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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Manuel Pizarro
Motivational Speaker
Manuel Pizarro Expeditions

Manuel Pizarro was born in 1971 in Valparaiso, Chile. He immigrated to Montreal, Canada with his family in December of 1973. His passion for adventure and the outdoors started early on when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, earning his pilot licence at age 16. He is an advanced high-altitude alpinist, expert skier, advanced scuba diver, deep diver-night diver, glider pilot, motorcycle operator, skydiver and photographer.

In 1991 Manuel’s passion for mountains continued to grow when he self-initiated a lifelong project known as “The quest for the seven summits’’: To climb the tallest mountain in each continental area ofthe world. He has reached six of the seven summits, with one left to reach: Vinson Massif in Antarctica. Manuel is the first Canadian to have reached the summit of Mount Everest solo, and the first Quebecer to have reached Everest’s summit twice. He survived 12 hours near the summit with no food, equipment, or oxygen.

In June 1995, he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and pursued rigorous and unconventional training which changed the course of his life. His experience and skills include: human profiling, forensic interview & interrogation, infiltration techniques, organized crime investigations, drug trafficking, unsolved homicide undercover operations and human trafficking.

Manuel was the only RCMP officer to have been deployed to New York City 4 days after the September 11 Terrorist attacks on the twin towers. His skills in search and rescue and high angle rescue, were utilized for almost a week retrieving human remains and aircraft parts at ground zero.

Training with the Buddhist Monks prior to his expeditions, he learned the great similarities between undercover infiltration techniques and the Buddhist ways. He was awe struck with their laughter butmostly their ancient knowledge. “Your life ends up being a reflection of your own fears” they said.

One of the most important training opportunities he received was the International Homicide Investigators course with his American counterparts which included instructors from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NSA. This introduction to secret technologies and the development of science were awe inspiring. Basically, It was a course on the secret geometry of our brain, mathematics and how algorithms are all-knowing. Above all... the healing power of sound.

Through other training opportunities Manuel discovered the correlation between 3 spectrums ofknowledge: The Buddhist Monks of Tibet, Clandestine Services, and Canadian Special Forces. All 3 train the same way for a given objective, all 3 deal with the chemistry of humans under stress and the fundamentals of human performance.

Manuel has now retired from the RCMP after 27 years of service and is building his leadership training facility in East Hawkesbury, Ontario. He endeavours to help our planet one person at a time with his motivational conferences, personalized leadership training and youth development courses.

Manuel marries his paramilitary covert experience with his mountaineering achievements to deliver messaging on self-knowledge, brain chemistry, human stress, motivation, performance and resiliency.

INDUSTRY SPEAKERS


	Charmaine Alexander Senior Advisor in Disability Management Desjardins Insurance Charmaine Alexander is a Senior Advisor in Disability Management at Desjardins. As part of the Best Practice and Innovation team, Charmaine has more than 25 years of experience in group disability management. Her experience spans a variety of industries and includes working for employers as well as insurance carriers. Within her client base, Charmaine promotes a focus on prevention, and challenges employer groups to encourage their employees to take charge of their health. She believes the future of group disability plans will require a collaborative approach between all stakeholders. Charmaine partners with several organizations within Desjardins’ portfolio of clients to deliver educational presentations to employers, employees and union leaders across Canada with an aim to strengthen best practice in their management of disability claims. In July 2018, Charmaine became the first insurer-sponsored Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. She continues to deliver this course to client organizations and their workforces. Charmaine holds a Fellow in Life and Health Claims (FLHC) from the International Claims Association. She also completed studies at York University (BA, English) and George Brown College (Nursing).

	David Asselstine SVP & CFO Teacher Retirement Allowances Fund (TRAF) Mr. Asselstine is currently the senior vice president and chief financial officer as well as the chief risk officer at the Teachers’ Retirement Allowances Fund (TRAF). He is responsible for all finance and information services matters. In his capacity as chief risk officer, Mr. Asselstine is the leader of TRAF’s enter-prise cybersecurity strategy. In addition, he works closely with the board, the investment committee and the investment team in establishing the investment risk appetite, investment strategy, and the design and execution of the investment program. Prior to joining TRAF, he was the president of Infocus Forensic Financial Investigations Ltd., where he served as a fraud expert, forensic accountant and financial investigator. Mr. Asselstine’s clients have included, among others, the International Monetary Fund, local and national governments, numerous foreign governments, an independent and historic public inquiry, municipal and national police forces, and various public regulatory bodies. On five occasions, he has testified as an expert witness in criminal tribunals dealing with such matters as investment fraud and other white-collar crime matters.

	Sharon Au Counsel (Lawyer) MLT Aikins LLP Sharon has broad commercial litigation background with a focus on insurance and administrative law. Her insurance experience includes advising and representing clients in policy matters, coverage disputes and insurance defence. Sharon’s insurance work covers a wide range of areas including disability, commercial general liability, property, and errors and omissions. With respect to administrative law, Sharon has acted as independent legal counsel for tribunals in professional disciplinary proceedings and has represented applicants in various administrative proceedings. In addition to her insurance and administrative practice, Sharon has also acted on complex high risk litigation files in a wide range of areas, including serious personal injury claims and commercial disputes. Sharon has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta.

