Brian is an actuary with over 35 years of insurance and workers’ compensation experience. Having worked in various insurance companies in Canada and the UK in actuarial, IT and administrative positions, Brian joined SBCI in 1995 and, as CEO, has led the development and expansion of SBCI’s services, including Workers’ Compensation, Attendance Support and Health & Safety. Brian is a member in good standing of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Erin Arsenault is a Certified Human Resources Leader and Licensed Paralegal. With a strong focus on the human aspect as well as the financial health of the organization, Erin has been an integral part of SBCI for nine years. Erin provides solutions to increase efficiencies and support business growth. Erin is the treasurer to the SBCI Board of Directors.
With more than 32 years of experience, Kelly provides bilingual guidance, advice, and appeals representation to many of Ontario’s school boards. He is a graduate of Carleton University, a licensed Paralegal, and experienced Claims Adjudicator with prior expertise in adjudicating and managing disability claims for private insurance carriers.
Melissa is a bilingual business leader who helps unlock the value in data and analytics to drive digital transformation that benefits SBCI and our school board clients. With more than 15 years of experience in data and analytics, Melissa is responsible for leading SBCI’s Enterprise Data and IT Strategies to leverage valuable insight from data and to enable data-driven decision-making. Melissa works very closely with SBCI Attendance Support, Health & Safety, Workers’ Compensation, Finance, Data Management, and IT Departments to support SBCI’s mission.
Kathleen has 20+ years of experience in employee workplace support, including Disability/Attendance Management, Wellness and Mental Health. Kathleen is both a Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Mental Health First Aider (MHCC). She has extensive experience in the design and development of workplace programs that provide effective employee supports while ensuring employers are aligned with applicable legislation, case law and best practices. She is both strategic and collaborative in her approach to working with clients and leading the Attendance Support team.
Anna brings more than 26 years of experience in disability management with 20 years of direct school board experience. As a Certified Return to Work Coordinator, a MHCC trained Mental Health First Aid trainer and a CHMA Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor she is passionate about helping school boards develop and successfully implement all aspects of an Attendance Support Program.
Ayna is a Bilingual Case Manager with over 12 years of experience in medical insurance and disability management. Having worked with several insurers, she brings insight and expert advice on disability management to assist French speaking school boards.
Cathy has over 25 years of experience in Disability/Attendance Management and Employee Wellness in both the private and public sectors. Having worked at a school board for 10 years and being responsible for developing programs to support employee well-being, she has insight into the operations of Ontario school boards and how to successfully incorporate healthy workplace strategies into all aspects of the organization.
Shoba has over 20 years of experience in Claims Adjudication, Disability/Attendance Management, and Workplace Psychological Health and Safety. Along with her Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree and Certificate in Rehabilitation Case Management (RCMC), Shoba is both a Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Mental Health First Aider (MHCC). Staying current with industry trends and best practices related to Disability Management, Human Rights and Mental Health allows Shoba to provide sound advice and guidance to our AS membership.
As an Attendance Support Consultant, Stephanie provides consulting services to Ontario’s school boards in Disability and Attendance Management, and Mental Health and Wellness. Stephanie has over 17 years of experience in the field of Disability Management, obtained an Honours Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences, is a Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP), and a CMHA Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.
Tina is a Bilingual Attendance Support Consultant. Having more than 25 years of experience in Disability Management, Insurance Litigation, WSIB and Reinsurance Tina brings to the table a well-rounded outlook and approach to disability and attendance management to serve her French speaking school boards.
Brigitte joined SBCI in January 2024 bringing a wealth of experience and a diverse background. From running a Dance School to selling Boats, she has cultivated a range of skills. However, her greatest expertise lies in Disability, Case Management, and Adjudication. She has worked in these areas within the insurance industry and for third party providers. Brigitte has also served as the acting Ombudsman for the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance in her role as Executive Director, further highlighting her commitment to ensuring fair and ethical practices.
Melissa is a bilingual business leader who helps unlock the value in data and analytics to drive digital transformation that benefits SBCI and our school board clients. With more than 15 years of experience in data and analytics, Melissa is responsible for leading SBCI’s Enterprise Data and IT Strategies to leverage valuable insight from data and to enable data-driven decision-making. Melissa works very closely with SBCI Attendance Support, Health & Safety, Workers’ Compensation, Finance, Data Management, and IT Departments to support SBCI’s mission.
For 2 years, Nick Farndon has been working as the Data Strategy Assistant at SBCI. Nick plays a key role in supporting SBCI’s Enterprise Data Strategy and is responsible for our internal data literacy program to help empower staff to leverage the use of data and analytics for decision making purpose and to enhance client services. Nick has previously worked in both the public and private sectors to assist organizations with meeting the needs of their clients by keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of business. Nick works closely with all SBCI internal departments to ensure their data is collected, cleaned, and reported to the highest standard. Nick also provides support and guidance to school boards on data submission for the absence study reporting.
Gary joined SBCI in 2019, after a 35-year H&S career that included General Motors of Canada and the Durham District School Board. A seasoned safety professional, Gary supports school boards with targeted safety solutions as well as volunteering for safety organizations such as BCRSP, CSSE and CSA.
With 37 years of experience in the health & safety field and over 30 directly in the Education sector, Chris provides advice and support to School Board Health & Safety Professional across the province. His expertise has been sought across the province including provincial committees working on H&S along with Ministry of Labour, Training Skills Development, Ministry of Education, Trustee Associations and education related unions and federations.
