Deborah Connors – Chair

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.

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

CEO
Homewood Human Solutions

Prior to joining Human Solutions, 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

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.

Jonathan Winston

Regional Vice President
ComPsych Corporation

Jonathan brings 16 years of experience consulting with multinational organizations on behavioural health and wellness strategies, including Employee Assistance Programs, preventative health programming, critical incident support and training. He has addressed numerous organizations over the years, including the Toronto Board of Trade, Industrial Accident Prevention Association and Employee Assistance Society of North America on the issues of mental and physical health prevention. He has also worked with community mental health programs and several hospital crisis teams within their emergency and psychiatric inpatient departments. His undergraduate and graduate training is in Psychology and Crisis Management.

Lori Casselman

Lori Casselman is Assistant Vice President, Health & Productivity Solutions at Sun Life Financial. She holds accountability for Sun Life’s HealthyRETURNS product suite, a comprehensive offering for group benefits clients looking to build a healthy workplace. Lori has thirteen years of consulting experience in the health & wellness field. Lori and her team work with many of Canada’s progressive employers – large & small – to develop strategic, sustainable approaches to organizational health management. Prior to joining Sun Life, she was Vice President of Buffett & Company Worksite Wellness Inc., with overall responsibility for business development and operations and for leading the organization’s growth and innovation. Lori is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events and has authored numerous articles on the topics of organizational health and employee engagement. Lori is also a Certified Excellence Professional with the National Quality Institute (NQI), and was a key member of the leadership team which enabled Buffett & Company to be awarded the National Quality Institute’s Gold Healthy Workplace Award in 2005 and the Order of Excellence in 2008. Lori has also been a member of the National Wellness Survey review committee since 2000, and is on the Board of Directors for Get Active Toronto and Buffett & Company Worksite Wellness, as well as the Health, Work & Wellness Conference Program Committee. Lori holds a BA in Kinesiology, a BSc in Nutrition, and an MSc in Exercise Physiology; from the University of Western Ontario. She is a Certified Fitness Consultant, a qualifying member of the Ontario College of Dietitians and an accomplished marathoner.