	Candice Bangsund Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Global Asset Allocation Fiera Capital Corporation Candice Bangsund is Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Global Asset Allocation. She is a member of the Global Asset Allocation Committee, focusing on central banks and fundamental macro analysis, and actively participates in the development and communication of the firm’s asset allocation strategy. Candice also serves as the global spokesperson for Fiera Capital relating to all economic and investment matters and is co-lead Portfolio Manager on the Fiera Diversified Lending, Diversified Real Estate, and Diversified Real Asset Strategies.  Candice has more than 15 years in the investment industry, including several years as an investment research analyst for a global investment management firm where she also served on its Global Asset Allocation Committee. She gained extensive experience in conducting global macroeconomic analysis focusing on asset classes, regions, sectors, commodities, and currencies. She also conducted multi-manager fund research and analysis with a focus on Canadian and Global Equity asset classes. Candice graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. She also obtained her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

	Paula Bonham Human Resources Generalist Medicure Inc. As a seasoned Sr. HR Generalist, Paula is recognized for her adaptability and approachable demeanor. Paula’s expertise lies in facilitating changes in HR processes by prioritizing vital projects, spearheading integration of new HR software(s). In her role as a people operations leader at Medicure Inc, she plan’s and implement HR programs, serve as the first point of contact for employees, and stay up to date on current laws to ensure company compliance.

	Randy Bauslaugh Bauslaugh Pensions & Benefits Law Randy Bauslaugh practices exclusively in pensions and benefits law. He has been involved with many of the leading Canadian pension and benefit cases over the past 35 years and is considered to be a leader within the pension and benefits industry in Canada and internationally. In 2014 he became the 3^rd inductee into the CPBI Hall of Fame. He has provided legal advice to a broad range of pension plans, including many of Canada’s largest plans as well as many of its smallest. His clients include other professional service providers, such as other law firms, actuaries and investment managers, as well as governments and NGOs such as United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative and the Principles of Responsible Investment Group. He also has practical experience as a director, trustee, lobbyist, and consultant.

	Alex Boucher Principal, Total Health Management Mercer Alex Boucher is a Principal in the Health business in Mercer’s Ottawa office. Alex joined Mercer in 2016 as the Specialty Support Services Leader for Canada. Alex works closely with clients to help them develop cost-effective health & wellness solutions that reflect industry best practices and contribute to a healthier and more productive workforce. Alex has worked with many employers, in both the public and private sectors, to improve employee experience, wellbeing and reduce costs while fostering greater employee engagement. During his career, Alex has worked on a wide variety of assignments, including the development and implementation of best-practice programs and support tools for several of the largest unionized and non-unionized employers in Canada. He has worked with dozens of municipalities on various programs ranging from productivity programs to psychological safety. Alex earned a bachelor of science in kinesiology from Dalhousie University. He also has a master’s in organizational management from Crandall University.

	Dino Bourdos, CFA Portfolio Manager, Head of Investment Solutions Guardian Capital LP Dino joined GCLP in 2018 as a solutions architect. He will build on existing GCLP strategies while creating new and innovative investment solutions to support, and develop, strategic client relationships, leveraging his extensive engagement with a wide array of market participants. Dino’s career in the financial services industry began in 1995 with Canada Trust/TD Bank, where he grew his career organically through successive promotions, in the institutional investment management business. During his tenure, Dino oversaw significant growth in assets under management, with a specific focus on Derivative Overlay, Equity Index and Structured Solutions. Prior to joining GCLP, Dino held the position of Managing Director, Portfolio Management, and was the leader of the Derivatives and Equity Index Strategy team. Dino graduated with a BA, Economics from University of Toronto. He qualified as a CMT through the Market Technician Association. Dino holds the CIM designation and is a CFA® Charterholder.

	Pam Bristol Director Public Employees Benefits Agency Pam Bristol, Director, Education and Engagement, joined PEBA in June 2022. Before that she was marketing director for the economic development function of the Government of Saskatchewan, promoting Saskatchewan to international businesses and investors. In that capacity she developed multi-channel, multi-audience and multi-language marketing strategies. Pam has won several International Association of Business Communicators awards for her work.

	Bianca Brooks Senior Pharmaceutical Benefits Strategist Sun Life Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management, both at the University Toronto. A registered pharmacist in the province of Ontario, prior to joining Sun Life, she spent over a decade “behind the counter” working in diverse community pharmacy practice settings across the Greater Toronto Area. Bianca is part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits and Innovation team at Sun Life, a group of over 20 professionals – including clinical pharmacists, pharmacists, product managers, analysts, strategists, and a staff health economist – who support our pharma products and solutions. In her role as a Senior Pharmaceutical Benefits Strategist, Bianca works closely with Sun Life’s business development teams, plan sponsors, advisors, and consultants. She serves as a subject matter expert, consulting on drug plan management strategies that strike the balance between drug plan sustainability and plan member access to innovative therapies.

	Daniel Conti Principal Harbourvest Daniel Conti joined HarbourVest’s investor relations team in 2018 and focuses on coordinating, monitoring, and enhancing relationships with new and existing Canadian investors and consultants. Dan joined the Firm from CI Institutional Asset Management, where he was most recently a vice president responsible for institutional business development and client service for consultants, pension plans, foundations, family and multi-family offices as well as banks and insurance company platforms. Prior to this, he was an investment counsellor for CI’s Private Counsel division. His prior experience includes roles for a single family office and a multi-family office in Eastern Canada. Dan received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Economics from École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montreal. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planning designations. Dan currently serves as co-director of the CFA Montreal Mentoring Program.

	Ryan Domsy Executive Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Head of Fixed Income Foyston, Gordon & Payne Inc. (FGP) Ryan joined FGP in 2010 as a credit analyst. He is now Head of Fixed Income and head of credit research, and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2020. Ryan is the lead portfolio manager of FGP’s core plus, corporate bond, and preferred share mandates. He is also a member of FGP’s Investment Committee and the FGP Executive Committee. Ryan’s career began in 2008 at DBRS where he was a senior financial analyst covering public finance and infrastructure credits. Ryan is a graduate of Queen’s University (MEcon, BComm), holds the Financial Risk Manager designation, and is a CFA charterholder.

