Trent Johannesson serves as the Chief Security Officer at Phoenix Energy Services, where his unconventional path from tradesman to cybersecurity leader exemplifies the evolving demands of the energy sector. With a foundation in instrumentation and electrical trades, Trent’s journey has included everything from hands-on fieldwork in -30°C Alberta winters to championing cybersecurity policies across enterprise-level OT environments. At Phoenix Energy, he oversees the protection of critical infrastructure and client data across seven operational divisions, including electrical engineering, automation, and safety services. His leadership blends practical field expertise with a proactive cybersecurity mindset, advocating for governance in OT systems and championing awareness among field techs and executives alike.
Trent Johannesson brings a unique voice to cybersecurity—one shaped by decades of field experience and a determination to learn from the ground up. In this conversation, he explains how Phoenix Energy’s broad service portfolio led to hosting client data and prompted the need for internal reorganization, ultimately landing him in the CSO role. With honesty and humor, Trent discusses being “CISO Light,” balancing critical security responsibilities with a growing company’s operational demands, and how his journey from instrumentation tech to executive was fueled by asking the right questions and seizing hidden opportunities.
As the conversation unfolds, Trent and Matthew dive into the ethical implications of AI in security—from its potential to automate attack detection to its misuse in crafting nearly flawless phishing emails. Trent shares insights from a Public Safety Canada hacking lab where he learned firsthand how easily industrial systems can be breached—a moment he describes as an awakening. This first-hand understanding of operational risk drives his passion for merging practical safety culture with cyber readiness.
Toward the end of the episode, Trent addresses the compliance challenges facing small and mid-sized companies. He warns that many executives acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity without dedicating sufficient resources. He emphasizes the importance of finding internal champions—executives who can amplify cybersecurity concerns to the board—and advocates treating cyber not as a one-off IT project, but as a core competency and integrity program embedded in company culture. With real-world anecdotes and candid reflections, Trent offers a roadmap for how industrial companies can protect themselves in an age of rising digital threats.
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CyberLynx
Trent Johannesson on LinkedIn
Phoenix Energy Canada Website
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