On the Occasion Of the Canadian Institute of Underwriters’ Annual General Meeting June 1 – 2 - 2015 Toronto, Ontario It is the intent of the Canadian Institute of Underwriters that its member companies, and their employees, must at all times comply with both the letter and the spirit of anti-trust and competition laws. Broadly stated, these laws prohibit any activities that might lessen desirable competition among insurance companies. This meeting is not intended to permit the formulation of any agreement, expressed or implied, which would in any way restrict competition. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Transcript
On the Occasion
Of the
Canadian Institute of Underwriters’
Annual General Meeting
June 1 – 2 - 2015
Toronto, Ontario
It is the intent of the
Canadian Institute of Underwriters
that its member companies, and their employees,
must at all times comply with both
the letter and the spirit of
anti-trust and competition laws.
Broadly stated, these laws prohibit any activities
that might lessen desirable competition
among insurance companies.
This meeting is not intended to permit
the formulation of any agreement,
expressed or implied,
which would in any way
restrict competition.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dear CIU Members and Industry Colleagues:
On behalf of the Executive Committee, I welcome you to the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute of
Underwriters. This year, we are proud to be hosting you in our great city of Toronto.
Vice Chair, Selena Puttick, and the entire CIU Executive Committee have worked hard throughout the year to ensure your
Annual General Meeting experience will be enjoyable, beneficial and worthwhile. I thank Selena and each and every
member of the Executive Committee for their support and efforts over the past year.
Our theme this year is “Knowledge is Key – Unlock the Power”. Kofi Annan, 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations
(1997 – 2006) once said that, “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in
every society, in every family.” I would venture to add that education is, in fact, the premise of progress in any
endeavour, particularly within the field of underwriting.
In keeping with our theme, our program was designed not just to educate you on medical topics but also to provide
awareness as to how you can own and progress professionally in your career in the underwriting arena.
Not only does CIU’s AGM program bring together all these highly regarded speakers to present on issues of current and
future interest, it also provides opportunities for you to network with friends, colleagues and valued sponsors. As the CIU
moves forward into the 2015-2016 year, we continue in our commitment to providing the highest level possible of
opportunities for training and education to all our members.
The continued generosity and support of our valued sponsors and industry friends is so very much appreciated. Our
partnership allows us as CIU members, to benefit from both this meeting and others, by engaging leading-edge speakers
and planning more extensive events. On behalf of the CIU Executive Committee, I thank each of them.
I also want to extend our sincere appreciation to all the companies that have allowed and supported each of the CIU
Executive Committee members to play an active part on this committee.
As always, your feedback is crucial to us. We want your opinions, evaluations and input. Your feedback commentary is a
very important and valuable guide in assisting CIU’s Executive Committee with the planning of future meetings. Please
contact us by completing our post-conference survey on-line.
CIU’s 2015 Executive and I look forward to the pleasure of meeting you personally over the next couple of days and
sharing quality time together.
Enjoy your Toronto experience at the CIU’s 2015 Annual General Meeting!
Mervyn Gillson, FALU, FLMI CIU Chair 2014 – 2015 Senior Underwriting Specialist and Claims Manager LOGiQ3 Corp
KNOWLEDGE IS KEY …. UNLOCK THE POWER!
Marriott Toronto Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel
CIU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015 - AGENDA
SUNDAY. MAY 31st
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Registration & Reception Base of Escalators – Lower Level Foyer
MONDAY. JUNE 1st CIU AGM 2015 - DAY 1 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Registration Open Base of Escalators – Lower Level Foyer 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast Ballroom A & B Foyer – Lower Level
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Opening Ceremonies Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
VP, New Business Operations & Director, Living Benefits Underwriting
Chief Underwriter Croix Bleue du Québec - Blue Cross, QC
AAA Life Insurance Company
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM Keynote Address: THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
DEAN A. CONNOR, FSA, FCIA, HBA President & Chief Executive Officer Sun Life Financial
It's a small world, globally connected, and things are moving faster than ever before. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Financial, Dean Connor has a unique insight into our industry and will share his observations on where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going.
As we journey through these changing times, consideration needs to be given to different products, different plans, and different emerging markets. How does this impact us as underwriters? Dean enlightens us so that we will have the knowledge and power we need to prepare for the future. 1/
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM Refreshments ~ Networking Ballroom Foyer – Lower Level
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CANADA’S COMING OF AGE: HOW READY ARE WE Ballroom A & B, Main Stage TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR AGING POPULATION?
SAMIR K. SINHA, MD, DPhil, FRCPC Director, Chair, Geriatrics, Mt. Sinai Hospital, & University Health Network Hospitals Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Institute of Health Policy, University of Toronto Assistant Professor, Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine With the number of older Canadians set to double over the next twenty years, while already accounting for half of our nation's health and social care spending, it becomes clear why ensuring that older Canadians have access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time, and are enabled to lead healthy and active lives is important to all of us. As governments have sought to
address this challenge, Dr. Sinha has been engaged to develop Seniors Strategies for Canada’s largest city and province. Dr. Sinha will share what he learned and what he thinks it might take to enable older Canadians to stay healthy and independent and why now, more than ever, there exists a pressing need to make this a key national priority.