	Jason Dumbreck Senior Vice President Xpera Risk Mitigation & Investigation Jason Dumbreck has decades of experience providing Canada’s top insurers insight on necessary controls to minimize risk of fraud. His focus on internet-based investigations has created proven methodologies that have resulted in successful civil and criminal solutions for clients. Jason has also written proprietary threat risk assessment tools used to prevent corruption, fraud, theft, and extortion. He has travelled extensively throughout North America facilitating and executing fraud prevention audits and crafting risk mitigation solutions for a multitude of organizations. Jason has provided evidence in both civil and criminal courts. He is a sought-after commentator on insurance sector trends and encourages collaborative opportunities for sharing data, findings, and new levels of organizational protection to mitigate risk and fraud.

	Leon Eidelman Managing Director J.P. Morgan Leon Eidelman, managing director, is a portfolio manager within the Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific (EMAP) Equities team based in New York. An employee since 2002, Leon is a member of the group of global emerging markets portfolio managers responsible for the fundamental, bottom-up portfolios, including the GEM Discovery and GEM Focused strategies. He is lead manager of the GEM Discovery strategy and is a portfolio manager on the GEM Focused strategy. Leon holds a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Finance from Cornell University and is a CFA Charterholder.

	Paul Fahey Head of Investment Data Science, Asset Servicing, Americas Northern Trust As Head of Investment Data Science, Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, Paul Fahey works with asset managers and allocators to better understand the investment decision process and to improve future decision making. Partnering with expert fintech firms to enable clients to: digitize the process of developing and executing investment ideas; better measure, compare, and refine the effectiveness of those ideas and; leverage the power of data, behavioral analytics, investment analytics, and Northern Trust’s peer universe data to drive meaningful improvement to their investment strategy. Prior to his current role Paul spent three years as the Chief Operating Officer (‘COO’) of Northern Trust’s Asset Servicing, Americas, responsible for service and delivery of all aspects of the asset servicing business to asset manager, asset allocator and insurance company clients in North America. Prior to joining Northern Trust, Paul led Global Product Management for the Investor Services Group at State Street. In this capacity, Paul led large, strategic product development initiatives across multiple market segments, including collective funds, pensions, middle office outsourcing and insurance.

	Joe Farago Executive Director, Private Payers and Investment Innovative Medicines Canada Joe Farago is Executive Director, Private Payers and Investment at Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC). Joe leads IMC’s efforts to take a more proactive, research-based approach to ensuring tomorrow’s workforce has access to strong private market coverage that meets their needs. Joe recently discussed some of the most prominent findings from the association’s 2016-2019 analysis of Private Drug Claim Cost Drivers Report. The report examines the drivers of claims cost growth for private drug plan claims between 2016 and 2019, including the impact of OHIP+ changes in 2018 and 2019, based on IQVIA data.

	Bonnie Foley-Wong, CFA, CPA, CA Sustainable Investment Leader, Canada Mercer (Canada) Limited Bonnie Foley-Wong leads Mercer’s Sustainable Investment team in Canada, supporting institutional investors to achieve their sustainability and impact goals. Bonnie is an investment professional with 25 years of experience, gained in North America and Europe, spanning professional services, banking, asset management, and impact investing. She is the former Head of Investment Strategy at the Equality Fund, and previously founded Pique Ventures and Pique Fund, a fund focused on leadership diversity and women-led ventures. She has also held roles as a real estate investment banker with ABN AMRO, and as a corporate finance advisor with Deloitte. Bonnie served on not-for-profit Boards focused on serving women business owners and on building sustainable, local economies. She is the recipient of a YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is the author of Integrated Investing.

	Lilach Frenkel, FSA, FCIA Director, Product Innovation CAAT Pension Plan Lilach is a seasoned actuary with over 20 years of experience in the pension industry working with various stakeholders to manage and meet risk objectives through strategy and innovation. As part of the Strategic Risk Management team at the CAAT Pension Plan, she develops partnerships, products and initiatives that open new strategic opportunities and risk mitigation techniques for the Plan. Prior to joining CAAT, Lilach was a Partner at Aon, providing strategic advice to plan sponsors, boards and pension committees on initiatives related to plan design, policy reform, funding and accounting for pension plans. She often speaks and writes about plan sponsor risk management strategies and member engagement as a means to drive best outcomes. Lilach has volunteered on numerous committees of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. Lilach is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). She holds a degree in Actuarial Sciences from the University of Toronto.

	Kristin Gibson Partner MLT Aikins LLP Kristin practises primarily in the areas of labour, employment and administrative law. She advises private and public sector clients on human rights, privacy, occupational health and safety, collective agreement bargaining and administration, policy drafting and discipline. She represents employers in interest and rights arbitrations, and in defending wrongful dismissals and human rights complaints. In 2013, Kristin was appointed as a Vice Chair of Manitoba Labour Board, and she has been a grievance arbitrator on the Manitoba Labour Board’s Arbitrator’s list since January 1, 2010.

	Stefán Halldórsson Project Manager Icelandic Pension Funds Association Stefan has 23 years of experience in the Icelandic pension industry, currently as a part-time Project Manager with the Icelandic Pension Funds Association, with a focus on research and analysis, and previously as CEO for the Engineers Pension Fund. Prior to that he was President of the Icelandic Stock Exchange, having earlier worked in investment banking, consulting, airline management, teaching, and journalism. Stefan has a BA in Sociology from the University of Iceland and an MBA from Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, U.S.A

	Graeme Hay, CPA, CMA, CFA Chief Investment Officer TRAF Graeme leads all aspects of TRAF's investment program, including investment strategy, manager selection and monitoring. Prior to TRAF, he was a member of the investment team of Wellington West Asset Management, the internal portfolio management unit of one of Canada's largest independent brokerages. In this role, he carried out fundamental research for the firm's equity portfolios and led the firm's research effort on external investment managers employed across the firm. Graeme is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), having earned the Robert Syme Memorial Silver Medal, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. He is the Chair of the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC), and a past president of the CFA Society of Winnipeg. He also serves on the Investment Committees of the Manitoba Museum Pension Trust Fund, United Way Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba Endowment.

