KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 

Dr. Greg Wells
Expert on Optimizing Health, Wellness, and Peak Performance | Bestselling Author

Dr. Greg Wells is a renowned health and high-performance expert. He has dedicated his career to studying the science of human limits and developing practical strategies to help individuals and organizations perform at their best, even under the most challenging circumstances. With over 25 years of experience working with Olympic and world champions as well as top performing organizations, Wells draws parallels between elite athletes and top executives to help audiences optimize their health and performance.
A veteran endurance athlete, Wells has participated in some of the most grueling physical challenges on the planet, including the Nanisivik Marathon, 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle; Ironman Canada; and the Tour D’Afrique, an 11,000km cycling race that is the longest in the world. He has also explored every imaginable terrain and condition in more than 50 countries, making him a true travel and expedition adventurer.
Wells is the author of five books, including the bestsellers Superbodies; The Ripple Effect; The Focus Effect; and Rest, Refocus, Recharge. His latest book, Powerhouse: Protect Your Energy, Optimize Your Health, and Supercharge Your Performance is an insightful guide to achieving optimal health and high performance in all areas of life.
With a PhD in Physiology and previous experience as an associate professor at the University of Toronto and senior scientist at Sick Kids Hospital, Wells brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his practical and actionable presentations. He has delivered keynote at such renowned events as TEDx and The Titan Summit and shared the stage with luminaries including Robin Sharma, Richard Branson, Steve Wozniak, and Deepak Chopra.
Wells is currently the CEO and founder of Wells Performance, a global consulting firm committed to helping teams, schools, and businesses become places where people get healthy, perform optimally, and reach their potential.

Jennifer Barroll
Corporate Leadership and Communications Consultant

Jennifer Barroll is a passionate communicator. With a background as an actor, media personality, and stand-up comedian, she uses her quick wit and energetic personality to deliver practical leadership training and communication tools. Having worked with some of the biggest brands, including Nascar, Red Bull, and McDonalds, Barroll’s engaging storytelling and practical lessons empower leaders, teams, and individuals to learn, grow, and evolve in order to reach their full potential.
Barroll spent years working in the marketing and technology industries before starting her own successful marketing and communications company. In 2010, she co-developed a successful leadership and mentorship program for youth at risk, the Calgary Youth Justice Society’s “In The Lead” program. It’s still going strong today with thousands of participants. In 2015, Barroll was named to Avenue Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” list in recognition of her work.
Today, Barroll is a sought-after international speaker, host, and entertainer, who specializes in leadership training, communication, and change management.

Steve Bridge, B.A., CFP 
Certified Financial Planner & Money Coach

Steve Bridge, CFP®, is an advice-only financial planner and a recognized financial literacy expert. As he sells no products, investments, or insurance, he avoids any pressure or potential conflicts of interest with commissioned sales, ensuring his clients' best interests come first. 

Over the years, Steve has gained invaluable insights from his clients, realizing that even a basic understanding of personal finances can significantly enhance their lives. Driven by this knowledge and his passion for helping people with their financial journey, Steve now presents to organizations who wish to improve the financial literacy of their staff. By doing so, he aims to empower people to make informed decisions and create a solid financial foundation for their lives. 

While it's true that Steve's friends can attest to his love for discussing budgeting, he also enjoys running, mountain biking, and playing hockey with his over-the-hill men's league team.

Steve is an active member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) and provides pro bono planning for people in need. 

Ashlyn George
The Lost Girl

Ashlyn George (B.A, B.Ed) is the award-winning travel writer, photographer, and content creator behind The Lost Girl’s Guide to Finding the World. She’s a go-to travel expert in Saskatchewan, but is no stranger to trips abroad, having travelled solo through more than 65 countries on all 7 continents. Her work has been featured in Maclean’s Magazine and National Geographic and she frequently partners with world-renowned brands like McDonald’s and the NFL. Find her online @thelostgirlsguide / www.thelostgirlsguide.com.

Joe Roberts
Motivational Speaker

Joe Roberts aka The Skidrow CEO is an expert on resilience and change. Having experienced
both catastrophic failure and extraordinary success Joe teaches how to overcome the
roadblocks that get in the way of high performance.
He helps companies and individuals redefine what’s truly possible by confronting limiting
mindsets. Participants at Joes’ events leave inspired and moved to action.
What is most amazing about Joe is that in 1989 he was living on the streets of Vancouver as a
homeless skid row addict. Through perseverance, determination and his resilient human spirit,
Joe pulled himself out of darkness and despair, to become a highly respected business and
community leader.