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM FALU Presentations Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
Please join industry colleagues and CIU guests for our Celebratory Presentations As we Honour and Congratulate our New Canadian FALUs
FALU Ceremony Conducted by:
FRANK GOETZ, FALU, FLMI PRESIDENT, ALU EXECUTIVE GROUP
Assistant Chief Underwriter Pacific Life Insurance Company
11:15 AM – 12 Noon UNLOCKING THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION PUZZLE Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
ZAYNAH MARANI, LLB, LLM Principal, Barrister and Solicitor Marani Law, Toronto
Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship regulations are constantly changing, making it difficult to keep up with the latest information. Being informed of these changes and understanding their impact is essential to knowing your clients. Zaynah Marani is looking forward to bringing you this key information so that you can “Unlock the Power” to properly underwrite your cases.
12 Noon –2:30 PM Lunch on Your Own ~ Afternoon Breakout Sessions begin promptly @ 2:30 PM ~
Please proceed directly to your session of choice.
Breakout #1 UNDERWRITING CAREER AS A BUSINESS YORK ROOM
CHRIS MURUMETS, BComm, FLMI, AIRC, ARA Co-Founder LOGiQ3
The world is changing. It is said the first person to live to be 130 years old, has been born. Five years ago the number of “things” connected to the internet exceeded the number of people on earth. By 2020, that number grows to 60+ billion “things”, and they will be talking to each other. This discussion will focus on some of the implications that these interconnections could have on the career of an Underwriter, as well as Underwriting as a business.
Breakout #2 OBSTRUCTIVE AND CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA: UNCOVERING THE RISK SALON C
WILLIAM ROONEY, MD, FAAFP, EMBA
Vice President & Medical Director
SCOR Global Life Reinsurance We often struggle to identify and appropriately assess the Sleep Apnea risk. More and more, we are seeing Central Sleep Apnea reported when Obstructive Sleep Apnea used to be the norm. Join Dr. Rooney as he reveals the apparent risk in these syndromes so that the next case you see with Sleep Apnea, the better equipped you are to classify and analyze the mortality and morbidity risk profile of these individuals. Breakout # 3 INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE /ULCERATIVE COLITIS / CROHN’S DISEASE SALON D GINA C. GUZMAN, MD, DBIM, FALU, FLMI Second Vice President & Medical Director Munich Re In her presentation, Dr. Guzman provides an easy-to-understand approach to underwriting this disorder. It includes a general overview (definition, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment) followed by a case study which emphasizes the prognostication factors available in stratifying the underwriting risk assessment. 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM Refreshments – Networking Ballroom Foyer – Lower Level 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS # 4 - # 5 - # 6
Breakout #4 ADVENTURE SPORTS … WHERE’S THE RISK? YORK ROOM
MARK KOENIG, FALU, FLMI Principal Koenig Risk Management
Where’s the risk? This is a fundamental question every underwriter should be asking themselves each time they review a case. When assessing those people who seek out risky behaviors, such as extreme sports, the resultant probabilities become even more clouded. Although each activity presents its own mortality assessment challenge, there are some ways to determine if the red flag is up in the air, or the green one is flying. Hold on tight ….we hope you have a strong constitution for what you are about to see! 3/
Breakout #5 LUNG DISEASE … IT AIN’T EASY BEING WHEEZY! SALON C
MONICA WILSON, MD, ALMI Vice President & Medical Director Swiss Reinsurance Company
Breathing comes naturally to most … but when it doesn't, what then? COPD and Asthma are disorders frequently seen in underwriting and at times risk assessment is quite challenging. There is a substantial overlap in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of COPD/Asthma
and other respiratory disorders that cause airflow limitation, but is the mortality similar? Be sure to attend this breath taking session as Dr. Monica Wilson reviews clinical features, diagnosis, staging and mortality assessment of these common respiratory disorders.
Breakout #6 HOT TOPICS IN UNDERWRITING SALON D
KAREN CUTLER, MBA, FALU, FLMI Vice President & Chief Underwriter, Retail & Affinity Markets Manulife Financial
Keeping informed of new developments that are taking place in underwriting and the insurance industry is crucial. New medical technology, underwriting requirements, wellness/fitness trackers are just a few of the hot topics out there. Join Karen Cutler as she shares her knowledge and provides insights into these topics … and much more! You won't want to miss what promises to be compelling information on key underwriting topics.
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CIU Cocktail Reception Ballroom A & B – Lower Level
Gather with industry friends for a casual, fun Reception Event
Listen to the musical stylings of GAREN MARKARIAN
Musician, Singer, Songwriter …… and Underwriter!
Get Creative! Visit the CIU Photo Booth, grab a prop and make a memory…
Free Time to explore the city ~ 7:00 PM onwards…
Tuesday, June 2nd ~ Events commence at 7:15 AM with
Delegates’ Breakfast at the SPONSOR EXPO in Salon C & D
Don’t forget to bring along your
PASSPORTS and collect your stamps while visiting our various Sponsors!
4/
KNOWLEDGE IS KEY …. UNLOCK THE POWER Marriott Toronto Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel
CIU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015
All AGM Sessions on Tuesday, June 2nd
are presented on the Main Stage in Ballroom A & B
TUESDAY, JUNE 2nd CIU AGM 2015 - DAY 2 7:15 AM – 8:20 AM General Delegation Breakfast Networking with Salon C & D - Lower Level
our SPONSORS at PASSPORT EXPO SHOWCASE
Throughout the morning … and at our CIU Hosted Luncheon, Please join us for our
SPONSORS’ PASSPORT EXPO SHOWCASE
Visit and engage with our INDUSTRY SPONSORS … Collect all your PASSPORT STAMPS
Drop off your completed PASSPORTS to the CIU Stage
~Be entered to WIN an iPad Mini3! Prize Draws in the EXPO Hall at 1:45 PM~
7:15 AM – 8:20 AM FALU Breakfast ~ By Invitation only Adelaide Room - Lobby Level Hosted by:
8:20 AM – 8:30 AM Re-Cap Show Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Keynote Address: POWER & INFLUENCE Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
WENDY MESLEY, CBC TV
“INFLUENCE IS POWER — THE KEY TO SUCCESS ANYWHERE” Acclaimed news anchor Wendy Mesley shares lessons learned from more than 30 years of covering some of the most influential people in the world. Humorous and insightful, she dishes on who has influence, how they got it, how some lost it, and how some won it back. Hear the inside scoop from someone who has interviewed everyone from world leaders to Lady Gaga, and was the first woman ever assigned to cover the Prime Minister for CBC’s National News.
