Meet our Board

Member: February 3, 2022 – February 2, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Audit and Finance, Governance (Chair), Investment (Vice-Chair), Service Excellence

Grant B. Walsh is a Chairman, CEO and corporate director. He currently serves as Chair of Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB), and Director of Square Canada, Square Technologies, among others.

WSIB is a Province of Ontario Crown Corporation. It has $40 billion (2023 estimate) in investment assets; $5.6 billion in revenue, 330,000 employer members, 5.6 million insured employees, and employs just over 4,000 people.

Walsh was formerly the Chairman of Canada Lands Company Limited, a Government of Canada Crown Corporation, with real estate properties across Canada and tourism properties including the CN Tower; Downsview Park; the Old Port of Montreal; and the Montreal Science Centre.

Walsh was President and CEO of St. Peter’s Health System and Vice President of Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON. Previously, as Executive Vice President of The ServiceMaster Company, Chicago, IL, Mr. Walsh was accountable for $550 million in revenue (US in 1998), 30,000 employees, and 10,000 facilities in 44 states and across Canada.

Mr. Walsh has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts from Roberts Wesleyan University in English and Philosophy. He holds a designation as a Chartered Director from McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada.

Member: February 3, 2022 – February 2, 2025

Jeffery is President and CEO of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, having previously served for three years on its Board of Directors.

An entrepreneur who is dedicated to his community, Jeffery most recently ran two Ontario-based manufacturing businesses with customers around the world. He is also the Co-founder and Chair of the Canadian Economic Development Assistance for South Sudan.

He has held many leadership roles in community organizations including Vice President of Ronald McDonald House Charities; President of Boys & Girls Club of London; Board Chair, Alzheimer Foundation of London; Board Member of Pathways Skills Development; and Board Member of the London Food Bank. Jeffery also served for two years on the London Police Services Board.

Since taking over the leadership of the WSIB the organization has achieved some of its best results – helping people return to work, making more WSIB services available online, delivering the first-ever surplus rebate for safe businesses, and holding the average premium rate at the lowest it’s been in over 20 years.

Member: February 3, 2022 – February 2, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Audit and Finance

Mr. George’s entire working career has been spent in sales and marketing, mergers and acquisitions and venture capital. As a serial entrepreneur, he has assisted and participated in highly competitive industries ranging from health care, real estate development and asset management.

He is also the co-founder and past director of LB Energy Incorporated, one of the largest developers of solar renewable energy (11MW) in the Province of Ontario. He was also the founder and past chairman of the board for an asset management company that specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

He recently completed the Rotman School of Management - Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) course. Mr. George volunteers his time for causes benefiting children, the arts and health sciences. He is a graduate of the University of Windsor (1994).

Member: November 24, 2022 – November 23, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Service Excellence

James E. Hogarth serves as President of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), a position that he has held for the past 10 years. In that role, he leads an organization representing over a 150,000 workers across every construction trade. As a committed labour leader, Mr. Hogarth is passionate about improving the health and safety of all workers in the province of Ontario. 

After successfully completing his apprenticeship with UA local 46 in Toronto, James became a Certified Steamfitter in 1984. Over the last of 25 years, he has served as Business Manager of UA local 46 as well as Business Manager of the Ontario Pipe Trades Council (OPTC). He also served as an Employee Bargaining Agent representing the Piping Trades. Mr. Hogarth currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and was recently appointed to the position of National Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats Canada. By serving on the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Mr. Hogarth is honoured to apply his skills and knowledge towards the advancement of workers, particularly that of injured workers.

Member: October 24, 2024 to October 24, 2027

Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy completed an Honours degree at the University of Waterloo. He graduated from medical school at The University of Western Ontario in 2003 and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery from Western in 2008, followed by a fellowship in Orthopedic Trauma. He completed a fellowship in arthroscopy with Dr. Peter Fowler and finished his PhD (Medical Biophysics) in 2014.

Dr. Lawendy is currently the JC Kennedy Professor and Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Lawendy established the Master of Science in Surgery Program and has been the Graduate Program Committee Chair for the Department of Surgery, since 2014. He served as the Assistant Dean, at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry from 2018 to 2021 supporting international educational initiatives. He served as a regional Director with Royal College International from 2015 to 2021. He founded the Nazem Kadri Ambulatory Surgical Centre at London Health Sciences Centre, a high efficiency outpatient surgical centre and is currently the Medical Director and Chief for the Centre. He has won several Department and University awards for teaching excellence and was awarded the Alumni of Distinction Award from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2020 for his achievements in the fields of medical research and educational leadership.

Dr. Lawendy has worked all over the world as a humanitarian surgeon in conflict and combat zones with NGO’s including Medicine Sans Frontier. Dr. Lawendy is a passionate researcher and educator. Dr. Lawendy’s clinical practice is focused on Adult Orthopedic Trauma, with particular interest in complex lower extremity reconstruction. Dr. Lawendy is recognized as an international expert in the basic science of Compartment Syndrome. He has lectured in Europe, Japan, China the Middle East and across North America.