BREAKOUT SPEAKERS

Darcy Briggs, CFA, CPA, CGA, FRM
Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Franklin Templeton

Darcy Briggs is the senior vice president and portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income - Bissett Investment Management in Calgary, Canada. Mr. Briggs is responsible for co-leading Franklin Bissett Fixed Income team's strategy development and implementation. He is also responsible for co-leading management of the Franklin Bissett Core Plus Bond, Franklin Bissett Short Duration Bond, Franklin Bissett Corporate Bond, Franklin Bissett Canadian Bond, Franklin Bissett Canadian Government Bond, and Franklin Bissett Monthly Income and Growth strategies.

Mr. Briggs has over 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to his current role, Mr. Briggs was the Lead Manager of Franklin Bissett, vice president and portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income - Bissett Investment Management. He also was previously with AGON NV and Bank of Montreal. Mr. Briggs joined Franklin Templeton in 2005 as a research analyst and portfolio manager.

Mr. Briggs holds a Bachelor of Commerce in finance and business from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a Chartered Personal Accountant (CPA), Certified General Accountant (CGA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Canadian Investment Manager (CIM), Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), and is a Derivative Market Specialist (DMS).

Barbara Martinez (she/her)
National Practice Leader Drug Solutions
Canada Life

Barbara Martinez is the National Practice Leader of Drug Solutions at Canada Life. She has 23 years of experience in the industry, working with major consulting firms and Canada Life. Her experience also includes an additional 13 years in the pharmaceutical industry, where she worked in sales and marketing as well as government and professional affairs. Barbara is a regular speaker at industry forums and a frequent commentator on employer drug programs. Her focus includes designing and managing drug benefit plans and providing ongoing analysis of drug program utilization as well as industry trends and updates in the drug space. 

Shannan Corey
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Pension Plan 

Shannan is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, serving a member base of over 32,000 members with over 500 employer plans and an asset base of close to $800 million.  This work allows Shannan to align with her personal passion for enhancing retirement security for all Canadians by providing access to a professionally managed, pooled pension product with low fees.  Providing relevant, effective member experiences for a large, diverse membership base including everyone from ages 18 to 71 earning employment income is the unique value proposition that the SPP offers. Shannan’s prior experience serving on large pension boards allows her to bring innovation and best practices to improved member experiences and operational effectiveness while connecting to her community values.  She brings over 30 years both private and public sector experience along with a math degree from U of S, an Associate Actuary designation, and is a registered CPHR.

Martin McInnis
Executive Director
Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan

Martin is the executive director of the Co-operative Superannuation Society (CSS) Pension Plan, one of Canada’s largest and oldest defined contribution pension plans.  Martin has a strong appreciation for the positive difference that co-operative enterprise makes in the lives of everyday people and their communities. He is proud to be leading the CSS Pension Plan on behalf of more than 300 Canadian co-operative and credit union employers and managing approximately $5 Billion in assets for over 54,000 employee members and retirees.  Martin has a broad range of experience and skills in the areas of strategy, governance, finance, operations, accounting, risk management and information technology. He holds a bachelor of commerce (honours in computer science) from the University of Saskatchewan, is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) charterholder and a chartered professional accountant (FCPA, FCMA), and is an ICD.D designation holder.

Jeremy Phillips
President and CEO
Plannera Pensions and Benefits

Jeremy is the President and CEO of Plannera Pensions and Benefits. Plannera is a Saskatchewan-based, not-for-profit corporation that administers 11 public pension plans and 23 public benefit programs with assets under management of over $15 billion. This includes the Public Employees Pension Plan (PEPP), Canada’s largest defined contribution plan, and the Municipal Employees' Pension Plan (MEPP), a top-100 defined benefit plan in Canada.  Jeremy has a graduate degree in Public Administration and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Regina.

Megan Vallis
Group Sales Vice President, West
Equitable Life

Meghan Vallis has been in the benefits industry since 2006 and in her current position as Group Sales Vice President of Western Canada and myFlex she leads the respective sales teams at Equitable. Meghan is passionate about helping Advisors succeed to transform their client’s employee benefit experience to what Meghan calls braggable benefits. As a full-on benefits nerd, Meghan loves to talk shop and connect with folks in the benefits industry. People rely on Meghan for her unique perspective of the industry, and she is a go-to resource for industry colleagues and clients. Meghan is also the voice behind The Group Advisor Blog.

Megan S. Kaneen
Partner
Lawson Lundell

Megan, a partner at Lawson Lundell LLP, advises boards of trustees and plan sponsors on a variety of legal matters involving pension plans, ELHTs and other benefit plans. Her clients include both single employer plans and trusteed multi-employer plans across a wide range of industries. Megan interprets and amends plan texts and trust documentation, drafts supporting plan documentation and policies, and advises on the application of provincial and federal pension legislation and regulator policy. She advises on issues that arise in day-to-day plan administration, assists her clients with specialized projects such as plan conversions, surplus ownership analysis and contract review, and assists the resolution of benefit disputes outside of court. Megan has significant experience reviewing and advising on pension and benefit plan investment agreements. Megan is called to the bar in both British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Hanif Hemani
Managing Director
Express Employment Professionals

Hanif Hemani is the President of Hemani Management Group Inc., a management consulting firm, specializing in Performance Management, Human Capital Planning, Sales Management and Engagement. He is also the Managing Director of Express Employment Professionals, a Professional Staffing and Recruitment firm.