If you are looking to understand how someone gets into the headlines, or maybe avoids it, here’s your chance to find out why influential people, and the media who cover them, make the decisions they do, decisions that influence all of us. Wendy Mesley has been lied to and spun, but she has also been inspired and motivated by some of the best. Join us for her topical, amusing and provocative presentation – a peek behind the big headlines of the day along with some helpful insights on what it takes for any one of us to become and remain influential. 5/
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM CIU BUSINESS SESSION Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM Refreshments ~ Networking with our SPONSORS Salon C & D
PASSPORT EXPO SHOWCASE
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM GENETICS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
Chief Medical Director Vice President, Chief Underwriter
Sun Life Financial Manulife Financial
Genetics is now the cornerstone of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment,
including drug discovery. The dramatic increase in access to genetic testing
and research, underscores the importance of "cutting edge", evidence-based
analysis and accurate articulation of our underwriting decisions. Join this
exciting session as they review the CLHIA Industry Code and how it applies to
your daily work. You'll walk away with helpful tips about analysis and keeping up to date in this rapidly changing, exciting
field.
11:00 AM – 12 Noon INFECTIOUS DISEASES UPDATE: Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
BEYOND EBOLA, WHAT IS NEXT?
PHILLIP SMALLEY, MD, FRCPC
Senior Vice President & Global Chief Medical Director
RGA International
Infectious diseases account for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality. These infections
can cause death, disability and critical illness claims. Dr. Smalley will discuss some of these
emerging and re-emerging infections and how to underwrite these risks. We will also discuss some
other threats such as antibiotic resistance and what we learned from the Ebola crisis.
12 Noon – 2:00 PM CIU Hosted Luncheon & Networking Salon C & D – Lower Level
With our SPONSORS
ENJOY THE PASSPORT EXPO SHOWCASE
CONNECT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES
ENGAGE WITH OUR INDUSTRY SPONSORS
~ Be sure to collect all your PASSPORT STAMPS ~
Drop off completed Passports
at the CIU Stage!
PRIZE DRAWS at 1:45 PM in the EXPO HALL ~ SALON C & D
6/
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM THE SCIENCE OF HEART HEALTH Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
CHI-MING CHOW, MD, CM, MSc, FRCPC, FACCC, FASE
Staff Cardiologist
St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto
During Dr. Chow’s lively session on this contemporary topic he will use real-life insurance cases to
provide medical insights for underwriters as he discusses the following areas:
* The management and diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction ….
and how it affects critical illness insurance claims
* The latest updates on cardiac risk assessment ….
and how it affects life insurance underwriting
Dr. Chow offers precise insights into the new science of managing heart health and explores some of the risk factors that impact our business. 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM FOREIGN DEATH CLAIMS: REALITY – NOT FICTION Ballroom A & B, Main Stage
LUCIE COSSETTE, FLHC, ACS PETER BARRETT, LLB, FCII, FAMS Director, Group & Individual Claims Vice President, Global Head of Claims RGA Canada RGA
Investigating foreign claims is always a challenge for insurers and investigators. The number of foreign claims will continue to rise in our ever-changing world where information is more and more available, but sometimes with less certainty that the information is reliable. Join us to discover the different challenges that claim adjudicators face every day with Critical Illness or death overseas.
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM Closing Remarks:
SELENA PUTTICK, FALU, FLMI, ACS
CIU CHAIR, 2015 – 2016
Please enjoy the “Grab ‘n Go Buffet” on your way out - Safe Travels!
~ Conference Adjournment ~
* * * * * * * * * * * *
7/
A Final Note - June 2, 2015
Dear CIU Members and Industry Colleagues:
To say I’m excited and honored to be your CIU Chairperson for the 2015 – 2016 year is an understatement. This past year
went by fast and I had the pleasure of working with, and learning from a great group of people, with a special thanks
going to Merv Gillson and Peter Speers for their guidance. We accomplished much this year and are looking for more
opportunities to build on that momentum.
The CIU committee members for 2014-2015 deserve a heart-felt thank you for all the work they did behind the scenes on
the various initiatives throughout the year, as well as the work they did to make this Annual General Meeting a
memorable event with diverse opportunities to learn.
I would also like to thank you, our members and colleagues, for attending this year’s AGM meeting in Toronto. You are
the reason we work so hard all year striving to provide you with the best educational and networking opportunities
possible.
You expect a lot from your association and we want to deliver. This meeting is for you and your feedback is invaluable.
Make sure you complete the on-line survey which will be sent to you shortly following the Annual General Meeting. We
want to hear from you, so please be sure to share your thoughts so we can continually improve.
And let’s not forget to thank our valued program sponsors and member companies for supporting the CIU – we couldn’t
do it without them.
2016 will be a special year for us as we celebrate the 30th Annual General Meeting of the
Canadian Institute of Underwriters. Our AGM will again be held in the city of Toronto
however CIU’s hotel headquarters is changing.