	Toby Heaps CEO Corporate Knights Toby is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Corporate Knights. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term “clean capitalism.” Toby has been published in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and the Globe and Mail, and is a regular guest speaker on CBC. In 1998, he played centrefield for the Yugoslav National Baseball Team.

	Kevin Hebner Managing Director, Globall Investment Strategist Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Kevin is a global investment strategist. Prior to joining TD Epoch in 2016, Kevin served as a senior FX strategist at J.P. Morgan Securities. Before J.P. Morgan, Kevin worked as a global investment strategist at Third Wave Global Investors, Citigroup Asset Management and Credit Suisse Asset Management. Prior to Credit Suisse, Kevin worked at the Bank of Japan. In addition, Kevin was a visiting professor at Kyoto University. Kevin earned a BA in Economics from the University of Toronto and graduated from University with a PhD in Financial Economics and a MA in Economics.

	Caroline Helbronner Partner Blakes LLP Caroline has practised exclusively in the areas of pensions, benefits and executive compensation for over 30 years. She advises on all aspects of the implementation, administration, funding, taxation and wind-up of pension, group benefit, profit-sharing and deferred compensation arrangements. Caroline has deep experience advising clients in respect of pension, tax, trust and benefit issues arising in connection with cross-border situations, corporate transactions, loan agreements, insolvencies and compliance disputes. Her practice also focuses on pension investment, governance and fiduciary matters. She has advised plan sponsors on de-risking strategies, including buy-in and buy-out annuities, and has extensive experience advising clients on pension plan mergers, including mergers with jointly sponsored pension plans. Caroline's clients include private and public sector pension plan sponsors and administrators, financial institutions and service providers.

	Melody Helleouet Account Executive Desjardins Insurance Melody Helleouet is an Account Executive, Large Group Western Canada with Desjardins Insurance since April 2023. Since her benefits career began in 2005, she has been delivering expert knowledge and advice to many advisors and clients for organizations of all sizes. Melody brings forward a depth of knowledge gained from her past representation through her various roles at a major insurance carrier, two small boutique benefit firms and a large cross-border benefits & retirement consulting firm and a national consulting firm. During her previous years spent in consulting, Melody specialized in providing tailored benefit solutions to both new and existing clients. Her responsibilities included providing strategic consultation to clients based on their unique needs. This involved ongoing review of client programs, staying informed on marketplace best practices and client advocacy in the case of complex administrative and coverage/claim issues. Melody also further supported her clients by ongoing introduction to her professional network, hosting employee benefit plan education seminars and bringing forth her clients’ best interests front-and-center to marketplace providers and influencers. Melody currently holds her Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Retirement Plan Association (RPA) and Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) and Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) designations and licensed to carry-out business in both British Columbia and Manitoba. She is also a certified designer of Workforce Wellness programs by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). Melody is also a currently serving as Vice-Chair to the Canadian Benefits and Pensions Institute (CPBI) Pacific Region Council and is an active member with the Canadian Group Insurance Brokers (CGIB).

	Deidre (Dee) Hennee Founder & CEO Lead. Learn \| Excel \| Adapt \| Deliver Deidre (Dee) Henne is the Chief Executive Officer of Lead, an advisory services practice focused on public sector financial sustainability and sustainability-related disclosures. Dee supports organizations with governance, strategy, risk, and metrics integration across policies and public reporting. She is also a co-principal investigator focused on responsible investing practices, policy integration, and sustainability, publishing in peer-reviewed higher education journals. Dee's over twenty years of experience was most recently serving McMaster University as their Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Vice-President of Administration, whereby throughout her leadership, she led transformational systems and process changes focused on sustainability reporting and climate-related disclosures. Dee also faciliated and chaired the Canadian Climate Charter Technical Committee, a consortium of over 15 universities committed to decarbonizing invested asset portfolios. Prior to joining McMaster, Dee held a number of positions at Hamilton Health Sciences, including Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Population Health Research Institute, serving the healthcare sector for almost ten years. Dee’s career service includes chairing the Council of Ontario Financial Officers from 2017 to 2021. She has served on the Boards of the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Community Care Access Centre and the Human Resource Professional Association of Ontario. She also served her municipality on an inaugural Hamilton Ward 1, Participatory Budget Committee. Dee is a CPA (2001) and earned an MBA from Western University (2009).

	Christine Hildebrand VP Health and Ability Strategy Canada Life Christine Hildebrand has over 20 years of experience in disability management and is proudly serving as the VP Health & Ability Strategy for Canada Life. After achieving a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, she gained experience as a community nurse and has held several positions with Canada Life in their life, disability, drug and health and dental operations. She is passionate about delivering solutions to prevent or reduce absence in the workplace and supporting psychologically health workplaces.

	Janice Holman, CFA, CFP Principal Eckler Ltd Janice leads the defined contribution consulting group at Eckler and is a Principal of the firm. Her unique professional background contributes to her expertise in all key areas affecting CAPs. Janice began her career in investments over 25 years ago as a fixed income analyst. She then worked directly with members as an education and communications manager, and spent several years with two leading insurance companies as an investment executive before joining Eckler over 15 years ago. This broad range of experience allows her to provide clients with a comprehensive approach to DC consulting. Janice is passionate about helping clients and their members maximize the value of their CAPs. To achieve the best possible retirement outcomes, she works with clients to establish governance structures, create and refine plan design, select and monitor record keepers, develop and adjust investment offerings over time, and create compelling and engaging member communications. Janice works with some of the largest Canadian organizations and is committed to the CAP industry. She regularly contributes to industry publications, is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, sits on Benefits Canada’s Advisory Board, has been a member of CPBI’s Ontario Regional Council and an instructor for the CEBS program through Humber College. Janice graduated from Bishop’s University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (1999) and the Certified Financial Planner designation (2010).

