KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Chief Cadmus Delorme
Cowessess First Nation

Chief Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux, is the Chief of the Cowessess First Nation. Chief Delorme graduated from Cowessess Community Education Centre in 2000. He later moved to Regina to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv), and a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Recently, he has completed an Institute of Corporate Directors designation.

In 2012, Chief Delorme received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, recognizing his student leadership and the hospitality he showed to Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, when they visited FNUniv. He was also named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, which celebrates the province’s new generation of leaders, builders and change-makers under the age of 40.

In 2019, Chief Delorme was re-elected to a second term in office. Under his leadership, Cowessess First Nation has focused on economic self-sustainability for its nation and people and has moved forward on renewable energy, agriculture, efficiency in land use initiatives that have created both current and future business opportunities.

This past year, Chief Delorme faced one of the hardest moments as Chief when the Saulteaux and Cree First Nation made international headlines with the discovery of potentially 751 unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School. Shortly after, Cowessess made headlines again as the first First Nations community to sign an agreement with Ottawa that returns jurisdiction over children in care to the community. Federal legislation overhauling Indigenous child welfare was passed in 2019 and came into force last year.

Chief Delorme lives with his wife Kimberly, brother-in-law, daughter and two son’s on Cowessess First Nation.  

Kate Davis
Connectivity Expert | Humour in the Workplace | Work–Life Balance

Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and offers creative solutions to defuse frustrations in both the workplace and at home. A hit comedian, who has opened for the likes of Seth Meyers, Bill Clinton, and Barbara Walters, Davis’ generous insight and hilarious presence is a powerful combination that helps organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation.

Theatrically trained in England, Davis went from a successful run on the Canadian stage to the many stages of motherhood, before she found her passion for comedy. Now she is a 12-time Canadian Comedy Awards nominee, including a nomination for the prestigious Phil Hartman Award, and the star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network. In addition, Davis has appeared on Breakfast Television, Star TV, Toronto 1, Prime, WTN, TVO, and CBC Radio's The Debaters. She also stars, writes, and produces the hit web series “Best Before”, which won at the Canadian Comedy Awards, and was chosen for “Standup and Pitch” at the Just For Laughs Comedy Pro. In 2018, Davis joined the Debaters Live theatre tour with Live Nation.

On stage, Davis has performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Hubcap Comedy Festival, and the Kitchener Waterloo Comedy Festival, while also headlining across the country. During the 2008 season of Last Comic Standing, Davis’ sense of humour endured and carried her into the finals in Canada.

As a writer, Davis has been published in Today’s Parent and Mom and Caregiver magazines. She is also the author of two books, The Breastfeeding Diaries, which won the iParenting media award, and Second Best Mom: Stories, Tips, and Okay Advice. In 2019, Davis released her comedy album, House Arrest.

Allan Kehler
Mental Health Advocate, Keynote Speaker, Author, Coach

Allan is a mental health advocate, international keynote speaker, and best-selling author of four books. His writing has been published in countless national magazines and he has been featured on several television and radio programs. He has also instructed various mental health related courses at the college level, and spent years working as an addiction counselor and clinical case manager.

Allan is one of Canada’s most sought-after speakers when it comes to the topic of mental health and wellness. He has stood on more than 500 stages and is recognized for his engaging style and captivating approach. Having persevered through his own mental health issues and addiction, Allan speaks from a place of experience. His moving stories tug on heartstrings, inspire a new perspective, and allow people to connect with themselves and others at a deeper level. He uses humor and compassion to create a safe space where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

Allan has developed a genuine appreciation and passion for learning and working with Indigenous people and communities. This has played a key role in his own recovery and these cultural teachings can be found in his presentations.

Recently, Allan and his wife, Tanya, launched Born Resilient™ - a clothing line that empowers people to persevere through their challenges and find their inner strength. They are proud to donate a percentage of their profits to organizations that promote wellness.

Allan currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He shares his life with Tanya, four boys, four dogs, and a tank of fish.

