Ryan Lim appointed CIO in Greater Toronto city

The City of Mississauga, part of the Greater Toronto Area, has appointed Ryan Lim (pictured) as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Information Technology. Lim says his focus will be on strengthening cybersecurity, modernising digital services, and ensuring residents have simple, reliable access to city programmes.

“My priority is to deliver secure, resilient, and modern IT services that put residents first, enhance the city’s cybersecurity posture, and future-proof our organisation,” Lim told Cities Today. “I am focused on driving efficiencies through technology, empowering staff with the right tools, and streamlining city services for easy access.”

Following a competitive recruitment process, Lim will now oversee six operational areas covering the innovation, development, maintenance, and security of the city’s IT business applications, services, and infrastructure. The appointment formalises his leadership after serving as interim CIO, where he directed the development of a four-year IT strategy, spearheaded the migration of core city services to cloud-based infrastructure, advanced cybersecurity measures, and led the creation of AI and data policies.

Cloud migration and cybersecurity were key elements of Lim’s interim tenure, and he intends to expand these efforts in his permanent role.

“I would like to build upon these efforts by continuing to modernise our digital infrastructure, being Cloud Smart by expanding cloud adoption where it drives efficiency and resilience and enhancing our disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities,” he said.

“We will also continue to invest in advanced security measures and proactive monitoring to safeguard against evolving threats,” he added. “By embracing technology and streamlining operations, I am confident that the city will continue to deliver reliable, secure, and innovative digital services for Mississauga’s residents and staff.”

Mississauga, Canada’s seventh-largest city, has grown into a diverse and connected urban centre. It is also home to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the country’s busiest aviation hub. The city’s IT roadmap sets out policies for the responsible use of AI and data. Lim said these will be critical to both trust and accessibility.

“By establishing clear requirements for responsible use of AI including transparency, privacy, ethical standards, and human oversight, we can ensure that new technologies are implemented safely and effectively,” he explained.

He added: “Strong data governance further protects resident information and enables smarter, more personalised digital services. Having data handling and AI policies in place will make it easier for residents to access information, while building trust and ensuring accessibility for all.”

Lim said his long tenure in the department gives him a perspective that balances innovation with operational stability.

“I have been in many positions within the IT department and can say that I have actually walked in my staff’s shoes,” he said. “My approach is to balance forward-thinking solutions like AI, cloud computing, and data analytics with the practical needs of reliability, cybersecurity, and business continuity. By leveraging my deep knowledge of our systems and culture, I will ensure that innovation is purposeful, sustainable, and always aligned with the city’s operational priorities.”

Lim has more than two decades of service in Mississauga’s IT department. His previous roles included oversight of IT Desktop and Support Services, Architecture and Innovation, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise Architecture.

Image: City of Mississauga