Headquarters:
105 Adelaide Street West, Suite 700, Toronto, ON
Year founded:
1862
Number of employees:
1,820
Phone:
1.855.620.6262
Email:
info@nbfc.com
Website:
nbfc.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/northbridge-financial-corporation
“With less focus on textbooks, students now engage more in experiential and inquiry-based learning and have ample opportunities to work in collegial groups using various thinking routines”
Jay Halai, Minarah College
Silvy Wright
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lori McDougall
Chief People and Strategy Officer
Craig Pinnock
Chief Financial Officer
Leadership
Silvy Wright has served as president and CEO of Northbridge Financial Corporation since May 2011. Prior to this role, she served as CEO of Markel Insurance. Under her leadership, four separate insurance companies were successfully brought together under one strong Northbridge operating group. Today, Northbridge’s three brands leverage combined talent and capabilities, and successfully operate through distinct distribution channels.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Silvy Wright
Lori McDougall is Northbridge’s chief people and strategy officer. Previously, she was chief corporate development officer at Northbridge for six years, during which she oversaw several functions, including customer development and innovation.
Chief People and Strategy Officer
Lori McDougall
Craig Pinnock has been Northbridge’s CFO since March 2008. Previously, he served in a dual role as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Liberty Mutual Group’s Canadian branches and as global head of reinsurance accounting and administration for Liberty International Underwriters.
Chief Financial Officer
Craig Pinnock
“With less focus on textbooks, students now engage more in experiential and inquiry-based learning and have ample opportunities to work in collegial groups using various thinking routines”
Jay Halai, Minarah College
“We will ensure students address meaningful real-world problems and use specific protocols [so that] all voices are heard. Project-based learning will be emphasised to develop key skills such as research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration”
Jay Halai, Minarah College
Leadership
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“We will ensure students address meaningful real-world problems and use specific protocols [so that] all voices are heard. Project-based learning will be emphasised to develop key skills such as research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration”
Jay Halai, Minarah College
“With less focus on textbooks, students now engage more in experiential and inquiry-based learning and have ample opportunities to work in collegial groups using various thinking routines”
Jay Halai, Minarah College
Leadership
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Christopher Harness
Chief Information Officer
With over 20 years of information technology experience, Christopher Harness provides strategic oversight for all information technology services and solutions to drive innovation and improve service. He has served in senior technology positions at Northbridge since 2013. Previously, he led the information technology team and project management office for Aon Risk Services Canada and worked in a variety of senior leadership roles at Baxter Healthcare.
Chief Information Officer
Christopher Harness
George Halkiotis
President, Federated Insurance
George Halkiotis started his career with Federated Insurance in 1984 and has since held a variety of roles at both Federated and Northbridge Financial Corporation. As president of the federated insurance division, George Halkiotis is committed to delivering the highest level of customer experience that Canadians have relied on for the last century.
President, Federated Insurance
George Halkiotis
These prestigious awards are testament to Ormiston College’s ongoing commitment to innovation and 21st century pedagogy. The college delivers teaching and learning programs that develop learners who think flexibly, work independently and collaboratively, take risks, solve real-world problems and demonstrate higher-order thinking skills. Recognition in these national awards provides an opportunity to showcase the progress made each year and to celebrate the people and teamwork at the centre of Ormiston College’s operations.
A unique, award-winning teaching and learning framework provides a common language which students, teachers and parents use to communicate and share their understanding of quality teaching and learning at Ormiston College. The college believes that a strong emphasis on using technology to improve learning outcomes encourages students to embrace new ways of thinking for the 21st century.
“We will ensure students address meaningful real-world problems and use specific protocols [so that] all voices are heard. Project-based learning will be emphasised to develop key skills such as research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration”
Jay Halai,
Minarah College
Jean-François Béliveau
Executive Vice President, Quebec Region
Paul Gardner
Senior Vice President, Corporate Underwriting & Risk Services
Evan Di Bella
Senior Vice President, Claims
Inma Beaumont
Executive Director Advancement and Community Relations
Jean-François Béliveau has been the executive vice president at Northbridge Insurance for the Quebec Region since October 2011. He brings with him an extensive background in commercial insurance. He joined Northbridge Insurance from AXA Insurance, where he led the commercial lines division.
Executive Vice President, Quebec Region
Jean-François Béliveau
Paul Gardner is Northbridge’s senior vice president for corporate underwriting and risk services. He has worked in the insurance industry since 2006, beginning his career at Lombard General Insurance Company before it was integrated into Northbridge Insurance in 2012. Since then, he has served as a director and then a vice president on the commercial underwriting team. Now, he is responsible for Northbridge’s corporate underwriting, risk services, and NBI personal lines teams.
Senior Vice President, Corporate Underwriting & Risk Services
Paul Gardner
Evan Di Bella is the senior vice president for claims. He joined Northbridge in October 2003 after five years with another P&C insurance company, where he worked in various lines of business. He has held several roles throughout his career with Northbridge, including vice president for Ontario claims.
Senior Vice President, Claims
Evan Di Bella
Inma Beaumont joined BGS at the beginning of 2020. She is an experienced advancement professional, having implemented fundraising and engagement operations for three different units over six years at The University of Queensland. Inma led the fundraising campaign to renovate the Forgan Smith Building, home to the TC Beirne School of Law at UQ. She subsequently spent three years as director of advancement at the UQ Faculty of Health, where she conceived and delivered a major gifts program. Her fundraising experience follows a 15-year career in finance, including as CFO of Citibank Australia. She is a non-executive director of UN Women Australia, Speech Pathology Australia and Women’s College at UQ.