	Dr. Jia Hu Public Health & Preventive Medicine Physician, CEO of 19 To Zero, Adjunct Professor University of Calgary Jia Hu is a family physician and public health and preventive medicine specialist. He is currently the CEO of 19 To Zero, a not-for-profit focused on public health behaviour change such as increasing vaccination rates or cancer screening rates. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary and a medical director with Cleveland Clinic Canada where he advises large companies on health and wellness topics ranging from pandemic preparedness to mental health and preventative health. He is on the board of the international health NGO, Partners in Health Canada and is an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary. He previously worked as a medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services and worked in management consulting with McKinsey & Co.

	Gary Hutch EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CPA, CMA Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA) Gary became the Executive Director of Investment Services at the Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA) in 2019. In 18 years with PEBA, Gary has held a number of positions in Investment Services, including Investment Analyst, Manager, Assistant Director, Director and Acting Director. Prior to joining PEBA, Gary progressed through a number of roles at Crown Life, Canada Life and Great West Life giving him 25 years in the investment industry. Gary also worked as an accountant prior to moving into the investment industry. As the Executive Director, Gary has overall responsibility for the Investment Services area, focusing his time on the strategic vision for his two teams. This includes the strategic investment structure and direction of the pension and benefit plans administrated by PEBA and the $16 billion they have invested. This includes strategic reviews of PEBA’s largest pension plans, MEPP and PEPP, and leading service provider competitions and engagements, and facilitating any investment research, training and education, transitions, and budget and human resource considerations. Gary has a Bachelor of Administration degree from the University of Regina and is a Certified Professional Accountant (Saskatchewan), and has taken a number of industry courses such as the School of Pension Investment Management, the Humber College Pension Plan Administration Certificate, and the Institutional Limited Partners Association Private Equity Executive Education.

	Marnie Klimack Manager, Group Sales Manitoba Blue Cross A member of the Manitoba Blue Cross team since 2012, Marnie is responsible for overall Account Management for existing clients. She brings 20+ years of industry experience having previously worked with a Benefits Broker and a Third Party Administrator where she was responsible for the Sales, Service and Administration team functions. She is Life Licensed in the Province of Manitoba and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She is currently completing her Certified Employee Benefits Designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans and Dalhousie University.

	Frédéric Leblanc Strategic Advisor, Drug Program Management iA Group

	Robert LeDoux Executive Director JPMorgan Robert LeDoux, executive director, is an Investment Specialist within the Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific Equities team. An employee since 2005, he is responsible for product management, portfolio management communications and client servicing across institutional and fund relationships. Robert has a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in financial analysis from the University at Albany, State University of New York and is a CFA charterholder. He also holds the Series 3, 7 and 63 licenses

	Dan Licoppe Director, Maximum Benefit Johnston Group Inc. Dan has over 25 years experience in absence and disability management, working with employers and benefits advisors to improve their programs for short-term disability, long-term disability, and workers compensation programs. He has a Master of Science, Vocational Rehabilitation, with a focus on mental health in the workplace; employee engagement;and modifiable employee absence risk factors. Dan has presented at human resource association conferences, Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute events, and various insurance, disability management and return to work conferences.

	Pat Leo Vice President, Longevity Retirement Solutions Purpose Investments In Pat’s current role as VP, Longevity Retirement Solutions with Purpose Investments, he focuses on delivering innovative retirement solutions, thought leadership, and dedicated service to institutional clients across Canada. He has more than 20 years of experience in financial services, defined-contribution pension consulting, client management, and business development at Mercer, Sun Life Financial, and Sun Life Global Investments.

	Stephanie Lue-Kim Principal, Total Health Management Mercer Stephanie is part of Mercer’s Total Health Management Team. Stephanie’s experience in employee and employer support programs spans 24 years, the majority of which in the area of health, wellness and disability. Stephanie is the leader of the Total Health Management team’s DEI segment, and is responsible for engaging employers across Canada and supporting them in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion. Previous roles include Organizational Health Consultant, and Rehabilitation Consultant. A snapshot of her numerous skills include delivering diversity, equity and inclusion training, mental health training, disability gap analysis, disability audits, creating, and supporting health and wellness strategies and programs. Her recent accomplishments include the development of the Human Resources Professional Association’s (HRPA) Health and Wellness curriculum offered through McMaster University’s continuing education program in 2020-2021. She is a member of the Group Insurance Pharmaceutical Association and also deliver Health, Wellness and Disability training through the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute (CPBI) for the HRPA. Stephanie’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Sociology at McMaster University, GBA (Group Benefit Associate) and various certifications in the fitness industry.

	Johnny Ma President and COO Mapol Inc. Johnny Ma is the co-founder, president and chief operating officer of Mapol Inc. He has over two decades of experience in the pharmacy benefits management and consulting industries. Johnny is a registered pharmacist in Ontario who has led formulary review committees and drug plan management operations for a national pharmacy benefits manager. Since 2009, Johnny has led multiple new product submissions to private payers, delivered training sessions to thousands within the pharmaceutical industry and has developed industry-leading business information and analytic tools.

	Kara Macdonald Human Resource Manager Myers LLP Kara Macdonald is a Human Resources Manager with Myers LLP based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Having served as a former Director of HR for over 10+ years, Kara has gained unique perspective in the realm of recruitment, compensation and benefits, employee development, policy development and administration, performance management and payroll. Starting off at a young age working within her family business Kara became an expert at understanding the needs of a small business; from manual labor, bookkeeping and administration and HR advisory. This led to her growing passion for the human capital side and eventually formed her decision to pursue her specialization in Human Resources while she studied for her Bachelor of Commerce Degree at the University of Manitoba. Kara is an expert in developing HR policies, processes and best practices using feedback to drive conversation and change in the workplace. With her she also brings to the table valuable skills acquired through her position at a small boutique financial services firm as well as a multinational organization. It was through this previous work that Kara was able to work closely with the Executive teams helping to drive innovation and creativity possible in solving problems for their clients, employees, partners and shareholders. It also heightened her awareness, understanding and commitment to delivering best in class talent acquisition, employee engagement and employee development processes which she continues to do today in her role as HR Manager for Myers LLP.

