Sheryl Saperia

Expert Overview

Sheryl Saperia is a lawyer by training and a policy strategist with a Master’s in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics, where she specialized in political violence, terrorism, and radicalization. She played a key role in drafting and successfully lobbying for the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (2012), Canada’s landmark legislation enabling civil lawsuits against state and non-state sponsors of terrorism.

Saperia is CEO of Pearl Strategic Counsel, which she founded with former RCMP Assistant Commissioner Ches W. Parsons. Pearl Strategic Counsel is a specialized firm providing security advice to corporations, governments, and individuals, as well as strategic advice to civil society on matters related to national security, public safety, and civic stability. Prior to that, she served as CEO of Secure Canada, where she positioned the organization as an important voice on national security, terrorism, and extremism. She previously served as Director of Policy (Canada) for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where she advised parliamentarians and media on national security and foreign policy.

A prolific writer and sought-after public speaker, Saperia has published frequently on extremism, terrorism, national security, and democratic resilience, and has provided expert testimony before parliamentary committees. She is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.