Speakers' Bio: |  | | Giorgio Follegati, Senior Consultant, Benchmark Benefit SolutionsPrior to joining Benchmark Benefit Solutions in 2016, Giorgio worked as both a Technical Underwriter and Sales Representative at one of Canada’s largest Third-Party Benefit Administrators. In 2015, Giorgio was recognized as a “Top Young Gun” under 35, by Insurance Business Canada magazine. Giorgio sits on the Ontario Council of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute and is also an organizer of Disrupt HR Vaughan, an annual event bringing together HR professionals and business leaders to inspire innovation and advancements in the world of work.
| | | |  | | Patrick Hill,Associate Vice President, Gallagher Benefit Services
Patrick is a Benefits & Health Consultant at Accompass. 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 16 years on both the insurance carrier and the consulting side of business. Before joining Accompass, he was a Senior Group Underwriter at one of Canada’s major insurance providers. | | | |  | | Christopher Lee, Vice President, Employee Communication Practice,
Gallagher
Chris Lee is Vice President, Employee Communications Practice within Gallagher’s Employee Benefits Consulting Division in Canada. In this role he helpss Gallagher clients develop strategic internal communications plans to ensure organizations implement successful employee experience programs.
Chris has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including his leadership of Corporate Brand & Marketing at one of Canada’s largest insurance companies.
Chris has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Toronto Area Rewards Association as Vice President, Communications.
Chris has published articles in Canadian HR Reporter, Plans & Trusts Magazine, and has been featured as a speaker at various conferences, including HRPA, CPBI, WorldatWork Total Rewards, IFEBP, Benefits Breakfast Club, GTA Rewards Association, CUHR, Presidents of Enterprising Organizations, and Conference Board of Canada.
Chris has published articles in Canadian HR Reporter, Plans & Trusts Magazine, and has been featured as a speaker at various conferences, including CPBI, HRPA, WorldatWork Total Rewards, IFEBP, Benefits Breakfast Club, GTA Rewards Association, CUHR, Presidents of Enterprising Organizations, and Conference Board of Canada.
| | | | .jpg?mw=300&mh=300) | | Gisela Carere, President and Managing Partner, Benchmark Benefit SolutionsAt Benchmark Benefit Solutions, Gisela Carere wears many hats, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. An organized multi-tasker, Gisela thrives on the challenge of designing group benefit programs that are both affordable and sustainable while providing a level of service that her clients routinely describe as "above and beyond". When it comes to getting things done, clients know they can count on her. Relationships are what matters to Gisela, and she ensures the interests of her clients, and their employees are always looked after. As President and Managing Partner, she works directly with clients to develop and maintain group benefit plans that further their organizational goals. With insight into how experience affects pricing, Gisela will pro-actively outline strategies for containing benefit costs at renewal. And thanks to long-established connections with the major carriers, she can negotiate the best possible price on behalf of clients and advocate for their employees. Gisela developed her in-depth knowledge of group benefits and honed her professional skills through more than 20 years of industry experience in areas as varied as group underwriting, benefit plan analysis, sales, training and benefit plan communications. She keeps her knowledge current through ongoing education as part of the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) program. And when she is not looking after her clients, Gisela, along with her husband Adam, is taking care of their school-age children, Vanessa and Luca, traveling and enjoying family life.
| | | |  | | Barbara Martinez, Practice Leader, Drug Solutions Toronto 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.
| | | | .jpg?mw=300&mh=300) | | Kimberly Ferris, Organizational Health Consultant Toronto Group Sales - Consultant, Group Customer Canada Life
With over 20 years in the insurance industry, Kimberly Ferris, Organizational Health Consultant at Canada Life specializes in disability 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. The Organizational Health Consultant plays an integral role within the Canada Life team to 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.
| | | |  | | Melissa Haig, Manager, Fraud Risk Management, SunLifeAs the Manager in Fraud Risk Management in Sun Life’s Group Benefits division, Melissa is responsible for investigating, detecting and preventing fraud through strategic direction and fraud risk management. Under her leadership, the team uses intelligence-led anti-fraud strategies to focus on the profiling of medical and dental providers and facilities, including the investigation into large collusion schemes and organized crime. Melissa has been with Sun Life since 2001 and has worked in the investigation field within the insurance industry for the last 10 years, including participating in court and regulatory hearings pertaining to fraud.
| | | |  | | Lisa Stam, Employment, Labour & Contracts Lawyer, Spring Law
Lisa Stam practices all aspects of employment, labour and human rights law, and has a particular interest in legal issues involving technology in the workplace and the various methods by which people continue to mess things up with technology.
She regularly advises clients on the usual employment law fare: domestic and international employment advice, drafting offer letters and employment contracts, workplace policies and handbooks, advising on bonus and commission plans, benefits, workplace privacy issues, independent contractors, confidential and proprietary information, and discipline and terminations. She has also advised on a variety of human rights issues such as accommodating disabilities in the workplace, sexual harassment, discrimination and gender transition.
Lisa frequently speaks on and advises clients about the impact, risks and opportunities of technology in the workplace, including social media legal issues, privacy breaches, and ownership of data. She remains perplexed at humanity’s inability to more carefully set their social media privacy settings but continues to enjoy the juicy bits of evidence that could form the basis of a future best-selling novel.
Lisa is a member of the Canadian Netherlands Business and Professionals Association, Verity Women’s Business Club and various bar associations (the legal not fun kind). She graduated from the University of Toronto with a specialty in medieval history, and therefore went to law school, graduating from Dalhousie Law School in 2003, and has since been licensed to practice law by the Law Society of Ontario | | | |
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