CIU will be hosting our AGM next year at the Marriott’s Bloor Yorkville location. So mark
your calendars for June 1st, 2nd and 3rd…. and plan to join us in 2016!
I look forward to hearing from you throughout the year.
Selena Puttick
Selena Puttick, FALU, FLMI, ACS CIU Chair, 2015 – 2016 Director Risk Management, Research and Development, Affinity and Retail Markets Manulife 8/
CIU 2015 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair Vice Chair Mervyn Gillson, FALU, FLMI, ALHC Selena Puttick, FALU, FLMI, ACS
Senior Underwriting Specialist Director, Risk Management, Research & Development LOGiQ3 Corp Manulife Financial [email protected][email protected]
Past Chair Convention Secretary Peter Speers, AALU, FLMI Susan Hutchison, FALU, FLMI, FLHC, ACS
Treasurer Past Convention Secretary Russell Shaw, BA Chantal Gray, BA
Director, Living Benefits Underwriting Bilingual Underwriting Consultant RBC Insurance Sun Life Financial [email protected][email protected]
Incoming Treasurer Secretary John Duff, FALU, FLMI Sylvia Gryniewski, BSc, FALU, FLMI
Director, Underwriting Senior Underwriting Consultant BMO Life Assurance RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada [email protected][email protected]
Executive Members Sherri Boyda, FALU, FLMI Joanne Lackenbauer, FALU, FLMI, ACS, ARA
AVP, Global Underwriting Quality Assurance AVP, Asian Underwriting & Claims Risk Management RGA International Sun Life Financial [email protected][email protected]
Tina Gisonni, ACS, ALMI Linda Wislesky, BA, FALU, FLMI, ACS Underwriting Consultant Underwriting Manager, Foresters Vice President, Life & Health Products [email protected] Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd [email protected]
Barbara Kulesza, FALU, FLMI, ACS, ALHC Senior Underwriter TD Insurance, Life & Health [email protected] 9/
Chair Denise Lasiuk, ACS, AIAA Audrey Peynado, AALU, ACS Senior Underwriting Consultant, LCU Senior Life & CI Underwriter The Canada Life Assurance Company Optimum Reassurance Inc. [email protected][email protected]
Sheldon Gomes, FALU, FLMI, ARA Vaughn Sauvé Underwriting Consultant Underwriting Manager, Retail Markets BMO Life Insurance Manulife Financial [email protected][email protected] Rima Hamdar, AALU, ACS, BA Kim Vale, BA, FLMI, ACS Senior Underwriting Consultant Director Underwriting Dev. & Support e-Underwriting, Audits & Training Sun Life Financial RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada [email protected][email protected] 10/
On behalf of all of the CIU Membership and the 2015 CIU Executive Team We extend sincere thanks to our Annual Official Sponsors, for together with their support,
CIU is able to present leading-edge meetings, providing Education and Professional Development to our members throughout the year.
Aurigen Reinsurance Company
Berkshire Hathaway Group – Life Reinsurance Division Dynacare Insurance Solutions
ExamOne – A Quest Diagnostics Company First Financial Underwriting
Great-West Life Assurance- London Life-Canada Life Assurance Hannover Re
Hooper Holmes Hunter McCorquodale Keyfacts Life & Health
Manulife Munich Re
Optimum Re OraSure Technologies
Paperless Solutions Group Optimum Reassurance Inc.
Quality Underwriting Services Ltd. RGA
SCOR Global Life Canada StoneRiver
Sun Life Financial Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd Watermark Insurance Services
…and the “Friends of the CIU”: Desjardins Insurance – MediFAST – MIB, Inc
New York Life Insurance – RBC Insurance – Transamerica Life Canada 10/
Please join us in congratulating our CANADIAN FALU RECIPIENTS of 2014-2015:
Martha Ham, BA, FALU, FLMI, ACS, RHU * Vice President, Underwriting Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd Melanie Arbour, FALU Intermediate Underwriter Sun Life Financial (Montréal) Kim Barta, FALU, FLMI Senior Medical Underwriter Pacific Blue Cross Wendy Ann Bortolotti, FALU, FLMI Life Underwriter Desjardins Insurance Gillian Brain, FALU, BA, RN Senior Global Underwriting Consultant, Vice President, Life & Health Products Swiss Re Services Limited Stephanie Anne Carter, RN, BScN, FALU, FLMI, ACS * Underwriting Consultant London Life Insurance Company Kay Louella Dalgado, BPharm, FALU * Senior Underwriter The Canada Life Assurance Company Kathy Desjarlais, HIA, DIA, DHP, FLMI, FALU, ACS Underwriting Consultant, Individual Underwriting The Canada Life Assurance Company Ilana Dubinskaja, FALU Underwriter, Affinity Markets Manulife Financial, Affinity Markets Suzanne Marie Isaac, FALU, FLMI, AS Large Case Critical Illness Underwriting Consultant Sun Life Financial (Waterloo) Anita Kerner, FALU, FLMI, PCS, ALHC, AIAA * Underwriting Consultant London Life Insurance Company Debbie Lago, FALU, FLMI * Underwriting Consultant London Life Insurance Company Johanna Lane, FALU, FLMI, HIAA, ICA, AIAA, ACS * Underwriting Consultant London Life Insurance Company * Denotes FALUs in Attendance….
