Women Leaders in the Benefits, Pensions, and Institutional Investments Industry | Elite Women

As the following five award-winning women leaders illustrate, their achievements and impact transcend traditional practices and norms.

Helen Hurlbut – Equiton
Co-founder and CFO

Drawing on her three decades of transformational leadership in the real estate business, Hurlbut seized an opportunity nine years ago to establish private equity firm Equiton, an emerging leader in Canada’s real estate investment space.

Since the beginning, she has consistently prioritized inclusion and team empowerment while delivering remarkable growth:

• the company now boasts over 190 employees after beginning with three staff
   

• Equiton reached a milestone of $1 billion assets under management within a decade of launching
   

In support of her nomination for BPM’s Elite Woman award, a former direct report acknowledged, “Helen has a vision for more than just the numbers. She has always been invested in the professional growth of her team, often setting lofty and challenging goals to which they can rise.” 

It’s no surprise that Hurlbut cites leading Equiton’s team on its growth journey as rewarding. She also finds joy in seeing the smiles on employees’ faces as she walks the halls, a testament to her dedication to building a diverse workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. 

“In the real estate industry, female representation is less common,” Hurlbut remarks. “It’s important to me to make women feel they have the chance to thrive and achieve their goals.” 
 

“Through my own actions, I’m working to improve this industry for the better. By empowering more women to rise, we’re going to see a meaningful and positive transformation”
Helen HurlbutEquiton

Christina Iacoucci – BGO
Head of Canada and Canadian CIO

As the first female CIO and head of Canada in BGO's 100-year history, Iacoucci has broken barriers and now serves as an inspiration to aspiring women leaders in the real estate investment space. 

With more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Iacoucci’s accomplishments underscore her commitment to pushing boundaries:

• creating and overseeing the Innovation Lab at BGO, which focuses on strategic property technology investments in support of the firm’s ESG goals
   

• continuously raising the bar on sustainable real estate investing and innovation initiatives; this has become one of the hallmarks of her leadership

“The most rewarding aspect of my work is leading and collaborating with my team, who incorporate diverse perspectives while seamlessly integrating innovation, sustainability, and positive social impact on the asset that we build and manage for our clients,” she explains. “It’s not just about enhancing the built environment around us but also enhancing the experience of the people these assets impact.”   

Iacoucci also embraces the opportunity to share her story of personal and professional challenges with partial deafness to help others face their obstacles with strength and resolve. 

She firmly believes that these challenges should not define one’s potential, and, with the support of an important mentor, Iacoucci was able to build a rewarding career. She continues to be actively engaged in speaking engagements despite some of the challenges her hearing loss poses.  

“The ability to positively influence others with my story is worth the initial discomfort I felt in sharing it because it teaches others that self-imposed limitations are the only real barriers.”
 

“My goal is to help shape an industry that thrives on diversity, mentorship, and a commitment to creating sustainable spaces that truly serve the diverse needs of people”
Christina IacoucciBGO

Gayle Shurvell – Alberta Health Services
Director, employee benefits and retirement programs

Regarded by her peers as a resilient, caring, and compassionate leader, Shurvell’s passion for delivering group benefit programs of the highest standards is unparalleled. She wears two operational hats in her current role, including supporting the trustees of the Health Benefits Trust of Alberta (HBTA). 

Over a 35-year career, Shurvell has honed a forward-thinking leadership style that has catapulted her to the top of her field. Her recent achievements are a testament to the positive contributions she has made:

• introducing the At-Work Services program, in collaboration with Canada Life, to participating HBTA employers and employees; this early intervention tool supports employees at risk of disability, prevents disability claims, and identifies non-medical issues in the workplace
   

• strengthened the governance and related education for the HBTA
   

In support of Shurvell's nomination, a colleague commented, “Gayle is a visionary and always thinks about innovative ways to serve HBTA participants better while sustaining its programs. Her motto is, ‘Not if, but how, we can make things happen’.”  

Beaming with pride, she reflects on the team she has built over her eight years on the employer side of the group benefits, pensions, and institutional investments industry. Shurvell emphasizes that she ensures everyone feels valued, connected, and supported. That has translated into high talent retention, comprised of people passionate about the organization’s mandate. 

“Get me into a meeting where we’re brainstorming and talking about what the future looks like – that completely inspires me,” she notes, adding that her team plays a crucial role in that process. “Being able to embrace change, adapt, and shift your mindset to long-term goals is key for me.” 
 

“There are challenges in the financial sector that we all strive to overcome. I’m trying to ensure the road I create for those behind me has fewer bumps along the way”
Gayle ShurvellAlberta Health Services

Anne Meloche – Sun Life Global Investments
Head of institutional business

An actuary by training with over three decades of experience in pension and investment consulting, Meloche has led Sun Life Global Investments’ institutional business team to become the 16th largest pension manager in Canada on the defined contribution side. Its institutional pension assets were $21.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023. 

She strives to build strong relationships with colleagues by communicating clearly and encouraging diversity of thought. 

Meloche has been instrumental in paving the way to innovative retirement and investment initiatives and solutions, resulting in meaningful contributions to the financial industry and all Canadians. 

Highlights for which she has received Elite Woman distinction include:

• initiating and implementing significant and complex changes in the company’s flagship investment product, involving the conversion of $11 billion into institutional pooled funds
   

• long-serving board member for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and its audit committee, where she oversees the foundation’s asset investment policy

“Managing and promoting talent has been and still is the most important quadrant of my leadership success,” she explains. “I’ve always put a lot of energy into building and leading a harmonious team, balancing that with the right dose of managerial courage.” 

Not one to back down from challenges, Meloche has honed an approach that enables her to take a step back to understand what people need to function at their best. She gleaned this strategy from early advice that sparked a turning point in her career and continues to reap dividends.
 