He has over 25 years of sales, marketing, and management expertise in diverse industries ranging from Big Pharma, to Staffing & Recruitment. He has held positions in Sales Management, Learning & Development Management, Regional Marketing Management, and National Brand Management to name a few.

In a Gallup Engagement survey of over 70,000 employees of Pfizer Inc., the team led by Hanif, ranked in the top 10th percentile of Pfizer globally. He believes that employee engagement is the cornerstone of business success.

Under his leadership, Express Employment Professionals is currently top ranked on Google, and also #1 ranked on both YELP and ThreeBestRated.ca

He has been a featured speaker for: John Gormley Live, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Trauma in the workplace conference, Saskatchewan Aviation Council and numerous Webinar presentations.

When he isn’t networking or involved in assisting community and charitable organizations, you can likely find him at the golf course (in the summer) or out and about discussing politics, business and sports, usually over a nice Cabernet.

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

Deb Wiegers is the Managing Principal of the Group Benefits Consulting Division at Wiegers Financial & Benefits. Deb has specialized in group benefits consulting since 1991, and is the benefits consultant of choice for top employers in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada. 

Deb and her dedicated 10-person Group Benefits Consulting Division offer customized benefit solutions that empower their clients and employees/families to live their best life.  They are passionate about the overall health of each client and are committed to holistically supporting and improving the physical, mental, and financial well-being of its key stakeholders, employees and their families.  The result is a healthier, more resilient, and dedicated team that is ultimately and effectively geared to achieving long-term success together.

Murray Wright FFA, FCIA
Associate Partner, Retirement & Benefits Solutions
TELUS Health

Murray Wright leads the Canada wide Pension Risk Management and Demographic Risk teams at TELUS Health. He is also a consulting actuary with more than 15 years of experience providing regular advice to a variety of pension plans. In these roles, Murray helps pension plans across Canada to arrive at an integrated view of the risks associated with their assets and liabilities, and in particular the interaction between their assets and liabilities, which then helps to inform short and long-term objectives and strategy. Murray also led the development of TELUS Health’s proprietary multi-factor mortality model which allows pension plans of any size to determine plan specific mortality expectations.

Murray joined TELUS Health in 2019 after moving to Canada from the UK. Prior to working in Canada he was Deputy Chief Actuary for a global asset and risk management consultancy. Murray sits on the Project Oversight Groups for the Canadian Institute of Actuaries on mortality improvements and pension mortality base tables. Murray holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Megan Douglas
SVP Chief Brand and Commercial Officer
Saskatchewan Blue Cross

Megan Douglas joined Saskatchewan Blue Cross in 2020 and currently has strategic oversight to Sales, Client Experience, Brand & Marketing, External Communications, Community Relations and Product Enablement. 

Throughout her career, she’s unleashed the potential of organizations during times of new market development and transformative change. Megan’s experience has spanned Canada, Europe and Asia in the insurance, financial services, telecommunications, fast-moving consumer goods, outsourcing, attractions, oil & gas, community development and charitable sectors.   

Megan finds joy in forging new connections and positively contributing to communities. When she’s not exploring the globe, Megan and her family can be found enjoying Canada’s majestic natural landscapes. 

Tim Owens
SVP, Chief Operating Officer 
Saskatchewan Blue Cross 

Tim is a seasoned financial services professional, with nearly two decades of experience. In 2022, he brought his wealth of expertise to Saskatchewan Blue Cross, where he currently holds a pivotal role overseeing Health & Dental Claims, Life & Disability Management, Group Administration, and the member contact center. 

With a multifaceted background spanning corporate strategy, marketing, business development, operations, and risk management, Tim possesses the adaptability necessary to navigate a myriad of challenges and seize opportunities with an innovative flair. His career journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to cultivating client-centric cultures and elevating overall experiences through his passion for customer strategy and member satisfaction. 

Tim finds joy in family moments with his daughters and actively engages in the Regina running community. An avid guitarist, he also finds relaxation and creative expression through music. Moreover, Tim is dedicated to giving back to his community, embodying the values of service and altruism in both his personal and professional endeavors. 

Kyle Reid
Director, Life & Health Services
Saskatchewan Blue Cross

Kyle serves as the Director of the Life & Health Services division at Saskatchewan Blue Cross, where he provides strategic leadership for their Health & Dental Claims and Life & Disability Services operations. With an extensive career spanning over 16 years in the health and life insurance sector, Kyle boasts over a decade of progressive oversight across various domains including product solutions, claims administration, case management, drug and benefit management, provider relationships, and benefits fraud prevention.

