Who is Francis?
Building the Backbone of AI, Cybersecurity & Clean Energy
Francis Syms is a national voice at the intersection of technology, energy and infrastructure. With deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, nuclear energy and critical digital systems, Francis is shaping how Canada builds, secures and powers its digital and physical backbone.
As the newly appointed Head of the School of Clean Energy at Humber Polytechnic, Francis is leading the development of this new school while also continuing to serve as Associate Dean of Information and Communication Technology. In this dual role, he drives strategy and innovation across AI, data-centres, cyber operations and clean-energy workforce development. He brings together industry and government through initiatives spanning sustainable data-centre design, microgrids, nuclear readiness and resilient digital-energy infrastructure.
Francis is a sought-after commentator on national radio and television, known for making complex tech and energy issues accessible and urgent. He is also the founder of The Joule Group, a firm that blends infrastructure, security and sustainability to support large-scale digital-transformation.
Whether he’s building AI-integrated cybersecurity programs, advocating for nuclear and renewable technologies as the clean-energy backbone for digital infrastructure, or advising on the resilience of Canada’s most critical systems, Francis brings deep technical fluency, strategic vision and a passion for systems that serve the public good.
Francis is the author of a leading Canadian focused textbook on cybersecurity used in post-secondary institutions across Canada