How Newman Lim is building a global community to fight the digital threats Canada cannot see
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Before the crowds form around any cybersecurity conference, Newman Lim is usually already at work. For him, the heart of the field has always been an adversarial game, a constant contest of creativity between defenders and those trying to outsmart them.
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That dynamic is what first drew him into cybersecurity and what continues to shape both his professional life as manager of cyber security at Odam Brown and his global educational initiative, Malware Village.
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Lim’s path into the industry began at Simon Fraser University and moved through a series of experiences that sharpened his technical discipline.
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His early roles at Electronic Arts, where he worked in programming and game testing, helped establish the work ethic and problem-solving mindset he would bring into cybersecurity.
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His first true step into the field came at Incor Networks, where he joined the firewall team as an engineering intern and worked on the 1504 firewall module. It was his first time writing code that would help protect real networks from real adversaries. When Fortinet later acquired part of Incor Networks, Lim took pride in knowing that some of his early work might live on in modern firewalls.
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Today he leads cyber security at Odam Brown, an investment firm that depends on his ability to navigate a fast-moving threat landscape.
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But his impact extends far beyond his day job. He is also the founder of Malware Village, a global community dedicated to teaching practical malware analysis and defense techniques to learners at every level.
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Malware Village was created to solve a clear problem. People entering the field needed accessible, hands-on education that removed barriers and provided real experience working with malicious code. Lim’s mission is simple. Equip learners with the skills, techniques and understanding to combat malware, and unite them through an inclusive community that brings newcomers, students, intermediate researchers and seasoned experts together.
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The workshops he and his team deliver at conferences such as Defcon, BSides and AVAR reflect that philosophy. Participants are guided by veteran instructors who show them how malware behaves, how it bypasses defenses and how defenders can analyze it safely and effectively. To make the subject more approachable for younger audiences, Malware Village created Malmons, a series of cartoon styled malware creatures that turn complex concepts into engaging visuals.
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The community is now expanding beyond physical conferences. Lim is actively working on a Malware Village podcast and is developing online coursework in partnership with respected researchers including the Russian Panda, malware jigs and Patrick Wardell. His goal is to make high quality malware education available globally, at scale and without the exclusivity that often surrounds advanced cyber learning.
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For Lim, the technical challenge of adversaries fuels his passion. He describes moments during investigations when attackers reveal unexpected creativity in how they deploy or conceal malware. Those discoveries become learning opportunities and reminders that defenders must continuously evolve. Lim calls this the cat and mouse aspect of cybersecurity, a dynamic that keeps the work intellectually alive.
