HBT is administered by a highly qualified senior management team with considerable experience in Benefit Administration, Finance, Actuarial Services, Operations and Rehabilitation.
Our clients are further supported by a team of experienced staff dedicated to the delivery of exceptional services to our client. Collectively, we are committed to providing quality services to our over 300 member organizations and to achieving and exceeding our corporate goals and client expectations.
A Board of Trustees oversees and assists the Trust in achieving its vision. The Board is appointed and is comprised of individuals with particular expertise in business administration, finance, law and in the not-for-profit sector and health care field.
Board of Trustees
Griffin, Malcolm (Board Chair)
Mal Griffin was appointed Chair of the HBT Board of Trustees on November 22, 2022. He was appointed as a Trustee of the HBT Board on August 23, 2018. Mal is currently Vice President, Digital Health for Interior Health. Previosly, he was interior Health’s Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Information Officer.
Mal has more than 30 years of health care experience, holds an Executive MBA form the University of Frederiction, and a bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. In 2009, Mal was named one of the Computer World’s Premier 100 IT Leaders.
Boundy, Paul
Paul Boundy was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on March 7, 2022. Paul started his career with Mutual Life of Canada, progressing through various roles in actuarial valuations, business development, pricing, strategic planning, and finishing his time there as Vice-President, Group Disability. Paul attained his FCIA and FSA designations in 1981. In 1994, Paul moved west as VP, Western Canada, for the leading Canadian pharmacy benefit manager. Paul also spent time with Mercer where he was responsible for the Healthcare and Group Practice for Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Paul spent the last 12 years of his career with Sun Life Financial where he was responsible for the growth and financial management of the block of group business across Canada, including responsibility for four Canadian underwriting offices and group sales and service staff in 11 Canadian cities.
Castle, Lisa
Lisa Castle was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on March 7, 2022. In 2018, Lisa established a consulting practice concentrated on strengthening organizations with their people, specializing in workplace strategies and practices. She retired in December 2017 from her role as the University of British Columbia’s Vice President Human Resources, holding the most senior HR role at UBC since 2002. Lisa has served on a number of boards and associations over the years. Currently, in addition to being a Trustee of HBT, she is also a Board Director of Great Northern Way Campus Ltd.
De Croos, Mark
Mark De Croos was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on June 1, 2019. Mark serves as Vice President, Financial and Corporate Services with Northern Health Authority and has over 25 years experience in financial and strategic planning, reporting and analysis.
Having joined Northern Health in 2009, Mark oversees financial and capital operations and is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the organization’s fiscal performance and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Jenab, Bita
Bita Jenab was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on March 3, 2023. Bita is currently the Executive Strategy Officer of the British Columbia College Pension Plan, where she provides strategic advice to the College Pension Board of Trustees.
Bita’s career spans over 35 years providing consulting advice to public and private sector organizations on retirement and employee benefits programs. Prior to joining the College Pension Plan, Bita was a Partner at a major international consulting firm.
Bita holds a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the University of British Columbia and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries, as well as a Certified Financial Planner.
Pauliszyn, Robert
Robert Pauliszyn was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on June 11, 2024. Robert is currently Assistant Deputy Minister for the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat. He has served in several strategic leadership and coordination roles across several ministries and central agencies including Finance, Energy and Mines, Forests, Education, Public Safety and Solicitor General, Integrated Land Management, and the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat.
He holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Calgary. He also serves as a board director for the Community Social Services Employers’ Association and the Crown Corporation Employers’ Association.
Veresh, Tim
Tim Veresh was appointed to the HBT Board of Trustees on June 1, 2019. Tim is the Executive Director of PLEA Community Services Society and a member of the Community Social Services Employers Association. He has over 20 years of senior management experience within the social services sector.
Tim currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Federation for Community Social Services, the Canadian Criminal Justice Association, the Provincial Association of Residential & Community Agencies and Realize Strategies.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University.
Weir, Slyvia
As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President, Corporate Services, Sylvia leads Interior Health’s business support and accounting functions, manages contracted services and is responsible for capital planning and projects.
Sylvia is a proven strategic health leader with 25 years of experience working in the financial sector, including internationally within the UK National Health Service and within the B.C. public sector. Prior to becoming CFO, Sylvia served as IH’s Corporate Director of Business Integration and Development for 11 years, where she gained experience forming and sustaining partnerships with community, government and private entities.
Sylvia completed a Fellowship in Health System Improvement through the University of Alberta, and has her Project Management certification through the UBC Sauder School of Business.
Management Team
Elisabeth.Whiting, M.Sc.
Experience:
- Over 20 years experience in strategic planning, communications and stakeholder relations.
- Prior to joining the Trust, Elisabeth was Vice President, Corporate Development for a Biopharmaceutical company and former Director of Business Development for a National Law firm.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Responsible for Service Delivery across all benefits administration functions, including direct oversight of Claims Adjudicators and Claims paying Agents (Service providers).
- Develops the strategic service plan and multi-year business plans, and provides sound expertise and advice in driving strategies for achieving business objectives and resolving critical business issues.
- Provides leadership on business transformation and operational change initiatives within HBT and its Providers.
- Develops and implements Stakeholder Relations and Communications initiatives to support positive work relationships throughout HBT, with Trustees, business partners and stakeholders in both the Health and Community Sectors.
Daniel Gumprich
Experience:
- Over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in professional services and public company environments.
- Prior to joining HBT, Daniel spent 8 years as Chief Financial Officer at Sterling Shoes, a Vancouver-based footwear retailer with over 160 stores across Canada.
- Previous to Sterling, Daniel spent 11 years at PwC in their corporate finance, transaction services, audit and advisory practices.
- Part of Daniel’s practice at PwC included audit and advisory services to pension plans and health and welfare trusts.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide management and strategic leadership to the Finance Department, IT, HR and Legal departments.
- Contribute to the development of the corporate strategic plan and multi-year business plans.
- Provide financial expertise and advice in driving strategies for achieving business objectives and resolving critical business issues.
- Build and foster positive working relationships throughout HBT, with the Board of Trustees and with various partners and stakeholders in accomplishing objectives.
Tony Green, CPA, CGA
Experience:
- 5 years experience in senior financial positions, most recently as Accounting Supervisor with the Trust.
- Accounting experience working in publicly traded enterprises in the retail and hybrid vehicles industries.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Manage the day to day financial activities of the Trust.
- Lead and direct the financial and accounting functions in support of the Trust’s business objectives.
- Build and foster positive working relationships throughout the Trust’s and member organizations.
- Lead the assessment of financial requirements for business operations and programs.
- Build an effective and high performance finance team.