Program Committee

The Program Committee is made up of volunteers from across the country involved in research and practice in organizational health. They review submissions for presentations to create the dynamic program for the Health Work & Wellness™ Conference.

• 

  Muneerah Kassam – Chair

  Health Work & Wellness™ Conference Team
  Partner, Kassam Management Group Inc.

  Muneerah has been involved with the Health Work & Wellness™ Conference since its inception in 1997. She oversees programming, sponsorship and exhibits and is an integral member of the Conference Team. Muneerah holds a Masters in Health Administration from the University of B.C. Muneerah has been working with the health and healthcare sectors for over 15 years, where she has been providing healthy business solutions in the areas of health human resources, work force strategies, and organizational health. She thoroughly enjoys being a mom of two children and discovering the joys of life through their eyes.

• 

  Deborah Connors

  Health Work & Wellness™ Conference Team
  President, Well-Advised Consulting Inc.

  Deb founded the Health Work & Wellness™ Conference in 1997 and has watched it grow over the past 14years into Canada’s premier business conference on organizational health. Her commitment to helping organizations plan and implement healthier working environments has earned Deb a reputation as a visionary leader, which was recognized by her peers when she received the Canadian Workplace Wellness Pioneer Award in 2004. Deb’s company, Well-Advised Consulting Inc., which she established in 1991, provides strategic guidance to organizations looking to improve organizational health and the well-being of their employees. Deb and her family enjoy a high quality of life on Vancouver Island.

• 

  Sophie Dube

  Senior Consultant, Health & Wellness – Service to Employers
  The Standard Life Assurance Company

  Sophie has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Relations, with a specialization in Work Stress Management. Sophie is currently a Senior Consultant, Health & Wellness at Standard Life. Throughout her career, she has worked on projects affecting work-life balance, burnout, implementation of health and wellness programs in the workplace and return to work after a psychological condition.

• 

  Andrew Hume

  Principal
  Andrew Hume & Associates Ltd.

  Andrew has over 30 years experience in social marketing and communications. Prior to starting his own consulting practice in 1999, he served in a number of executive positions in various public sector agencies and provincial governments. Andrew has been working in the health and health care sectors for over 20 years, developing innovative solutions to help people manage their own health needs and in helping organizations move toward creating environments where ‘work is a healthy life experience’.

• 

  Bill Luedey

  Vice-President
  Luedey Consultants Inc.

  Bill is co-owner and founder of Luedey Consultants Inc. (LCI), an Employee Benefits Consultant firm located in Halifax. For eight years LCI has been independently advising clients on their Employee Benefits and the value of Wellness in a comprehensive Employee Benefits plan. Bill has been a proud supporter of the HWW Conference and Bill is pleased to participate on the presentation selection committee.

• 

  Wes Jones

  Director, Group Product Development
  Great-West Life

  Wes is the Director, Group Product Development at Great-West Life. In this role, he has the responsibility for the research and design of new group life, disability and wellness products/services. He has been involved with the Health Work and Wellness Conference™ since 2002 through the Great-West Life sponsorship and as a member of the Program Committee.

• 

  Craig Thompson

  Senior Vice President, Strategic Growth

  Craig Thompson is the Vice President, Customer Relations & Strategic Alliances for Human Solutions, Inc. Formerly, Craig was a Consulting Associate for ICare, a Richmond, B.C. Venture Capital firm specializing in business, operational and sales strategy for financial services and health-related companies. Craig is a Founding Member, Canadian Business Group on Health, and on the Board of Directors, Renascent Center (alcohol and drug rehabilitation), Toronto. Craig earned a Masters in Counseling Psychology, University of Ottawa, and a M.B.A., Ivey Business School.

• 

  MaryAnn Baynton, MSW, RSW

  Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Consulting
  402 5^th Concession Road East, Waterdown, Ontario L0R 2H1
  mabaynton@skylinc.net   905-334-7724

  Mary Ann provides consulting services including training, interventions, presentations, and project management to organizations that wish to improve or address issues related to workplace mental health.

  She helped create a multiple-award winning national training program for management and unions as the director of Mental Health Works. As the Program Director for the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, which is a long-term public service commitment by Great-West Life, and a member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Workforce Advisory Committee, Mary Ann is helping to make valuable workplace mental health resources publicly available to all Canadians.