Greg Johnson
Tornado Hunter

Greg Johnson, one of North America’s top professional storm-chasers and severe weather experts, is also an accomplished photographer, speaker, author, workshop leader and recently a television personality on Netflix in the show, “Tornado Hunters” and CBC’s “Canada Reads”. After graduating from Canada’s renowned Acadia University and founding and building a leading successful communications, marketing and advertising firm from the ground up, Greg decided it was time to devote himself full-time to pursuing his passion for capturing nature’s most beautiful and deadly displays of severe weather.

Greg has put over a half million kilometres on his Tornado Truck, intercepting and documenting hundreds of storms across the United States and Canada since 2011 alone. His recent experiences include documenting and compassionately sharing the aftermath of the massive twisters that devastated Joplin Missouri, El Reno, Oklahoma and Pilger, Nebraska. Greg was featured on W5 during the devastation in Texas at Hurricane Harvey. He also lends his extensive knowledge to organizations that wish to educate their outdoor working crews on severe weather safety and protocol. In 2016, Canadian Geographic listed him as one of Canada’s top 100 explorers.

Greg is the author of the Blown Away, A Year through the Lens of The Tornado Hunter, a best seller and gold medal award winner for design. His second book is entitled, Why is the Sky Green?, and his third book Camera Canada, Portrait of a Nation is due out in December 2018.

A firm believer in the ‘Bucket List’ philosophy, Greg’s mission is to inspire others to chase their own passions, while sharing and teaching the lessons he has learned from pursuing his. When he’s not storm-chasing or speaking, Greg enjoys life at home in Regina, Saskatchewan spending time with his children, and of course – cheering for his beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Kyle McDonald
Owner and Operator
Competitive Will Performance Consulting

Kyle McDonald is the owner and operator of Competitive Will Performance Consulting (Competitive Will). Competitive Will develops high performance curriculums and frameworks that help in developing team culture through psychological assessments and the development of an individual’s mental skills/emotional intelligence. Our leadership, communication, group facilitation and individual development philosophy provides a foundation to resiliency in high performance environments. Competitive Will currently works with:

BENEFIT SPEAKERS

Andrea Hansen, B.Comm., CFP®, GBA
President & Benefits Advisor
Sutton Benefits & Pension

Andrea Hansen is a recognized Educator, Writer, Speaker and Benefits Advisor, whom you may have published in The Business Advisor, PotashWorks and HR Saskatchewan magazines.

Andrea is the President of Sutton Benefits & Pension and the creator of the Sutton Employee Engagement Wheel™ . She is passionate about helping successful growing companies to improve business performance by aligning and leveraging their group benefits & pension programs as part of a comprehensive integrated approach to attracting and retaining talent. With over 20 years of experience, she has supported hundreds of successful employers optimize their group benefit & pension plans to maximize value and results.

Jenny Hart
Managing Partner, Group Benefit Advisor
Core Benefits

Jenny has been working in the benefit industry for over 20 years. Her passion extends across Western Canada as she works with employers to bring strong benefits to companies of all sizes. Jenny has experience with benefits from all angles. Starting her career with Co-operators allowed her to support benefits as an insurer. She brings a unique perspective with her benefit management experience as an employer, a plan member and an advisor.

Jenny is the President of Dynamic Core Benefits Inc. 

Peter Ricci|
Senior Pharmacy Consultant
The Cooperators

Peter has been a Senior Pharmacy Consultant with The Co-operators since September 2019. His focus is drug plan management, drug prior authorization, and education in pharmacy. He has lead hundreds of discussions to people in insurance and medical fields.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy University of Saskatchewan in 1999 and completed his Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency in 2002.

Peter has 23 years of experience in pharmacy and during that time he has been a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents and has also spent time teaching nursing and medical students about drugs.

Peter started his career as a compounding pharmacist in Moncton NB and then Saskatoon SK for 3 years after graduating.

In 2002, he completed a one year Residency in Hospital Pharmacy in Regina and then worked for the Saskatchewan Health Authority for a total of 10 years as a pharmacist specializing in anemia management in Chronic Kidney Disease and Gastroenterology Disease while also working in Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant Clinic, Adult and Neonatal Intensive Care, Cardiac Care, and other areas of the hospitals and clinics.