Kyle's profound expertise extends beyond traditional practices, encompassing a keen understanding of current and emerging trends, as well as innovative approaches within benefits administration. He excels in measuring innovative capacity and effectively addressing challenges while championing the adoption of new ideas. Throughout his career, Kyle has demonstrated a proven ability to enhance operational capabilities and drive continuous improvement, resulting in heightened productivity and elevated member experiences.

Deeply committed to serving the people and communities of Saskatchewan, Kyle prioritizes fairness, honesty, and frictionless interactions for Blue Cross members. He consistently emphasizes empathetic communication as a cornerstone of his approach, ensuring that every action resonates with integrity and understanding.

Nicole Quintal, BPA, PPAC
Manager, Brand and Digital Engagement
CSS Pension Plan

Nicole Quintal is an award-winning communicator with over 15 years of experience in the journalism, marketing and communications fields, including 10 years in the pension industry.

Inspired by the tech and fintech industries, Nicole is passionate about exploring innovative ways to elevate communications with plan members. Nicole and the CSS team recently launched new initiatives, including new targeted video content, a new website, and personalized information delivery for members.

Nicole holds a Diploma in Journalism from MacEwan University, a Bachelor of Professional Arts in Communication Studies (Honours and Distinction) from Athabasca University, and a Pension Plan Administration Certificate (PPAC) from Humber College. She also recently completed programs on AI and blockchain technology through MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

In her spare time, Nicole loves hiking in Northern Saskatchewan with her German Shepherd, Yuri.

David Emanuel
Vice President & Head of Workplace Solutions
IDC Workplace Solutions

David Emanuel is Vice President & Head of Workplace Solutions, IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc. (IDC WIN). He joined IDC WIN in 2015 to take a leadership role in building out IDC WIN’s presence in the group benefits channel. 

His career in the Insurance industry began in 1990, when he jointed Equitable Life and where he held roles in group services from 1991 through to 1995. Following that, David became an independent Advisor and in 1995 opened his own group insurance agency - Genssante Benefit Services.

Shannon DeLenardo
Director, Anti-Fraud
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association

Shannon DeLenardo is the Director, Anti-Fraud with the Canadian Life and Health Association (CLHIA),In her role, Shannon is responsible to build consensus on concerns important to member companies and for leading industry committees, working groups and projects related to the mitigation of benefits fraud. 

Shannon has held positions in Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, and Privacy with CAA Club Group and Orion Travel Insurance.  Prior to this she held roles at Assurant Solutions including Director of Compliance and Director of Human Resources.

Shannon graduated from the University of Guelph with a BA, Seneca College with the Human Resources Professional designation and has a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management for Financial Institutions.

PANELISTS

Alison Lea
Advisor, Project Manager
First Nations Insurance Services Limited Partnership

Alison Lea is a dedicated Licensed Group Benefits and Pension Advisor with First Nations Insurance Services, specializing in supporting individuals, families, and businesses in safeguarding their health and financial well-being. Alison has become known for her expertise and commitment to her clients, both in the Group Benefits and Retirement space.

Recently, Alison's outstanding contributions to the employee benefits sector were recognized with the prestigious International Federation of Employee Benefits (IFEBP) Young Professional Award. This accolade is a testament to her exceptional leadership skills, innovative approaches, and significant contributions to her community and industry as a whole.

Driven by her passion for continuous learning and professional development, Alison is currently pursuing her Canadian Employee Benefits Specialist designation. Through her ongoing dedication to excellence, Alison continues to positively impact the lives of those she serves while advancing her career in the insurance industry.

Director, Human Resources and Provincial Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
3sHealth (Shared Services Saskatchewan)

Lorna Selinger is the Director of Human Resources and Provincial EFAP at 3sHealth.  For over 20 years, Lorna has worked in health care in various human resource capacities; specializing in accommodation/return to work and labour relations.   Lorna thrives as a leader in a team environment, and she believes that people are the most powerful when they work together to create a culture of growth and development so they can effectively support and lead their employees, patients, clients, customers, and partners.  

Lorna is a graduate of the University of Regina, Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) as well as a certified Coach and member of the international Coaching Federation, LEADS Canada based facilitator, Certified Choice Theory and Certified Lean Improvement Leader.   This commitment to professional development has assisted in building Lorna’s strong character, caring nature, and a desire to make a difference.

Seeking to learn, to grow and to remain curious is a lifelong journey and one that keeps Lorna engaged and enthused.  She loves to laugh, enjoys her family, and friends and has fun learning.  Golfing, walking, biking, skating, enjoying nature and sports keeps life interesting.