Course Facilitators
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Patrick HillAssociate Vice President, Gallagher Benefit Services | | 
Chris LeeVice President, Employee Experience and Internal Communication
Gallagher Communication
| Patrick is Associate Vice President at Gallagher Benefit Services. He provides critical advice and support for a wide range of plan design, financial management, and administrative services, such as communications support, employee meetings, disability management and wellness plans for all sized organizations. Patrick has been working in the benefits industry for over 17 years on both the insurance carrier and the consulting side of business. Before joining Gallagher Benefit Services, he was a Senior Group Underwriter at one of Canada’s major insurance providers. | | CChris Lee is Vice President, Employee Experience and Internal Communication Practice at Gallagher Communication. In this role he helps employers build immersive and experiential internal brands for their employees.
Chris is the Executive Vice President on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Business Communicators Toronto Chapter, and has also served on numerous other boards.
Chris hosts a podcast called Why Does It Feel So Wrong to be Human at Work? He has also published articles in numerous publications, and is often featured as a speaker on communications, brand, and employee experience. | | | | | 
Abigail O’NeillBSW, CEBS ISCEBS VP, Strategic Initiatives Mosey & Mosey Benefit Plan Consultants | | 
Kim Maxwell, CEBSVice President, Employee Benefits & Savings Strategies, Matheis Financial Group | Abigail O'Neill is a results driven professional, partnering with employers in the ongoing management of their group benefit programs. With over 20 years of experience, Abigail has proven to be an effective advocate for plan sponsors in navigating the industry and delivering quality solutions. Recognizing that engagement is a key component to program management, Abigail strives to support employers in developing their benefit philosophy and creating an effective, customized communication strategy for all stakeholders. Abigail has been a speaker on benefit trends at various professional conferences and regularly arranges educational seminars for plan sponsors featuring a wide array of subject matter experts. Abigail earned an honours degree in Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. Abigail has successfully completed numerous industry certifications including the CEBS designation where she has achieved Fellowship status and maintains CEBS Compliance. Abigail completed training as a Well-Being Culture Coach through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Abigail sits on the Board of Directors for the Toronto Chapter of the Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists as well as The Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute Regional Council Of Ontario
| | At Matheis, Kim consults in the area of group benefits. Her responsibilities include guiding growth and operations through analysis, client management, and strategic planning.
Kim is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) with over 13 years of experience at a national insurer, where she held positions as an Account Executive and Director of Service and Implementation. Her extensive knowledge and experience allow her to provide an insurer’s perspective on underwriting methods and practices to our team and clients.
She earned her Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) at Dalhousie University in 2014, building on her Human Resources education at Nipissing University and later York University.
Since 2021, Kim has been a member of CPBI (Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute) Ontario Council. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President and Treasurer of a local Environmental Park Group called Valleys 2000. | | | | | 
Barbara MartinezPractice Leader, Drug Solutions, Toronto Consultant, Group Customer, Canada Life | | .jpg?mw=125&mh=125)
Kimberly FerrisOrganizational Health Consultant, Toronto Group Sales - Consultant, Group Customer, Canada Life
| As the National Practice Leader, Drug Solutions in Canada Life’s Toronto Office, Barbara A. Martinez supports sales offices across Canada on prescription drug management initiatives. She plays a key role in supporting advisors and their clients, including designing and managing drug benefit plans with Canada Life Drug Solutions programs.
Barbara joined Canada Life in 2012 after 10 years at Mercer, where she led the Canadian drug benefits consulting team. She’s a regular speaker at industry forums and a frequent commentator on employer drug programs. Her past experience also includes 13 years in the pharmaceutical industry, where she worked in sales and marketing as well as government and professional affairs. | | With over 20 years in the insurance industry, Kimberly Ferris, Organizational Health Consultant at Canada Life specializes in disabili ty management and organizational health and wellness. As an Organizational Health Consultant, Kimberly focuses on understanding the unique health needs and absence risk areas of an organization and delivering services tailored to control rising health costs and absenteeism trends. Her role is crucial in support the financial, physical and mental well-being of millions of Canadians. Kimberly has a Bachelor of Arts, Honors, in Kinesiology and Health Science, Group Benefit Administration Certification through International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans and recently completed certification for Mindful Leadership offered through Mindful Employer Canada. | | | | | 
Lisa StamEmployment, Labour & Contracts Lawyer, Spring Law | | 
Simon Tanguay, CFEManager, Claim Watch | Lisa Stam is the founder of Springlaw. She practices all aspects of employment, labor, privacy, and human rights law, with a particular interest in legal issues arising from technology in the workplace. Lisa’s practice includes a wide range of entrepreneurs in the tech space, as well as global companies with smaller operations in Canada.
Lisa frequently speaks on both the impact, risks, and opportunities of social media and technology issues in (and out of) the workplace, as well as the novel ways in which changing expectations of privacy continue to evolve employment law. Lisa graduated from Dalhousie Law School, after completing an undergraduate degree in medieval history at the University of Toronto. | | Simon Tanguay oversees the Claim Watch fraud prevention and management program at Green Shield Canada (GSC) for the Quebec region. He has over 15 years of experience in the group insurance industry. Early in his career, he specialized in fraud prevention and detection as Assistant Director of Healthcare Insurance Management, and Advisor in Litigation and Investigations. He took part in numerous investigations, ranging from simple abuse to major cases involving thousands of dollars in group insurance fraud.
In 2021, Simon joined GSC and took leadership of the Claim Watch program. He and his team are responsible for all program operations, including:
- performing advanced claim data analysis;
- designing and executing investigation and monitoring plans;
- collaborating with various stakeholders, such as health professionals, professional associations, other insurers and law enforcement, and;
- developing new analytical approaches and investigation protocols to prevent ever-evolving group insurance fraud schemes.
Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Information and Systems Management, from the Université de Sherbrooke, as well as a CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) designation. Simon also sits on various committees related to fraud prevention and detection.
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Bill KafkisAccount Executive, Lead Consultant, Mosey & Mosey Benefit Plan Consultants | | | Bill brings over 30 years of experience in the group benefits insurance industry. He began his career with a leading insurance carrier, where he gained expertise in underwriting, technical analysis, and managing multi-million-dollar accounts. As a consultant and case manager, Bill handled both financial and service-related issues, collaborating closely with sales teams and ensuring seamless client service. In 2005, Bill joined Mosey & Mosey as a Senior Technical Analyst, negotiating with insurers to secure cost-effective solutions for clients, including public sector organizations like Halton Catholic District School Board and the City of Kingston. Promoted to Account Executive in 2011, Bill continues to build strong client relationships, offering respectful and professional service. Bill holds a B.A. in Math for Commerce from York University, and his background in mathematics and corporate experience make him a valued member of the Mosey & Mosey team. His current clients include the City of Richmond Hill, Town of Milton, and County of Brant, among others. | | |
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