In 2012, Peter became a partner in Rubicon Pharmacies where he operated and managed Pioneer Village Pharmacy and created Rubicon Health Solutions.

Eight years later upon the sale of Rubicon Pharmacies, Peter joined Cooperators as Senior Pharmacy Consultant.

Deb Wiegers, GBA, CLU, CH.F.C.
Managing Principal, Benefits and Group Retirement Consulting Division
Wiegers Financial & Benefits

Deb Wiegers is Wiegers Financial & Benefits’ Co-President and the head of its Benefits and Group Retirement Consulting Division. She has specialized in group benefits and retirement savings since 1991 and is the benefits and group retirement advisor of choice to many of the top businesses in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and elsewhere in Canada.

Deb takes a uniquely holistic approach to benefits consulting. The Wiegers Blueprint for Growing a Healthier Bottom Line is designed to help employers in all areas of business using a high-impact benefits strategy and a wide range of supporting initiatives and approaches. The result is a healthier, more resilient, and more dedicated business and work team geared to achieving long-term success together.

Kelly Ulrich
Director, Non-Insured Health Benefits
Indigenous Services Canada, Saskatchewan Region

Kelly Ulrich is the Saskatchewan Region Director for the Non-Insured Health Benefits program with Indigenous Services Canada.  She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta.  Her career in human services has given her the opportunity to serve in various roles within federal, provincial and not-for-profit organizations.  Kelly has been with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada (formerly Health Canada) since 2010, joining the Non-Insured Health Benefits program in 2015 as a manager.  She has been the Director since December 2020.  

Carmen Amyotte
Manager, Non-Insured Health Benefits
Indigenous Services Canada, Saskatchewan Region

Carmen is one of the Managers with Non-Insured Health Benefits in the Saskatchewan Regional office with Indigenous Services Canada.  She has been with the federal government for approximately 26 years and most of her career has been with Indigenous Services Canada.  She has worked with First Nations communities, other government departments, and other stakeholders is various capacities.  Carmen joined Non-Insured Health Benefits with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch in December 2018 as Supervisor/Senior Program Officer in Community Development Support, and then moved into the position as one of the Managers in December 2020.

 PENSION SPEAKERS  

Melanie Lishchynsky
Group Retirement Consultant
RBC – Royal Bank of Canada

As a Group Retirement Planning Consultant, Melanie draws on her extensive Financial Planning and Retirement Savings knowledge to provide guidance and expertise to employers looking to drive employee engagement and build a robust financial wellness platform into their corporate culture.
Melanie has a lengthy 30 year career in financial services which has culminated in award winning performance the past decade with RBC Group Advantage. She has earned a reputation for client service excellence at both the corporate and member level which has resulted in dozens of organizations entrusting their Savings Plans and employee experience with her and her team.
She is a mentor at a national level for other Group Consultants across Canada, co-chairs the Group Advantage National Advisory Council and has also been recognized by RBC for her commitment to her community through her various volunteer and fund raising activities.
She started her career as a teller with the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1990 while attending university. She transitioned to RBC Wealth Management as a Financial Planner in 2007 and then moved to RBC Group Advantage in 2014. Melanie holds her B.Admin, PFP, CFP and RPA.
Melanie and her husband, Raymond live in Saskatoon, SK and have two children who are attending the University of Saskatchewan. 

Chris Quigley, B.Comm, CFA
Vice-President, Investment Counselling
Institutional Investment Solutions, Group Customer
Canada Life

Chris is an Institutional Investment Counsellor within the Institutional Investment Solutions team.  He joined Canada Life in 2015 and has over 20 years of investment industry experience. Prior to joining, he served as a pension investments manager for a large organization in Winnipeg where his role included research and development of investment strategies for both defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, conducting asset/liability studies and asset transitions, and selection of investment managers and reviewing and monitoring plan performance. Chris is a CFA charterholder.  

