
Sciences, and HIMSS to elevate xahive’s global profile and to engage with targeted government and industry stakeholders.
In 2021, Sem was recognized as one of the 10 Women Lead Start-ups to invest in globally by KPMG, Viva Technology, & 50inTech. In the same year she received special U.S. Congressional recognition for having been selected as a cybersecurity panellist for the World Summit on the
Information Society.
Sem is the co-author of three books on cybersecurity as well as numerous articles and white papers. She appears regularly in interviews relating to the importance of cybersecurity in Canada and the United States. Sem is currently a Lecturer and Facilitator of cybersecurity governance workshops and
courses for businesses, associations, and academic institutions in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
She is the proud mother of four beautiful children.