	Laurel Mansfield National Practice Leader of Wellbeing Canada Life Laurel Mansfield is recognized for her knowledge in the areas of disability management and organizational health. In her role as a National Practice Leader on Canada Life’s Organizational Health team, she drives strategic thought and action to ensure Canada Life is positioned to meet the unique disability and wellness needs of numerous organizations and industries. She focuses on understanding the health needs and absence risk areas of an organization and delivering services tailored to control rising health costs and absenteeism trends. As part of Canada Life’s Organizational Health Team, Laurel plays an integral role in aiding Canada Life to support the financial, physical, and mental well-being of millions of Canadians.

	Gerrit Marais Consultant PBI Gerrit is a Group Benefits Consultant at PBI whose expertise lies in data analytics and visualization to provide clients with clear and actionable intelligence. He has designed and implemented an interactive member demographics data visualization tool that allows clients to assess the impact of potential decisions on the workforce in the future, set budgets, and make decisions about plan design. As a Consultant, Gerrit is experienced in providing data-driven strategy recommendations to plan sponsors and Trustees. As a speaker, he specializes in data storytelling. He has presented on long-term disability projected costs, health care costs, benefit plan financial projections, analytics in health insurance data, post-retirement health benefits, analyzing exposure data, and physician benchmarking.

	Dawn Marchand President and CEO CBIA/Lawyers Financial Dawn Marchand has over 30 years of experience focused on helping professionals build and protect wealth. She has worked in both Canada and Asia with some of Canada’s largest financial institutions including Manulife and Sun Life. She is currently President and CEO of CBIA/Lawyers Financial, a federally chartered organization with the sole mandate of serving the financial needs of Canada’s legal community. During her time leading Lawyers Financial, the organization has introduced multiple wealth building programs including offering free financial planning for all members of Canada’s legal community, a private wealth solution and, facilitating a defined benefit pension plan for law firms of any size. When not working, you will find Dawn on the golf course which she often refers to as a nice walk, ruined.

	Steven Marino EVP Portfolio Management GWL Realty Advisors As Executive Vice President, Portfolio Management, at GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA), Steven Marino is responsible for leading the portfolio design, construction and performance of a $17 billion real estate portfolio. In this capacity, Steven acts as the Fund Manager for two open-end funds and leads various direct investment accounts. Steven’s role includes leadership of the organization’s sustainability practice, aligning corporate and client objectives with GWLRA’s commitment to incorporating environmental, social and governance considerations throughout the investment lifecycle of its managed assets. Steven is also a member of the GWLRA Executive, Investment and HR Committees. Steven's investment management experience includes various roles in Investments and Asset Management, across asset classes. Steven holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and an HBA from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Salesperson in the Province of Ontario.

	Peter Muldowney Senior Vice President, Head of Institutional & Multi-Asset Strategy CC&L Financial Group Peter is Senior Vice President, Head of Institutional & Multi-Asset Strategy at Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group, and heads the firm’s Strategic Exchange initiative. Peter has over 20 years of investment experience in Canada, the U.S., and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, he spent his earlier years in consulting, which included leading two of the major Canadian firms and then moving to the investment management business in 2008, when he established a new investment operation for a Canadian insurance company. Peter obtained his Sustainable Investment Professional Certification from Concordia University in 2022. Peter provides support to various charities, with a particular involvement with Down Syndrome Resource Foundation.

	Jafer Naqvi Vice President & Director, Lead of Insitutional Asset Allocation Team TD Asset Management Inc. Jafer leads the Institutional Asset Allocation Team. He is accountable for designing strategic asset mix, fund selection and tactical asset allocation within active balanced funds and custom fund of fund solutions for institutional investors. Jafer is Portfolio Manager for the TD Greystone Balanced Fund, TD Greystone Balanced Plus Fund, TD Greystone Target Date Plus Funds and TD Greystone Real Asset Fund. He has previous experience working in fixed income and investment solutions development as a Vice-President with a global investment management firm along with experience within investment consulting. Jafer holds a B.B.A. with Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University.

	Barnaby Nelson CEO ValueExchange Barney has worked for over 15 years in the post-trade capital markets space: leading transforming custody and cash businesses to the point of market leadership. Until 2018, he led Standard Chartered Bank’s custody business in Asia and prior to that he launched BNP Paribas’ custody business in Asia. Throughout Barney’s career, he has focused on market structure and connectivity as a key theme. Having helped to launch clearing and back office outsourcing solutions in AsiaPacific, he has since worked with regulators, global exchanges, clearing houses, brokers and investors to ensure that new technologies (such as DLT, AI and others) can be smoothly deployed as players reach for ever improving levels of efficiency. This connectivity continues at #theValueExchange, where Barney’s attention is now focused on delivering actionable, statistical insights on key market dynamics. Leveraging unique benchmarking and insight technologies, Barney is now helping market participants to make the right decisions and giving sales organizations the data and tools they need to maximize their revenues in changing times

	Tola Oduntan Manager, Member and Stakeholder Relations Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA) Tola Oduntan is the Manager, Member and Stakeholder Relations at the Public Employees Benefits Agency (PEBA). She recently joined PEBA in February 2023. She has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry and several years of experience in team leadership, management and coaching - most recently as a Senior Manager with a top financial institution. She has a BSC in Economics and Development Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Business School Netherlands. Because of her experience in the financial services industry, she is very knowledgeable in Retirement Planning, Investments and Financial Advisory. She is a diversity and inclusion advocate and is currently a mentor for new Immigrants at Regina Open Door Society.