Juan Lois
Executive Director, Sustainable Investing Strategist
J.P. Morgan

Juan Lois, Executive Director, is the Strategist on the Sustainable Investing team responsible for implementing the firm's sustainable investment strategy, solutions and product innovation in the Americas. In partnership with our distribution and product teams, he leverages our extensive data and research capabilities, proprietary technology and ESG expertise to deliver sustainable solutions to our clients. Prior to joining the firm in May 2020, he was at Wespath Benefits and Investments, where he lead the organization's sustainable investing activities, including overseeing ESG integration, as well as research and product design for Wespath's impact investment program. Juan obtained an M.A. in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies from the George Washington University and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Tufts University.

Mykola (Myk) Rostotski, PFP, QAFP
Investment Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

As an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, Mykola (Myk) Rostotski provides access to a comprehensive range of services to help you build and protect your wealth.

Myk harnesses his expert knowledge and 10 years of experience to develop comprehensive wealth management solutions for his clients. Myk's breadth of experience, expertise and credentials help ensure sound advice, expert execution and peace of mind for clients who need solutions for broad and complex wealth management needs.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Myk and his wife Shalyn (Shay) both love the outdoors and spend their  personal time camping, hiking, biking and golfing. Myk and Shay also enjoy traveling and spending time with  their close family. This love of travel, the outdoors, and new experiences is due to the strong curiosity they have to learn about people and the world. Myk and Shay live in Regina and are looking forward to starting a family and establishing roots in the community.

Andrew Wilson
Investment Advisor
RBC Wealth Management
RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 

My mission is to provide value to every client I work with, giving advice and creating solutions for financial planning and Investment Management.

Andrew lives in Regina with his wife Janelle and 2 daughters Tenley and Sage. Andrew is active in the community coaching both ringette and hockey.

Michael Wolpert
Partner at Fasken, Pensions and Benefits Law

Michael Wolpert is a Partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, practising exclusively in the area of Pensions and Benefits law. He provides private and public sector clients with strategic advice and practical counsel about legal, legislative and regulatory issues surrounding retirement plans, employment benefits and related human resource matters.
Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Canadian Pension Management, and is a past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Pensions and Benefits Law Section, as well as a past Chair of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute’s National Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Legal Consultative Committee for Alberta Treasury Board and Finance.
Michael is recognized for his work in Pensions and Employee Benefits law by a number of national and international legal publications, including Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada, and the Canadian Legal Expert Directory.

Neil Lloyd
Partner, Western Canada Wealth Leader
Mercer

Neil Lloyd returned to Western Canada in December 2020 to take up the role of Western Canada Wealth Leader. Neil is an actuary and a Partner at Mercer, based in Vancouver, who spent nine years using his actuarial, investments and international expertise working with both defined benefit and defined contribution clients across Western Canada. In 2015 Neil worked in US being the Head of US DC and Financial Wellness Research.
Neil has been selected for several industry wide roles such as the Vice Chair of the Employee Benefits Research Institute, Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association’s Executive Committee and was the Chair of the Plan Sponsor Council of America’s Thought Leadership Council. Neil is a regular speaker at international, national and regional industry forums, and twice has provided testimony to the US ERISA Advisory Council on decumulation issues.

Neil obtained a Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town in 1987, before qualifying as a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in 1990. He also became an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries and an Affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. In addition, Neil qualified as a Certified Financial Planner in South Africa in 1994.private practice.

Tricia Brown
Government of Saskatchewan
Director, Policy and Governance
Public Employees Benefits Agency, Ministry of Finance

Tricia joined PEBA in 2019 and is the Director of Policy and Governance.
Prior to joining PEBA, Tricia worked as a consultant and analyst for the Government of Saskatchewan and a manager for the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Tricia oversees policy, research and governance services for PEBA and more than 30 pension and benefit plan boards and commissions. This includes analysis and recommendations related to policy and legislative changes and best practices.

Tricia has a graduate degree in Economics and an undergraduate degree in Arts from the University of Regina.

Sean McKim
Manager, Technology
Regina Airport Authority (YQR)

Sean has over 25 years’ experience in security and technology, in public and private organizations. Since 2008 Sean’s work has focused on leading teams and helping organizations in the protection of critical infrastructure in government, electrical and transportation sectors. Sean’s provided advice to multiple organizations’ boards and government officials regarding matters of security and emphasizes the importance of using reasonable security measures based on understanding risks.