Margaret Leacock, FALU, FLMI, HIA, ACS * Manager, Underwriting Practices TD Life Insurance Mathieu LeBlanc, FALU, FLMI, FLHC, PCS, ARA Conseiller en tarification / Underwriting Consultant RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada Naomi Lee, FALU * Senior Underwriter, Individual Life The Canada Life Assurance Company Amy MacNeil, FALU * Senior Underwriter, Retail Markets Manulife Financial (Halifax) Steven Wayne Miller, FALU, ACS, Hons BHSc Senior Underwriter Aurigen Reinsurance Company Marcel Constantino Padilla, MBA, FALU, FLMI, FLHC, ACS Tarificateur/Assurance individuelle Industrielle Alliance, Assurance et services financiers inc. Lachmi Ramsaroop, FALU, FLMI, FCIP Life Underwriter Desjardins Insurance Alessia Romanin, FALU e-Underwriting Specialist & Medical Researcher RGA International Corporation Melanie Ryan, FALU * Underwriting Technology Coordinator RGA International Corporation Gisèle Berthe Marie Sage, BComm, FALU, FLMI, RHU, ACS * Senior Underwriter Western Life Assurance Teri Lynn Sheppard, BA, FALU, FLMI * Life Underwriter, Retail Markets Manulife Financial (Halifax) Cindy Thomas, FALU, CHS, ACS * Underwriting Consultant, New Business & Underwriting Great-West Life Co Clifford Ian Toplis, FALU, CLU, CH.F.C., RHU * Regional Vice President - MIB INC Gladys Vasco, FALU, FLMI, ARA, ACS * Senior Underwriter, Individual Insurance Underwriting
The Canada Life Assurance Company 11/
CIU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015 Biographies of Our Speakers
WENDY MESLEY
Wendy Mesley began her broadcast journalism career in 1976 as a radio reporter in Toronto. Mesley moved to television in 1979, first with CTV's CFCF in Montreal, then moved to CBC-TV as a legislative reporter for local news and The National, based in Quebec City. During this six-year period she covered the first referendum on sovereignty and some of the most fascinating politicians of our times, such as Jean Drapeau, Robert Bourassa, Jacques Parizeau, Rene Levesque and Pierre Trudeau. In 1985, Mesley moved to Ottawa as a parliamentary correspondent for CBC-TV's The National. During this intensely political time, Mesley reported on such stories as the battles over free
trade, the GST and Meech Lake. In addition, she was a frequent contributor to CBC Television's Sunday Report panel, and soon after became Sunday Report's anchor. In 1994, Mesley helped create and hosted CBC Television's Gemini Award-winning Undercurrents, a program that examined the media/marketing world. Lasting six seasons, Undercurrents was relevant, intelligent, fast-paced and fearless--a weekly journalistic program that brought the traditional hard reporting of a current affairs show to media culture. More recently, she co-hosted Marketplace, CBC Television's award-winning prime-time investigative consumer show, and CBC Television's Test The Nation. Mesley has won three Gemini Awards for her work on Marketplace and Undercurrents. Undercurrents also won a Gemini for Best Information Program and garnered a Gold Medal for Best Magazine Format at the New York Festival's International Television Awards. Mesley was honoured in 2006 with the John Drainie Award, for her contribution to Canadian broadcasting. PETER BARRETT, LLB, FCII, FAMS
Peter Barrett is Vice President and Global Head of Claims for RGA.
Peter became Global Head of Claims for RGA in April 2014; prior to that he was Head of Claims for RGA’s International operations and mortality markets. He joined RGA as UK Claims Manager in 2002 and assumed responsibility for claims in RGA’s International markets in 2008. He was seconded to South Africa from September 2010 to March 2012, but is now based in London.
Peter has worked in the life reinsurance industry since 1984 and has been involved in claims management since 1990. Prior to joining RGA in 2002, he worked for a number of direct insurers and spent 18 months as a case officer for the UK’s Insurance Ombudsman.
Peter earned a bachelor of laws (LLB) degree from London University and he is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Fellow of the Assurance Medical Society.
He holds or has held numerous UK industry posts: Chairman Assurance Medical & Underwriting Society – Education committee, Joint Editor and Examiner for the Chartered Insurance Institute course Life and Disability claims. Peter was a member of the Association of British Insurer’s – Protection Committee between 2002 and 2010, and is a Past Chairman and Secretary of the UK’s Health Claims Forum. 12/
CHI-MING CHOW, MD, CM, MSc, FRCPC, FACCC, FASE
Dr. Chi-Ming Chow is an attending staff cardiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital. He is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto. He has an undergraduate degree in computer science from Brown University. At McGill he completed his Doctorate of Medicine and Masters of Science in Epidemiology.
His academic interests include medical informatics and he has authored many popular medical education software programs (e.g. CardioMath, ECG Made Simple, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCC) Clinical Guideline App series, iASE Guidelines App for the American Society of Echocardiography). These medical software programs are being used by healthcare professionals and students worldwide.
Dr. Chow is the Director of the Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound Laboratory at St. Michael's Hospital. He is also the Director of Innovation and E-Learning at OIME where he helped to coordinate the 2013/2014 OIME E-IT summer student program.
DEAN CONNOR, FSA, FCIA, HBA
Dean A. Connor was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Financial effective December 1, 2011, and is a member of the Company's Board of Directors.
Dean joined Sun Life in 2006 as Executive Vice-President with responsibility for the Company’s United Kingdom and Reinsurance operations, strategic international activities and corporate functions. In 2008, he was appointed President of Sun Life’s Canadian operations.
In 2010, he became Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Sun Life’s Canadian and United Kingdom operations, MFS, Marketing, Human Resources, Information Technology and other
shared business services.