	Neil Owens President and COO Medicure Neil Owens, Ph.D. has worked with Medicure since 2014. He was worked in various positions in Medical Affairs of escalating responsibility, and later as Director of Scientific Affairs. Dr. Owens currently is the President and COO of Medicure. He is responsible for implementing Medicure's strategic plans and overseeing day-to-day operations including the advancement and management of new and existing pharmaceutical products.

	Jackie Patel Asistant Vice-President Marketing & Communications, Group Retirement Services, Sun Life Jackie has more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing teams at large financial institutions in the group retirement services business. She joined Sun Life in 2019, as AVP of Marketing and Communications. In her current role, she is responsible for the overall leadership and execution of plan sponsor marketing and communication initiatives and delivering key market insights through the thought leadership strategy. A strong advocate for the evolution of the plan sponsor and member experience, Jackie is recognized for her knowledge of the group retirement business and proven ability to create effective, industry-leading marketing strategies that generate meaningful outcomes for plan members. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University (now John Molson School of Business) and is a Certified Financial Planner with FP Canada.

	Sam Pillettieri CEO & Chief Investment Officer Altema Asset Management Sam is the Founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altema Asset Management Inc., an emerging alternative asset manager. He has held a number of senior executive positions at numerous mutual fund companies, and investment dealers. He lead a new asset management company at an independent investment dealer and was the Chief Investment Officer. He was also a principal founder and portfolio manager of a boutique institutional investment management firm that ultimately managed in excess of $8B. Sam has managed money for some of Canada’s largest investment managers and funds. This includes Investors Group, National Bank of Canada, and CI Investments. Successfully, Sam has cumulatively managed over $10 billion of assets and advised more than $50 billion. He has directly managed various Canadian, US, and Global equity and fixed income strategies using his unique quantamental investment process. He is an investment committee member on two Top 30 Canadian Pension Plans: The Teacher’s Retirement Allowance Fund (TRAF) and the Winnipeg Civic Employee Benefits Plan (WCEBP) – where he is the Vice Chair. Sam has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance with a minor in Pure Mathematics from the University of Manitoba as well as significant relevant designations from the Canadian Securities Institute and is a CFA chartholder.

	Kristin Ramlal Vice-President Institutional Investment Canada Life Kristin Ramlal is a passionate wealth professional with nearly 20 years' experience in the financial services industry. Her experience ranges from CND and US banking and lending, personal and institutional investment management, securities trading and portfolio construction, and holistic wealth management (financial, estate, tax, retirement, and strategic gift planning). She was a Canada Life securities specialist until the end of 2023 and recently joined the Canada Life Institutional Investment Solutions Team as VP Institutional Investment Sales. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Canada Life Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group and is the Chair of the Society of Real Wealth Managers; she loves to dance, yoga, travel and spend time with her two boys.

	Chris Richard Head of Fixed Income Investing & Portfolio Manager Bcv Asset Management Chris has five years of investment and portfolio management experience. Prior to joining BCV Asset Management Inc. in 2015, he was Senior Manager, Economic Impacts and Valuation in the Province of Manitoba’s Department of Jobs and the Economy for two years. Previously, he worked at the Great-West Life Assurance Company, where he provided investment and portfolio analysis for the Great-West Life and London Life Insurance investment portfolios. Chris has a Bachelor of Art from the university of Winnipeg. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, member of the CFA Winnipeg and the CFA Institute.

	Blair Richards CIO Halifax Port ILA/HEA Pension Plan Blair Richards is currently the Chief Investment Officer for the Halifax Port ILA/HEA Pension Plan. He previously served this organization as Chief Executive Officer (20 years), Board Chair (7 years), and Chair of numerous sub-committees. In 2019 Mr. Richards was appointed Director, Worker’s Compensation Board of Nova Scotia and in 2022 to Chair of their Investment Committee. He currently serves three separate Boards crossing the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Mr. Richards holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dal ’91), a Master of Business Administration (SMU ’97), and multiple certifications including from 2000 to 2018 a Fellowship with the International Society’s Certified Employee Benefit Specialist. An industry veteran, he has held various positions with associations such as the CPBI, ACPM, and the IFEBP.

	Kim Siddall National Vice President, Account Management, Mid-Large Business People Corporation Kim is responsible for team leadership, consulting operations and client service delivery for medium and large sized groups in across Canada, and consults to a number of group benefits clients. She has worked in the insurance and benefits consulting field for more than 20 years with roles in both a carrier and advisory capacity. Her expertise includes drug plan management, absence and disability management and strategic plan design. She is a contributing writer to Benefits Canada since 2013, and is a frequent contributor to thought leadership in the employee health benefits space.

	Dimitar Shapov, CFA Vice President, Portfolio Manager – Emerging Markets Burgundy Asset Management LTD Dimitar joined Burgundy in April 2017 as an Investment Analyst focusing on U.S. large-cap equities. In July 2020, Dimitar transitioned to Emerging Markets equities and in July 2021, he was appointed a Vice President of the firm. In October 2022, Dimitar assumed the role of Co-Portfolio Manager of the Emerging Markets strategy alongside Ching Chang. Prior to Burgundy, he spent six years with Barclays, most recently as a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division, Metals and Mining Group. Dimitar earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University in 2010 and his Master of Finance degree from the University of Cambridge in 2013. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2019.