Executive Director Advancement and Community Relations
Inma Beaumont
Diana Godfrey joined Fidelity in 1995, and is currently the senior vice-president, human resources and corporate affairs. She has 27 years of industry experience and has driven innovation and transformative changes to employee benefits, talent development, charitable and diversity and inclusion programs, which have strengthened Fidelity Canada’s position as a top caring employer. She championed the implementation of Fidelity Canada’s value proposition, committed to improving the employee experience to meet their individual needs and the community at large. Fidelity Canada has been recognized with multiple employer awards and designations, which celebrate its work culture and atmosphere, corporate philanthropic initiatives, and health and benefits, to name just a few.
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs
Diana Godfrey (she/her/hers)
Cameron Murray is the senior vice president, client services and CIO for Fidelity Investments Canada ULC. In this capacity, he oversees both technology and operations for the organization in Canada. He joined Fidelity in December 1999 as Vice President, Systems Operations. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for FundSERV, where he has been an executive committee and board member since 2002. He is also on the board of directors for Fidelity Investments Canada ULC.
Senior Vice President, Client Services and Chief Information Officer
Cameron Murray
Sarah M Stewart has more than 15 years
of strategic leasing and customer care experience in residential property management. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Centurion’s national leasing platforms, residential lead generation, and overall customer experience excellence through operation
of the company’s internal customer
service department.
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
Sarah M Stewart
Sarah M Stewart
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
Karen Bannister, CM
Vice President, Marketing
Dave Longbottom
Chief Technology Officer
Alex Ventura
Head of Marketing
Damian Palovick
Senior Vice President of Underwriting
AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America
Dr. Mary Lavoie
Head of Risk Management and Senior Vice President
AXA XL – Delegated Authority Programs, North America
Mark Bernacki
Chief Underwriting Officer
Ryan Armijo
Chief Operating Officer, Underwriting Division
Bob Petrilli
President, Underwriting Division
“The focus now is on differentiation and development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). There is documented planning on differentiation to ensure the students who are struggling are being catered for and those who are above average are being challenged to do better,” he says.
“Furthermore, staff now engage in making data-driven decisions to make programs and learning sequences. Lessons are no longer based on ‘one hat – fits all’, each lesson now has differentiated tasks.”
Halai says the syllabus outcome is now achieved through differentiated tasks that are aligned to the student capabilities and learning needs.
“Lessons are delivered through interactive smartboards; hence, teachers have the opportunity to cater for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners,” he says.
“With less focus on textbooks, students now engage more in experiential and inquiry-based learning and have ample opportunities to work in collegial groups using various thinking routines.”
Halai says staff development is highly focused on enhancement of ICT skills through regular professional learning with Microsoft Teams.
“The success stories on Deep Learning from classrooms were shared by the staff as part of professional development, and these presentations were well received by the teachers, and seen as a learning opportunity, and peer appreciation.”
As for what’s next for Minarah College, Halai says the process is in place for changing the learning environment with collaborative learning places for all students.
“The shift is from students just learning the knowledge to authentic application of this knowledge to the wider world. The focus at Minarah College is for teachers to equip students with the tools to navigate their learning process and improve their expertise in developing efficacy,” he explains.
“We will ensure students address meaningful real-world problems and use specific protocols [so that] all voices are heard. Project-based learning will be emphasised to develop key skills such as research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.”
Halai says the college will also be using appropriate data analysis and interpretation of data to make informed decisions that positively affect student outcomes.
“The proactive stance will enable students to be committed to advocating essential values, reflect and develop critical thinking and communication skills to develop their characters and become valuable and active members of the community.”
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Sarah M Stewart has more than 15 years
of strategic leasing and customer care experience in residential property management. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Centurion’s national leasing platforms, residential lead generation, and overall customer experience excellence through operation
of the company’s internal customer
service department.
Associate Vice President,
Leasing and Call Centre Operations
10
Alexis Hill
Chief Information Officer
Alexis Hill joined BGS in April 2022 as the School’s first chief information officer to lead the Digital Transformation Program, which aims to use technology and data to enhance student outcomes. As a senior executive with over 14 years of experience in commercial and government industries, she has substantial experience in digital transformation leadership. Alexis has held CIO and director roles that focused on driving technological and organisational change in complex environments. She holds a Bachelor of Business degree and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Chief Information Officer
Alexis Hill
“We are a people-first company, we succeed as a team, and we care to make a difference,” says Northbridge Financial Corporation. “Whether it’s encouraging our employees to bring their whole selves to work or ensuring they have the flexibility to design their work, their life, and their balance – we’re a family, and family members take care of one another.”
Northbridge Financial Corporation is an industry-leading property and casualty insurance group that has been protecting Canadian businesses for more than 100 years. Northbridge invests in its employees’ knowledge and expertise so it can better serve its customers. It also provides the right technology and resources for its employees, including a multi-year initiative to modernize its insurance platforms to build a future-forward workplace.
In addition to managing its underwriting and claims transformation, Northbridge is also modernizing its people and culture tools to enhance the employee experience. For Northbridge, creating an inclusive and welcoming work culture is equally important, and company leaders have hosted discussions on Black History Month, International Women’s Day, Pride, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Disability Employment Awareness Month.
“Apart from ensuring we’re competitive on all aspects in the industry, we believe flexibility and inclusivity are of the highest importance to attract and retain the industry’s top talent,” Northbridge says. “We’re committed to supporting our employees’ personal and professional development to help them achieve even greater success in the future.”
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