Dean joined Sun Life following 28 years at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, where most recently he was Mercer’s President for the Americas, encompassing its business operations in the United States, Latin America and Canada.
Dean currently serves on the Ivey Advisory Board, and as Director of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association and a Trustee for the University Health Network in Toronto.
Dean is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He holds an Honours Business Administration (HBA) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.
LUCIE COSSETTE, FLHC, ACS
Lucie is the Director of Group and Individual Claims at RGA Canada and is based in the Montreal office. Lucie joined RGA Canada in November 2005. Her main responsibility is to manage a team of six people who provide support, review the claims and assist clients with different claim issues in regards to Life, Critical Illness and Disability. In addition, Lucie also conducts client claim audits, training, and reviews claim forms and requirements. She is also active in the insurance industry.
Lucie has more than 20 years of experience in life, critical illness and disability insurance as well as creditor insurance. Prior to joining RGA 9 years ago, she had been the Claims Director at National Bank Insurance for nine years. Lucie has acquired her FLHC and ACS designations, was the Chair of the
CLHIA Claims Conference in 2014 and is the Chair of the Working Group on Life Claims Matters. 13/
KAREN CUTLER, MBA, FALU, FLMI
Karen joined Manulife in May 2006 as Chief Underwriter for individual life and living benefits. As Vice President and Chief Underwriter for Retail and Affinity Markets, Karen is responsible for managing a team of highly skilled professional underwriters, mortality and morbidity management and direction of underwriting philosophy. Since joining Manulife, Karen has implemented a number of industry-leading underwriting developments including new travel guidelines and reduced evidence requirements and she continues to seek innovative ways to improve the underwriting outcomes for Manulife customers. She led the development of Manulife’s automated underwriting rules engine and updated underwriting processes, recently introducing dedicated underwriting teams to help develop closer relationships with Manulife’s advisors.
Karen is active in the insurance industry having spoken at a number of industry meetings in Canada and the US including CALU. She is the 2014 Chair of the Canadian Reinsurance Committee and a member of the CLHIA Committee on Underwriting Issues. In the past, she was the Chair of the Canadian Institute of Underwriters Education Committee, Chair of the Academy of Life Underwriting Forum and a member of the CIU Board. Before joining Manulife, Karen was Chief Underwriter at Swiss Re for Canada and the Caribbean and led a number of global projects including manual and underwriting systems development. Prior to her role as Chief Underwriter, she worked as a Senior Underwriting Technical Director for Swiss Re’s US operations. Karen obtained her MBA in 2007 and holds FALU and FLMI designations. She continues to pursue educational opportunities having completed the American Academy of Insurance Medicine Mortality Methodology course in 2012. FRANK GOETZ, BA, FALU, FLMI
Frank Goetz has 39 years life industry experience, 36 of those in underwriting including individual life, group life, disability, long-term care, and reinsurance. He has worked at Prudential, Transamerica, and has been with Pacific Life since 1996. He is currently Assistant Chief Underwriter and AVP, responsible for the underwriting of employer sponsored executive benefit plans, foreign resident business, policy changes and reinstatements, audits, compliance, and contestable claims. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting, and a Fellow of the Life Management Institute. He is author of “A Primer on Post Issue Policy Changes” as well as “Multi-Life Underwriting”, in the
curriculum of the Academy of Life Underwriting. He has served as President of the Pru-West Chapter of Toastmasters International, President of the Western Home Office Underwriter’s Association, President of the LOMA Society of Southern California, and is currently serving as President of the Academy of Life Underwriting.
GINA GUZMAN, MD, DBIM, FALU, FLMI
Dr. Gina Guzman is Second Vice President & Medical Director at Munich Re, where she has worked for almost 15 years out of the Chicago branch office.
She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Rush Medical College, then completed her residency training at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago. She is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Insurance Medicine.
She is a Past-President of the American Academy of Insurance Medicine (AAIM) and remains actively involved on the Executive Council. She is also Past-President of the Midwestern Medical Directors
Association (MMDA). She enjoys teaching and has presented many times over the years for both medical directors and underwriting groups.
Dr. Guzman has been a featured speaker for AAIM, MMDA, AHOU, the SOA, and several regional underwriting groups. This is her first time presenting for the CIU. 14/
CHERYL JOHNS, FLMI, CLU, AALU, ACS
Cheryl Johns is currently the Vice President of New Business Operations and Chief Underwriter for AAA Life Insurance Company. With AAA since August of 2005, Cheryl started her career as an underwriter with Allstate more than 30 years ago. She held a variety of positions with the Zurich/Kemper Companies from 1988-2000. In 2000 she relocated her family from Chicago to Central Michigan for a position with Jackson National Life as Vice President Life Services.
Educated at Eastern Illinois University and at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business.
Cheryl has completed several insurance industry certifications including FLMI, ACS, CLU®, and FALU designations. She also holds her life/health insurance, series 6 and 26 licensing. She is active in several industry groups and currently holds the position of President in the Association of Home Office Underwriters.
Cheryl lives in Howell, Michigan with her husband Scott and their Chocolate Lab, Punkin.
MARK KOENIG, FALU, FLMI
Mark obtained his graduate degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kansas and has completed his FLMI and FALU.
He currently owns his own risk management consulting company in King City, Ontario.
Mark has been involved in the underwriting industry for more than 22 years, including 14 years in reinsurance underwriting. He has spent the last few years underwriting structured annuities in the U.S. market and assisting companies with their internal audit reviews.
