2026 Conference Speakers
Chief Paul Hyland
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Conference Opening
Paul Hyland
New Westminster Police Department
Appointed in 2025, Chief Constable Paul Hyland is a seasoned policing leader with more than 30 years of service with the New Westminster Police Department. He provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the organization, working closely with the Police Board, senior leadership team, and community partners to deliver effective, community-focused policing.
Chief Hyland is a strong advocate for continuous improvement and innovation. He is committed to leveraging technology and modernizing police practices to enhance service delivery, supporting workplace wellness to ensure the health and resilience of NWPD staff, and strengthening meaningful community engagement to build trust and improve public safety outcomes. Throughout his career, he has served in a wide range of operational and leadership roles, including patrol, major crime, street crime, the Emergency Response Team, and senior administrative positions.
Chief Hyland holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and has completed executive education in leadership, public sector management, and strategy through the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. His distinguished service has been recognized through numerous commendations, including the BC Award of Valour and his appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
Len Goerke
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Opening Remarks
Len Goerke
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Len Goerke, President and CEO of JIBC has served on the Boards of Governors for both JIBC and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). His previous roles include serving as Chief Constable of West Vancouver Police (WVPD) and Deputy Chief Constable of Abbotsford Police.
He is committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation. Mr. Goerke taught as a sessional instructor at both JIBC and UFV, has a Bachelor of Arts from UFV, earned a Master of Arts in conflict analysis and management from Royal Roads University and completed the Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business. He has previously served on the boards of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Restorative Justice Association of BC, University of the Fraser Valley Properties Development Corporation.
Mr. Goerke has been recognized with the Order of Merit of Police Forces, the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Police Exemplary Service Medal.
Supt. (WSE) Jennifer Keyes
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Conference Opening
Jennifer Keyes
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Supt. Jennifer Keyes was appointed Director of the Police Academy in October 2022, joining JIBC on secondment from the Vancouver Police Department where she has served since 1999. Prior to her policing career, Supt. Keyes was a lawyer, working both in private practice and as Crown with the Public Prosecution Service of British Columbia. She is a former graduate of the Police Academy, as well as a former instructor in JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma program.
Her service with the VPD has allowed her to excel in the delivery of training as well as financial and administrative competencies. She has served the VPD as its legal training officer and later was its project manager for the implementation of the $60-million Ecomm-911 public safety communications technology initiative.
Supt. Keyes has held positions in VPD’s Operations Division and was a Discipline Authority with the VPD Professional Standards Section where she was responsible for the disposition of Police Act conduct complaints. Her policing background includes a focus on VPD members’ professional development, and in joining JIBC she aims to bring that wealth of knowledge and experience to the provincial level.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Conference Opening
Mayor Patrick Johnstone
City of New Westminster
First elected in 2014, Patrick Johnstone served two terms on New Westminster City Council before being elected as Mayor in 2022. Born and raised in the Kootenays, he has resided in New Westminster with his partner Antigone since 2006.
Patrick is a Professional Geoscientist, having studied Geography and Earth Sciences at SFU, and worked in a variety of geology jobs, primarily in the field of Environmental Geoscience. He served as the President of the Environmental Managers Association of BC and on the board of the Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals Society.
His interest in local government arose from his advocacy on environmental and active transportation issues, his many volunteer connections in New Westminster, and his interest in leading community conversations about urbanism and the opportunities present in an exciting, dense, historic and growing community like New West.
Since first being elected, Patrick has served on the Lower Mainland LGA (First Vice President), the Community Energy Association (Board Chair), the New Westminster Electrical Commission, and a variety of task forces and advisory committees at the City.
Patrick continues to curl at the Royal City Curling Club and ride bikes with the Fraser River Fuggitivi, when he finds the time.
Dr. Geoffrey Desmoulin
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
The Geometry of Impact: Biomechanical Evaluation of Police External Vest Equipment
Geoffrey Desmoulin, Ph.D.
GTD Scientific Inc.
David Volpato
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Eyes in the Sky, Control on the Ground: The Rise of Tactical Drone Intervention
AXON
Dr. Johanna Pagonis
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Sinogap Solutions
Benjamin Perrin
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Best Practices for Adopting AI Tools in Policing
Benjamin Perrin
University of British Columbia
Benjamin Perrin is a Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia. His research and teaching interests include criminal law, constitutional law, international law, and artificial intelligence. Ben served in the Prime Minister’s Office as in-house legal counsel and lead criminal justice and public safety policy advisor. He was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada.
An Associate of the Law Commission of Canada, Ben is also a member of the advisory council of the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, and the Law Commission of Ontario's advisory committee on AI and criminal justice.
Ben leads the UBC AI & Criminal Justice Initiative and is a member of the UBC Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-Making and Action (CAIDA). He is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for service to Canada and was recognized as one of Canada's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers.
A member of the Law Society of British Columbia (non-practising), Ben is the author of policy papers, journal articles, and several books, including Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice: Cases and Commentary (CanLII, 2025).
Cynthia Ashe
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Standardizing Response Strategies in Child Abuse Investigations
Cynthia Ashe
Canadian Child Forensic Interview Practice Association
Cynthia has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 13 years, working exclusively in Child Abuse for six years, specializing in Child Forensic Interviews (CFI). Having completed nearly 1000 CFIs, Cynthia is a recognized expert and has been awarded for her work receiving the Beverley MacLean Legacy Award, The McNeil Shield for Leadership and Excellence, the RCMP Veterans Association Community Service Award, and being named to Alexa’s Team. She concurrently founded the Canadian Child Forensic Interview Practice Association and strives to enhance the integrity of child abuse investigations, while reducing the impact on children and families through the development and implementation of standardized trauma informed practice protocols across all partner agencies responding to child abuse.
As a former paratrooper and veteran of Afghanistan, Cynthia has prioritized her own wellness and healing. She believes in sharing the weight of this work in ways that help, not hinder our longevity and ability to serve our most vulnerable.
Jessica Berglund
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Police Oversight and Governance
Jessica Berglund, BA, JD
Independent Investigations Office of BC
Jessica Berglund was appointed Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office of BC on September 20, 2024.
Prior to her appointment with IIO, Berglund was the director of occupational health and safety investigations at WorkSafeBC, overseeing the investigation of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in BC. She joined WorkSafeBC in 2003 and held legal and senior-management roles over a 21-year career.
Berglund obtained her Bachelor of Arts in French and Asian studies from the University of Victoria, including studying at Beijing Normal University, before returning to Victoria to attend law school. Berglund was called to the BC bar in 1998 and practiced civil litigation in Vancouver until 2002.
Berglund was president of the board of directors of Pathways Clubhouse, a mental-health organization in Richmond, from 2016 until 2022, and was also board member of the Lawyers Assistance Program from 2006 until 2012. Berglund currently serves on the board of the Richmond Sharing Farm Society which provides access to healthy local produce to community members facing food insecurity through sustainable farming.