Guy is a bilingual Canadian Registered Safety Professional, with a strong technical background. He possesses broad experience in various sectors ranging from retail, real estate, industrial, automotive, oil & gas, and education. This provides him with a unique perspective on Occupational Health and Safety Systems.
Will Thompson has been working with SBCI since May of 2020, and provide resources and support to school boards, with a focus on the Northern Ontario school boards. Will is an Alumni of Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as Fleming College.
With more than 32 years of experience, Kelly provides bilingual guidance, advice, and appeals representation to many of Ontario’s school boards. He is a graduate of Carleton University, a licensed Paralegal, and experienced Claims Adjudicator with prior expertise in adjudicating and managing disability claims for private insurance carriers.
With several years of experience in front line reporting and consulting for employers with a national presence, Cathy has worked in claims management and as a legal representative for her clients at all of the Workers' Compensation Boards in Canada - from the West to East coast. Cathy provides advice and guidance in disability management, claim cost mitigation, and data driven expertise to her clients. She has extensive experience running training programs, workshops, and presentations both to clients and to larger organizational bodies, as well as experience in performing policy and program evaluations as well as recommendation implementation. Currently, Cathy works actively to provide consultation and appeal representation at the WSIB and WSIAT to many of Ontario’s school boards. She is a McGill University Graduate and a licensed Paralegal.
With over 30 years of experience in the areas of workers' compensation, safety, and disability management, in both public and private sectors, medium to large and multi-site unionized environments, Figen brings to her clients a strategic management approach, including data analytics, program design and evaluation, training delivery, mediation, settlement and appellate representation as well as claims management. Formerly a senior adjudicator with the Ontario workers compensation board, Figen has an honors’ graduate degree from the University of Toronto in Labour Relations, and diploma in Health & Safety from Ryerson University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University, and professional designation as a Certified Health & Safety Professional, Disability Management Professional and licensed Paralegal.
Gavin holds a degree from Toronto Metropolitan University and is a licensed Paralegal in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. With 6 years of experience working as a Workers' Compensation professional, Gavin brings a passion for client service and has worked with organizations of all sizes across Canada helping them resolve some of their toughest cases. Gavin’s experience includes representing clients at WSIB and WSIAT appeals; process improvement; training and education; building and implementation of claims management software in nationwide organizations; and providing clients with analysis of Workers' Compensation data to help them with internal program improvements and obtain deeper insights into their workers’ compensation programs.
For over a decade, Jennifer has had the benefit of studying and analyzing law in different capacities. She is a lawyer with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in Common Law and a Licentiate of Laws (LL.L.) in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa. As well, Jennifer earned several certificates in workplace law, most notably from Osgoode Hall Law School, the University of Windsor and Ryerson University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. She provides bilingual legal representation in workers’ compensation appeals, mediations, and settlements. Jennifer advises clients on legal matters that arise out of workers' compensation claims and pertain to labour law and employment law. She also offers advice and guidance on policy implementation and disability management programs.
Kim Palsa is a Licensed Paralegal with the LSO since 2013, with knowledge in many areas of WSIB law. She has many years of experience providing employer side services such as claims management, return to work planning and meetings as well as appeal representation. She also has experience providing these types of services for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and British Columbia Boards. Kim has experience working with both schedule 1 and schedule 2 employers in various industries from mobile providers to construction companies to school boards. Working with the team at SBCI, Kim assists with the members’ needs, ensuring legal compliance and appeal progress at both the WSIB and Tribunal levels.
With over 10 years in workers’ compensation, Melissa brings a strong background and commitment to workers compensation case management. She holds a strong passion for representing clients’ interest at the appeals level, both at the WSIB and WSIAT. She currently holds a number of noteworthy decisions at the Tribunal level. As a prior Public servant representing injured workers, her experience brings a different angle by understanding both an Employers and workers needs. Melissa is a certified mediator that strives for excellence with a “better at work” practice and has been very successful with return to work meetings, establishing and supporting healthy relationships between Employers and Workers while navigating a workers compensation claim. She strives for excellence in all she does. As a previous Health and Safety Representative and business owner, she understands the importance of safe practices and approaching and handling all claims that will be as cost effective and as fair as possible.
With over a decade of experience in the legal field, Renata provides bilingual appeals representation at the WSIB and WSIAT as well as mediation services and settlement conferences to many Ontario school boards. With a wealth of experience in administrative law and years of working within the court system, she also provides advice and guidance on all WSIB matters, disability management as well as policy and program creation, development and implementation. Renata is a licensed paralegal with an extensive knowledge of both common law and civil law. Renata’s other endeavors include leading the Annual Report Project as well as implementing new initiatives to continuously adapt to the needs of our clients.
Rinki is a solutions based, strategic workers’ compensation professional, with over 10 years of experience leading occupational and non occupational disability programs for employers with unionized environments in various industries. As a subject matter expert, Rinki offers Ontario’s school boards guidance on the design and development, implementation, training and management of occupational disability programs with a focus on functional return-to-work, improving productivity and managing costs. As a licensed Paralegal, Rinki provides legal advice and representation on all workers’ compensation matters including settlement negotiation, mediation and appeals. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Humber College.
Susan has more than 30 years of experience in the Workers’ Compensation field. Susan provides bilingual guidance, advice, and appeals representation for many Ontario school boards. She is a graduate of Queen's University, the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto and the University of Alberta. She is an Ontario lawyer, a Certified Disability Management Professional and she holds a Certificate in Health & Safety from Ryerson University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. Susan has experience working in three Schedule 2 sectors, with work ranging from hands on claims management to appeals to program and policy development and implementation.