	Fiona Tam Assistant Vice-President, Strategy, Data & Analytics Group Retirement Services, Sun Life Fiona has more than 15 years of experience in financial services industry. Since joining Sun Life in 2009, she’s worked across the organization to drive strategy in areas including Public and Corporate Affairs, Client Experience, and Corporate Strategy. In 2022 Fiona was appointed to her current role as AVP, Strategy, Data & Analytics for Group Retirement Services. She is responsible for developing and executing on the growth strategy for the group retirement business and delivering insights to drive better plan designs and plan member outcomes. Fiona holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Mathematics, major in Computer Science from University of Waterloo.

	Leanne Taylor Canadian Elite Paratriathelete and Compliance Officer Medicure

	Kevin Thomas CEO Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE) Kevin Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE). SHARE is a leader in responsible investment services, providing shareholder engagement, research, leadership development, and policy advocacy to a growing network of Canadian pension plans, universities, foundations, Indigenous trusts, religious institutions and asset managers with more than $75 billion in assets under management. SHARE is the secretariat for the Committee on Workers Capital, the Canadian Capital Stewardship Network, and the new University Network for Investor Engagement. Prior to joining SHARE, Kevin advised companies, governments, and public institutions on the development and implementation of policies and practices to improve respect for worker rights in global supply chains. From 1998 to 2009 Kevin served as a political advisor and Chief Negotiator for Treaty negotiations, land use, environmental protection and economic benefit agreements for a First Nation in Alberta. He holds an LLM in international business law. www.share.ca

	Rodrigo Trelles Co-chef O'Conner Capital Solutions Rodrigo Trelles is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for the O'Connor Capital Solutions business within UBS O’Connor LLC. He is based in New York. Mr. Trelles focuses on structured credit investing, corporate direct lending, asset acquisitions and asset finance in the U.S. and internationally. Since joining O’Connor in 2015, he has been actively involved in launching the Private Credit business and actively negotiating and closing transactions across structured credit, real estate and corporate credit. Prior to joining O’Connor, Mr. Trelles led Risk and Trading for the US Credit Opportunities Group and was the Risk Manager for the Asset Finance book. Prior to that role, Mr. Trelles headed Deutsche Bank’s Structured Finance team for Latin America. Mr. Trelles began his career at the Argentine Ministry of Finance where he was a Debt Coordinator. Mr. Trelles received his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and his B.A. from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa.

	Jodie Voth Manager, Employee Assistance Services Manitoba Blue Cross Jodie Voth is the manager of Employee Assistance Services at Manitoba Blue Cross and owner of Voth Family Therapy. Jodie has over 15 years of clinical experience with individuals, couples and families, and has provided individual and group/workplace trauma response services across Manitoba. She has over ten years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience and provides consultation to leaders on a breadth of topics including workplace crisis and trauma response, leader resilience, employee wellness and more. Jodie has a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from the University of Winnipeg.

	Karen Wachal Senior Pension & Benefits Manager Bell Since joining Bell Canada’s pension & benefits team in 2017 through the acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), Karen has managed administration of defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans and she provides guidance on member education and communication for Bell Canada’s pension, savings and benefits plans. Over her 20 year career she has worked with pension and benefits plans and in human resources with Bell MTS, its predecessor MTS, and provincial Crown corporations. Karen has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) degree from the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business and holds Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designations.

	Tamsin Wilding, CFA Fixed Income Analyst Leith Wheeler Tamsin Wilding joined the Leith Wheeler Fixed Income team in March 2016. Prior to joining Leith Wheeler, Tamsin worked in global markets for five years in both institutional fixed income sales and credit trading roles at Bank of New Zealand, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Australia Bank. Tamsin holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Otago University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Massey University, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

	Katrina Young Benefits Consultant BFL CANADA Consulting Services Inc. Katrina Young is a Benefits Consultant on the Health and Benefits (H&B) team based out of the BFL CANADA - CSI office in Toronto. In addition to generating new business, Katrina leads client teams and provides day-to-day consulting support for clients of various sizes and industries, on an extensive range of group benefit issues, including benefit plan benchmarking, carrier procurements and implementations, benefit plan audits and legislative compliance. Katrina helps clients manage all aspects of their group insurance programs. Katrina has over 20 years of experience working with employee benefits and eight years of experience working in the Canadian health care sector. Prior to joining our firm, Katrina worked for two other global consulting firms and in the non-profit, health care sector. Joining the BFL CANADA – CSI family, Katrina brings a wealth of Canadian plan management experience including wellness/health & productivity, carrier procurement, benchmarking/plan design analysis, strategic plan design review/harmonization, mergers & acquisitions, disability management, renewal rate/expense reviews, financial reconciliations, risk analysis and more. Katrina also has experience in business operations and business development, which allows her to have a better understanding of her clients’ perspectives. Katrina earned her Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation in 2014 and holds the Group Benefits Associate (GBA) and Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) designations. She has been a Board Member of the ISECBS Toronto Chapter since 2022 and is a Member of the 2023 ISCEBS Canadian Symposium Education Committee. Katrina has been a Licensed Insurance Advisor in the province of Ontario since 2011. In 2022, Katrina received her certificate in Workplace Mental Health Leadership from Queen’s University.

	Niki Zaphiratos Managing Director & Head, Asset Owners Canada BC Investor & Treasury Services Niki Zaphiratos is responsible for RBC Investor & Treasury Services’ pension plan, insurance company and foundation client relationships and leads a team of professionals delivering optimal service to them. Niki joined the organization in 1997 and brings more than 25 years’ experience in financial services, including numerous senior positions in Client Service and Sales. In 2014, Niki was appointed Co-Head of the Quebec region and in 2018 her role was expanded to include both Eastern and Western Canada regions. In this leadership role, she was responsible for developing deeper connections with our clients, driving business growth, and ensuring the continued provision of client service excellence in our Canadian business. Throughout her career, Niki has developed relationships with senior decision makers at leading Canadian organizations, helping them achieve their vision by improving business processes, organizational efficiency and set strategic direction. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University with a major in Finance.