Member: August 8, 2024 - August 8, 2027

Jeff Macoun is a passionate business and community leader. He lives and leads with a focused drive on strengthening connections and communities – supporting his hometown of London, Ontario and building business relationships across Canada and the globe.

Jeff has received several distinguished recognitions for his philanthropic commitments, including a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and a Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. He was also inducted into the London and District Business Hall of Fame in 2019.

While he was President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, for Canada Life, Jeff led over 11,000 employees across the country. Jeff ensured Canada Life’s focus remained on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians – helping them get the advice and support they need throughout their lives with a wide range of insurance and wealth management solutions for individuals, families and business owners.

Prior to that role, he served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Canada and Executive Vice-President, Group Customer. Jeff has also held a wide variety of leadership roles with increasing responsibility within Individual Distribution, Group Life and Health and Quadrus Investments over his long career with the company.

Member: March 9, 2023 – March 8, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Governance, Service Excellence (Chair)

Sean McFarling serves as General Counsel to the Labourers’ International Union of North America, Ontario Provincial District Council (“OPDC”) and LiUNA’s Central and Eastern Canada Organizing Fund (“CECOF”). His practice focuses on providing strategic advice and overseeing the OPDC’s legal affairs across Ontario and CECOF’s legal matters across Central and Eastern Canada.

Sean has dedicated his career to representing the hard-working men and women of Ontario and he currently serves as LiUNA’s Vice President at the Ontario Federation of Labour and Delegate to the Canadian Labour Congress. In addition, Sean serves as a Board Member with the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Feed Ontario.

Member: June 20, 2022 to June 19, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Governance (Vice-Chair), Investment (Chair)

Alana McPhee is Senior Counsel, Treasury & Corporate, at The Toronto-Dominion Bank where she serves as lead internal counsel for securities issuances under the bank's global funding programs ranging from $20 to $40 billion per annum in recent years. Prior to TD, Alana led Strategic Initiatives for Macquarie's North American Banking & Financial Services Division and was a Principal at Coventree Inc., then an independent securitization boutique firm with total assets under management of $33 billion. Preceding Coventree, Alana was a partner at leading Bay Street firm, Davies Ward Phillips Vineberg LL.P., practicing corporate securities law.

Alana holds a Bachelor of Commerce (in Finance & Marketing) from St. Mary's University and obtained her law degree at Dalhousie University. Alana’s community involvement has included serving on the boards of Canada Lands Company Limited, Downsview Park, the Old Port of Montreal, Women in Capital Markets Association and on the Board of Trustees of the Toronto International Dance Festival.

Member: December 12, 2022 – December 11, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Audit and Finance (Vice-Chair), Investment, Service Excellence

Helen Polatajko has over 35 years of executive experience in both the private and the public sectors, in Canada and the United States.  As a CIO, she was responsible for the overall strategic direction, organizational and digital transformation, and management of information technology functions while being a contributing member of company executive committees at CMHC, CIBC Mellon and BNY Mellon.

Helen has over 15 years experience serving as Chair and member on Risk, Finance, HR, Audit and Governance Committees on the boards of CDSPI, York University, The Salvation Army, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the IESO.

Helen was featured on the cover of CIO Canada magazine for an article titled “Fusing Business and Technology”, and has served on the judging panel of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards.  Helen also served on the Canadian Advisory Board of the CIO Executive Council, and the Advisory Committee of the Conference Board of Canada, Council of CIOs. Helen has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Computing, acknowledging her achievements and contributions to information services and technology. 

Helen received her education from The University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, attaining a Bachelor in Science in Mathematics and Psychology degree, and graduated from The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware. Helen has also received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
 

Member: December 15, 2022 – December 14, 2025

Member of BOD committees: Audit and Finance (Chair), Governance, Investment

Reagan is the Senior Manager, Talent Management with Region of Peel. In this position, Reagan manages and oversees all talent acquisition, employee relations and labour relations at the Region. He is also responsible for overseeing all collective bargaining negotiations for the Region and its over 7,000 employees.

Previously, Reagan has been a member of the Law department of Hydro One as Senior Legal Counsel. Reagan provides practical legal advice in the areas of: Labour, Employment, Human Rights, Occupational Health & Safety, Workplace Investigations, Pensions, Benefits and Corporate Ethics to the team at Hydro One.

Prior to moving in-house, Reagan worked in private practice for more than 12 years. He practiced primarily Labour, Employment and Human Rights law.

Before his legal career, Reagan practiced public accounting with Deloitte. During his time at Deloitte, Reagan earned two accounting designations: (1) Chartered Accountant (Ontario, Canada); and, (2) Certified Public Accountant (New Hampshire, United States). Reagan holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, an LL.B from Western University, two LL.M degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Additionally, in 2014, Reagan earned both his Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations from the Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario. Also, Reagan holds a Pension Plan Administration Certificate (PPAC) from Humber College, the Retirement Plans Associate (“RPA”) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.