The WSIB is an independent trust agency of the Ontario government operating at “arms-length” from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Funded by employer premiums, we provide no-fault workplace injury and illness insurance for Ontarians.
We are governed by our Board of Directors as set out in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Our Board consists of the Chair, the President and CEO, and seven to nine directors, who are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Board is responsible for our governance, setting strategic priorities, overseeing the achievement of objectives and managements’ overall performance.
These include:
- stewardship and strategic direction
- performance monitoring and reporting
- risk management and internal controls
Governance documents
- Bylaw No. 1
- Corporate Governance Policy
- Enterprise Governance Framework
- Funding and Pricing Policy
- Corporate Risk Management Policy
- Memorandum of understanding (PDF)
- Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures
Board of Directors
For questions or additional information relating to our Board of Directors, please contact our Corporate Secretary’s office.
Grant B. Walsh, Chair
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 4,700 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.
Jeffery A. Lang, President & CEO
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.
Peter George, Board Member
Member: February 3, 2022 – February 2, 2025
Member of BOD committees: Audit and Finance
Peter George is the CEO of Neurolytixs Inc., an exclusive global licensee of Lawson Health Research Institute’s blood-based invitro diagnostics, specializing in the detection of concussions. Peter has diverse corporate and Board experience spanning decades in sales, marketing and venture capital in the areas of health care, real estate development and asset management.
Peter is the co-founder and past director of LB Energy Inc., one of the largest developers of renewable energy in Ontario. Peter is deeply rooted in his community, having volunteered and fundraised for SickKids, Windsor Regional Hospital, Art Gallery of Windsor and St. Clair College.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor.
James Hogarth, Board Member
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.
Sean McFarling, Board Member
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.
Alana McPhee, Board Member
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.
Helen Polatajko, Board Member
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.
Reagan Ruslim, Board Member
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.
Our leaders
Read more information about our leaders.
Board committees
We have four board committees that support the Board of Directors in meeting its fiduciary duties. They are the Audit and Finance Committee, Governance Committee, Investment Committee, and Service Excellence Committee. Each committee operates under a charter that sets out its responsibilities.
Committees | Frequency | Current Members |
---|---|---|
Audit and Finance | At least quarterly | Regan Ruslim – Chair Helen Polatajko – Vice Chair |
Governance | At least quarterly | Grant Walsh – Chair Alana McPhee - Vice Chair |
Investment | At least quarterly | Grant Walsh - Chair Alana McPhee Helen Polatajko External Advisors: Martha Fell |
Service Excellence | At least quarterly | Sean McFarling - Chair Helen Polatajko External Advisors: John Comacchio |
Board of Directors | At the call of the Chair with a minimum of four meetings per year in accordance with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act | Grant Walsh - Chair Peter George James Hogarth Jeffery Lang Sean McFarling Alana McPhee Helen Polatajko Reagan Ruslim |