ZAYNAH MARANI, BA, LLB, LLM
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Zaynah obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish with International Comparative Studies. She then moved to the United Kingdom, where she obtained her LL.B from the University of Leicester and her LL.M in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Barrister and Solicitor, Principal and Co-founder of Marani Law, Toronto, Zaynah provides practical immigration solutions to corporations and individuals around the world. Marani Law offers a range of legal services, representing corporations and individuals from around the globe. The firm’s areas of specialization include: Canadian Immigration Law, Global Migration, Real Estate Law, Commercial Law, Business set up advice, and niche services to businesses trading with and/or operating in both the UK and Canada. Prior to founding the firm, Zaynah worked as a Lawyer in the areas of Global Migration and Canadian Immigration in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to managing Marani Law, Zaynah is also a part time professor of Immigration and Refugee Law. Zaynah is fluent in English and Spanish and proficient in French. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Immigration Section of the Ontario Bar Association, and is both a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada. 15/
CHRIS MURUMETS, FLMI, AIRC, ARA
As Co-Founder, Chris will continue to work across the LOGiQ3 group of companies to ensure strategic fit and growth opportunities are leveraged.
Prior to LOGiQ3, Chris was the Senior Vice President, Business Development of RI3K Inc, leading the Toronto office and helping to establish an electronic infrastructure in the North American life reinsurance community.
Chris also worked with Sun Life Reinsurance for ten years, departing as the Assistant Vice President, Reinsurance Operations. His core responsibilities included Assumed and Retro ceded Administration, Audit, Treaty, Claims, and the operational and financial reporting around these functions. Chris has been in various sectors of the reinsurance service chain for 20 years, including direct ceded administration, corporate actuarial, asset/liability
management and operations.
Other experiences include systems development and implementation, internal and external audit programs (Canada, Caribbean, US and UK), and process workflow management.
Chris is a business graduate from the University of Toronto and has earned the following industry designations; Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI); Associate, Insurance Regulation & Compliance (AIRC); Associate, Reinsurance Administration (ARA).
Chris has been active in a variety of industry related organizations. Over his tenure he has held the following positions; President of the LOMA Society of Toronto, Executive Director and Privacy Officer to CAILBA (Canadian Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies) and Vice President, Woodsworth College Alumni Association at the University of Toronto. Additionally, Chris is a Past Chair and founding member of the Reinsurance Administration Professionals Association (RAPA), a worldwide committee made up of direct writers, reinsurers, and retrocessionaires. LORAINE OMAN-GANES, MD, FRCPC, CCMG, FACMG
Dr. Loraine Oman-Ganes is the Chief Medical Director of Sun Life Financial. She is a board-certified pediatrician and clinical geneticist who has practiced clinical genetics in Canada and the US. She has broad experience in insurance medicine including medical analysis of underwriting and claims cases for Life, Disability, Critical Illness and Long-Term Care Products. Loraine came to Sun Life in 2013 from RBC Insurance where she was Chief Medical Director. Since joining Sun Life Financial, she has been a key member of the Corporate Underwriting and Claims Risk Management team as well as an active participant in the Longevity Leadership Group.
Loraine is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ committee on Genetic Testing and has given numerous presentations at insurance industry, genetics and medical meetings. Dr. Oman-Ganes is a past President of the Canadian Life Insurance Medical Officers Association, and a member of the CLIMOA Executive. Loraine continues to work through organizations in the US and Canada dedicated in her passionate commitment to mentorship, education and the belief that genetics can be used as a tool to enhance literacy and health. 16/
Dr. William Rooney is Vice President and Medical Director for SCOR Global Life Reinsurance. His office is located in Leawood, Kansas, USA. Dr. Rooney graduated from UMKC School of Medicine and the Baptist Medical Center Residency program in Kansas City. He is board certified and a fellow in Family Medicine. He more recently obtained his Executive MBA from Benedictine College.
In private practice medicine for 20 years, Dr. Rooney has been in the insurance field as a medical director for ten years, the first seven of those years being on the healthcare side prior to joining what is now SCOR Global Life.
He is a member of the American Academy of Insurance Medicine and currently serves as vice president of the Midwestern Medical Directors Association.
JOSĒE ROY, ALMI
Josée Roy began her underwriting career approximately 10 years ago as a life underwriter for Sun Life
Financial. Since then she has worked for AXA insurance and Blue Cross.
Josée is currently the Director, Living Benefits Underwriting of Blue Cross. She is also the current
president of the AQT-V for the year 2015.
SAMIR SINHA, MD, DPhil, FRCPC
Dr. Samir Sinha currently serves as the Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto and also holds the Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital.
In 2012, Dr. Sinha’s passionate advocacy for needs of older adults led to his appointment as the expert lead of Ontario's Seniors Strategy to advise the Government of Ontario on how to support older adults to stay healthy and live at home longer.
Dr. Sinha's breadth of international training and expertise in health policy, and the delivery of services related to the care of the elderly, have made him a highly regarded expert in the care of older adults.
He has consulted and advised hospitals and health authorities in Britain, Canada, the United States and China on the implementation and administration of unique, integrated and innovative models of geriatric care that reduce disease burden, improve access and capacity and ultimately promote health.
A Rhodes Scholar, after completing his undergraduate medical studies at the University of Western Ontario, he obtained a Masters in Medical History and a Doctorate in Sociology at the University of Oxford’s Institute of Ageing.