“I encourage women to explore this industry and discover new interests or skill sets; they’ll have more well-rounded experience, and career progression will be at their fingertips”
Anne MelocheSun Life Global Investments

Marie-Chantal Côté – Sun Life Canada
Senior vice president of group benefits

With a career journey spanning 25 years at Sun Life Canada, Côté has held progressively senior roles across the business. She values diversity and strives to create a space for it in the workplace.  

In 2021, her relentless drive, focus, and commitment to excellence culminated in her appointment to her current position, a testament to her impressive achievements, which include: 

• spearheading the launch of several research and product initiatives, specifically emphasizing mental health and DE&I
   

• under Côté’s leadership, Sun Life offered fertility, surrogate, and gender affirmation coverage

“She believes it’s OK for employees and leaders to reveal vulnerabilities, including struggles related to mental health,” a nominator remarked of Côté’s compassionate leadership. “She’s also passionate about improving the dynamics of workplace equity for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.” 

An unwavering dedication to leading authentically is near and dear to Côté’s heart. She brings her whole self to the office and talks candidly with her team about mental health challenges, as well as her professional experience as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

“"I've always tried to do things that excite me with people who inspire me,” she explains. “I need to feel that I’m doing something meaningful and purposeful because then my passion and strengths come out; boundaries don’t exist anymore.”

“When we look back and see all Canadians having access to appropriate health and product solutions for their unique needs, that is the impact I hope to have”
Marie-Chantal CôtéSun Life Canada

 

Women Leaders in the Benefits, Pensions, and Institutional Investments Industry | Elite Women

• 
  Anne Meloche
  Head of Institutional Business
  Sun Life Global Investments
   
  
• 
  Christina Iacoucci
  Head of Canada and Chief Investment Officer
  BGO
   
  
• 
  Gayle Shurvell
  Director, Employee Benefit and Retirement Programs
  Alberta Health Services
   
  
• 
  Helen Hurlbut
  Chief Financial Officer
  Equiton Capital
   
  
• 
  Lauren Bloom
  Head of Canada
  T. Rowe Price
   
  
• 
  Marie-Chantal Côté
  Senior Vice President, Group Benefits
  Sun Life
   
  
• 
  Samantha Cleyn
  Managing Director, Head of Institutional Sales & Service
  BMO Global Asset Management
   
  
• 
  Janine Guenther
   
   
  
• 
  Jill Wagman
  Principal and Chair, Board of Directors
  Eckler
   
  
• 
  Tami Dove
  Director, Member Experience
  Co-operative Superannuation Society
   
  

• Andrejka Massicotte
  Head of Group Benefits
  RBC Insurance
• Carole Field
  Managing Director, Pension Plan at Canadian Pacific Railway
  Canadian Pacific Railway
• Catherine Ann Marshall
  Principal
  RealAlts
• Catherine Heath
  Principal, Portfolio Manager - Institutional Clients
  Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel
• Celine Chiovitti
  Chief Pension Officer
  OMERS
• Christine Wyatt
  VP, Distribution, Group Solutions
  Empire Life
• Danelle Brown
  General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
  Ontario Pension Board
• Gillian Brown
  Executive Managing Director, Capital Markets
  Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
• Janet Julé
  Chief Investment Officer
  Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan
• Jennifer Katzsch
  Regional Vice President, Western Canada
  Desjardins
• Jennifer Shum
  Senior Managing Director, Structured & Private Credit, Healthcare
  Ontario Pension Plan
• Jennifer Urquhart
  Director, Pension Client Services
  NS Health Employees’ Pension Plan
• Jillian Kennedy
  Canadian Leader of Defined Contribution and Financial Wellness
  Mercer Canada
• Joan Tanaka
  Consultant/Advisor (Past President)
  Prudent Benefits Administration Services
• Joanne Woodrow
  Senior Group Retirement Consultant
  AGA Benefit Solutions
• Ju Hui Lee
  Head of Market Risk
  United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
• Julie Joyal
  Director, Edmonton, AB
  Vice President, Pension Services
  Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund
• Kandrice (Kandy) Cantwell
  Partner
  Montridge Advisory Group, a Westland Company
• Kathy T. Licata
  President and Consulting Actuary
  Mondelis Actuarial Servies, wholly owned by NFP Canada
• Kelly Wilson
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  Saskatchewan Blue Cross
• Kimberley-Anne Maxwell
  VP, Employer Benefits and Savings Strategies
  Matheis Financial Group
• Krista Pell
  Chief People, Culture & Engagement Officer
  Alberta Investment Management Corporation
• Lisa Copland
  Aon Health Solutions, Senior Vice-President – Central Region Leader, Client Relationship
  Aon
• Lucie Tedesco
  Director, Board of Directors
  Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
• Marie-France Amyot
  Senior Vice President of Group Benefits and Retirement Savings
  Desjardins Insurance
• Mary Medeiros
  Chief Operations Officer
  Harvest ETFs
• Natasha D. Monkman
  Chair of Pension, Benefits, and Executive Compensation Practice Group
  Hicks Morley
• Rachel Arbour
  Head of Plan Benefits, Design & Policy
  HOOPP
• Renee Bilodeau
  Director of Board Services
  BC Pension Corporation
• Rupe Prasad
  Partner
  PBI
• Sarah Beech
  CEO, Benefits & HR Consulting Division – Canada
  Gallagher
• Sarah Sissons
  Partner and Atlantic Region Lead, Consulting
  TELUS Health
• Shannan Corey
  Executive Director
  Saskatchewan Pension Plan
• Susan Bird
  President
  The McAteer Group of Companies
• Susan Nickerson
  Partner
  McCarthy Tétrault LLP