From trading Farmville hacks in his Richmond bedroom to teaching cybersecurity around the world, Computing graduate Anthony Green has built a career defined by curiosity, grit, and community. Today, he’s a leader, educator, and entrepreneur who’s helped shape cybersecurity programs in Canada and abroad – showing how a BCIT foundation can spark a global journey in innovation and impact.
“After two years at BCIT, I could talk circles around a fourth-year computer science student.”
Anthony Green jokes that he didn’t choose IT; IT chose him. In 2015, he enrolls in the Computer Information Technology (CIT) Diploma program because his parents urged him in that direction. “I had considered kinesiology and other fields,” says Anthony, “but if I’d gone to university, I probably would have flunked out. I was better suited to hands-on learning, not endless reading and theory.”
The CIT curriculum exposes him to a bit of everything: databases, networking, software, and a dash of security. Anthony realizes that BCIT’s applied, problem-solving environment is the right fit. “I’ve always been the kind of person who keeps working at a problem until I fix it,” he says. “That’s what IT is, in a nutshell.”
Discovering cybersecurity – and a lifelong passion
A pivotal moment comes when Anthony takes his first cybersecurity course. “I knew immediately that this is the career I want,” he recalls. “It stoked the passion that set everything else in motion.” Anthony begins doing his own research, reading articles and tutorials, and exploring what this field has to offer.
To gain industry experience, Anthony works at London Drugs during an 8-month internship, repairing computers returned from stores. But instead of treating the job as routine, he uses the opportunity to network within the company – especially with the security officer. “I kept bugging him for advice and asking to see what the industry looked like in real life,” Green recalls.
Turning opportunity into experience
Anthony’s curiosity and persistence pay off, and after his graduation from CIT, London Drugs creates a junior security analyst role for him. “I was willing to do the most routine and minor task if it meant I could get my foot in the door,” Anthony says. “It was a small team, but with opportunities for deep, hands-on exposure. I got my hands dirty very quickly.”
While working full-time, Green also studies part-time to complete his Bachelor of Technology (now Bachelor of Science), earning a degree in Network Security Administration and Human Computer Interface Systems – all with the same intensity that had defined his diploma years.
Learn about cybersecurity study options at BCIT
“The knowledge I gained at BCIT was useful, but knowledge gets outdated fast in IT,” Anthony says. “The real value was the work ethic. That’s what stays with you.”
That work ethic continues to define Anthony’s career today, driving his involvement in diverse professional and community initiatives.
Building teams, programs, and communities
At the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), he builds an award-winning cybersecurity team from the ground up and is still involved with them as a security consultant.
He also teaches cybersecurity courses at UBC, Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance at Vancouver Community College, and trains instructors at the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Centre in Malaysia as part of the Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst partnership.
Between professional commitments, Anthony gives back to the community. As the youngest president of the ISACA Vancouver Chapter, he revitalizes the organization’s events and outreach during the pandemic. Attendance grows from just 20 people at the Annual General Meeting to more than 250 by the time he steps down. That community impact doesn’t go unnoticed – in 2025, Anthony receives both the BC Business 30 Under 30 Award and ISACA’s SME CISO of the Year recognition for his contributions to BC’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
On the entrepreneurial side, Anthony has co-founded and sold several companies. He now serves as CEO of GreenHat Security, where he focuses on consulting and advising emerging cybersecurity firms – bringing the same curiosity and drive that have guided him since his BCIT days.
What sets BCIT apart
Looking back, Anthony says what truly set BCIT apart was how much he learned without even realizing it. “The biggest thing that stood out was the sheer amount of knowledge you gain just by doing,” he says.
“After two years at BCIT, I could talk circles around a fourth-year computer science student. Sure, they could code, but I understood how the database actually worked, how the web server connected, and how everything fit together. It’s so cohesive that you don’t notice how much you’re learning until you talk to someone in another program and realize how deep your understanding really is.”
Anthony’s tips for (prospective) students
Learn how to learn
Your time at BCIT is the perfect opportunity to figure out how you learn best. Try different study methods, experiment with new tools – including AI – and be mindful about what actually helps you absorb and retain knowledge. Once you graduate, you’ll keep learning throughout your career, so developing efficient learning habits now will make everything easier later.
Give back before you ask
The easiest way to find opportunities is to meet people and build genuine relationships. Don’t just network to get something – network as a way to contribute and grow, to give back through volunteering, mentoring, and sharing knowledge. By helping others first, you build goodwill and trust, which often leads to unexpected opportunities.
Stand out through consistency
Being visible matters. Share your work, post your insights (on LinkedIn, for example), and stay active in your professional community – even when it feels like extra work. Over time, this builds your personal brand and keeps you top of mind when opportunities arise.
Embrace AI as a learning partner
AI isn’t going to replace people – it’s going to replace people who don’t know how to use it. Just as computers once replaced those unfamiliar with Word or Excel, today’s professionals can use AI to amplify what they do best. I use AI tools to ask “stupid questions”, breaking complex concepts into simple explanations that strengthen understanding.
Learn about cybersecurity study options at BCIT