After returning to pursue postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto, Dr. Sinha went to the United States where he served as the inaugural Erickson/Reynolds Fellow in Clinical Geriatrics, Education and Leadership at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sinha is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sinha further serves local communities as Chair of the Health Professionals Advisory Committee of the Toronto Central LHIN and is also a Medical Adviser to the Toronto Central Community Access Centre (CCAC). 18/
PHILIP SMALLEY, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Philip Smalley is Senior Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer of RGA International Corporation. He is responsible for medical research and for assisting in product development.
Dr. Smalley is an internal medicine specialist with more than 24 years of experience in insurance medicine. His medical degree is from the University of Toronto and he is a Past President of the Canadian Life Insurance Medical Officers Association.
Dr. Smalley is also Managing Director of the Longer Life Foundation, which funds mortality research at Washington University in St. Louis, in Missouri, U.S.A.
MONICA WILSON, MD, ALMI Dr. Monica Wilson is Vice President and Medical Director for Swiss Reinsurance Company, Life and Health Canada and current President of the Canada Life Insurance Medical Officers’ Association (CLIMOA). Dr. Wilson received her Doctor of Medicine in Puebla, Mexico, subsequently specializing in Critical Care Medicine in Hospital Español de Mexico, located in Mexico City. Upon completing her residency, she continued to work as an Attending Physician in the Intensive Care Unit in the same hospital for approximately 12 years. Dr. Wilson joined Swiss Brokers of Mexico in 2002 as a part-time medical consultant. In 2004, Dr. Wilson retired from clinical medicine, to join Swiss Re in the Zurich hub where she worked as a Medical Officer in providing underwriting consultation and education for Swiss Reinsurance Underwriters and clients spanning across Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In July 2006, Dr. Wilson returned to her home country (Canada) to join Swiss Reinsurance, Life and Health Canada where she provides underwriting consultation, support and education for Swiss Re Underwriters as well as Canadian, America and Caribbean clients. PHILIPPE AUSSEL
Philippe joined SCOR Global Life (Canada) in 2003 as Senior Underwriting Consultant. He has more than 35 years of Canadian and international reinsurance underwriting experience, having begun his reinsurance career with Munich Re in 1977, in Munich and subsequently working in Paris and Montréal. He holds an insurance degree from the German Insurance Academy (Deutsche Versicherungsakademie) and in 1996 wrote his final study paper on “Financial Statement Analysis for the Non-Professional Reader.” Philippe has previously served on the Executive Committee of the Canadian Institute of Underwriters (2011 – 2013) and the Montreal Educational Committee of the Association
Québécoise des Tarificateurs-Vie (1999 – 2007). He has presented on medical and non-medical underwriting topics for the Canadian Reinsurance Conference, the Academy of Life Underwriting, the AQTV, the CIU, the Underwriting Associations of Toronto and Winnipeg, and for nearly a decade lectured at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) to first-year Actuarial students on the principles of life insurance underwriting. He has published underwriting-related articles in On The Risk (The Journal of the Academy of Life Underwriting) and L’Assurance Française.
The Executive Team of CIU’s 2015 AGM extends sincere thanks to Philippe Aussel, Senior Underwriting Consultant, SCOR Global Life Canada, for his significant contribution to our program in the role of Back-up Speaker.
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KIRK LACKENBAUER
Kirk Lackenbauer is a Business Development Manager for Revere Plastic Systems by day and a
professional singer by night. He studied voice at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Kirk appears regularly as a soloist with choirs in Ontario such as the Grand River Chorus, Spiritus
Ensemble, Menno Singers and Achill Choral Society, and is a member of the professional ensembles
the Larkin Singers and the Note Bene Baroque Singers. He has appeared on opera stages in France
and in numerous roles in musicals. Kirk resides with his wife Joanne in Waterloo and is a doting
grandfather to his two grandsons.
GAREN MARKARIAN
Garen Markarian is a Toronto-based musician, singer and songwriter. Since 2005,
he has released five studio albums of original music, and has performed across
Canada. Classically trained on the violin starting at age 5, by high school he
quickly moved to the guitar and other stringed instruments. Garen has
combined elements of folk, rock, Latin, jazz, and ‘world’ styles of music to create
his own unique sound.
When Garen is not creating music, he is a medical underwriter at TD Insurance.
Website: www.musicbygaren.com - Also available on iTunes.
OUR SINCERE THANKS!
CIU’s Executive Committee, on behalf of our membership, sponsors and industry colleagues, extends its
sincere appreciation to our friend, supporter and AV guru, Brian Baxter, who provides this association with
tireless technical expertise and good humour!
Thanks as well, to Dynacare Insurance Solutions for their generosity in sponsorship of Brian’s CIU activity.
Marian Kingsmill has illustrated a great deal of loyalty towards the CIU for many years, and we very much
appreciate her efforts. The assistance she has provided to our association goes well beyond a job and we
present the following recommended principles as guidance for those who are striving to carry out the responsibilities of
a professional underwriter.
Guiding Principles for the Underwriter
It is the responsibility of underwriters to:
Act promptly, while exercising sound, objective and consistent judgment in making underwriting decisions.
Follow established risk classification principles that differentiate fairly on the basis of sound actuarial principles and/or reasonable anticipated mortality or
morbidity experience.
Treat all underwriting information with complete confidentiality, and use it for the sole purpose of evaluating and classifying the risk.
Comply with insurance legislation and regulations, particularly as they apply to
risk classification, privacy and disclosure.
Act independently and fairly.
Provide support to distribution partners, to assist them in carrying out their fiduciary responsibilities to the insurance company and their clients.
Endeavour to attain professional underwriting and insurance designations and
maintain a level of professional competency through continued education.
Promote the further education of underwriters.
Maintain the dignity and sound reputation of the Underwriting Profession.
