Focus 2025: sharpening your DB pension plan vision

Brent leads Sun Life’s Defined Benefit Solutions team, which helps some of Canada’s largest employers manage the risks in their defined benefit pension plans with innovative, customized solutions that address the specific challenges of each plan sponsor.

With over 25 years of experience in the pension and insurance industry, Brent uses his unique blend of pension and life insurance actuarial knowledge to translate defined benefit pension problems into life insurance and investment solutions for plan sponsors. His experience includes liability driven investing (LDI), buy-out annuities, buy-in annuities, longevity insurance and de-risking defined benefit pension plans.

Mark works closely with consultants and plan sponsors to understand their unique pension needs and challenges. He is committed to finding the right customized de-risking solution that meets their objectives. Mark joined Sun Life in 2016 and has held actuarial roles in the corporate, capital, and valuation areas. Prior to joining Sun Life, Mark worked in the risk management function at a major Canadian bank.

Neil supports the development of customized investment solutions and oversees the production of analytics and management reporting for clients. ​

Prior to joining SLC Management in 2021, Neil worked at a leading Canadian consulting firm where he conducted asset liability studies and provided investment advisory services for a variety of institutional clients. ​

Neil holds an Honors Specialization in Actuarial Science from the University of Western Ontario, is a CFA Charterholder, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries.​

Dhyana works with consultants and plan sponsors to help reduce pension risk with customized solutions that uses a mix of traditional risk management products, innovative insurance offerings and liability driven investment solutions. Dhyana’s team is also responsible for providing pension risk transfer clients with exceptional service.

Dhyana joined Sun Life’s Defined Benefit Solutions team in 2015 where she was responsible for pricing & structuring several innovative transactions. Since then, she has held numerous roles across the organization, including capital optimization and R&D. Prior to joining Sun Life, Dhyana worked for one of Canada’s leading consulting firms where she worked on all aspects related to accounting, funding and designing group benefit plans. Dhyana graduated from Western University in 2012.

Alison Harvey-Chuter is a seasoned leader in Wellness, Pension & Benefits with over two decades of experience in Human Resources. As the Assistant Vice President of Wellness, Pension & Benefits at Foresters Financial, Alison is responsible for developing and executing strategic wellness, pension, and benefits programs for employees across Canada and the United States.

She has played a pivotal role in several large-scale projects, including the redesign of Canadian pension and group benefits plans and the development of comprehensive wellness programs that focus on mental, financial, physical, and social well-being.

Alison holds a Human Resources Management Post-Diploma Certificate from Humber College and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Western University. Alison is an active member of the HRPA, York Region Chapter.

C.J. Heng is Senior Manager, Insurance and Pension Investment Assets at Foresters Financial.    He is part of the Investment team that manages and oversees the externally-managed Canadian and U.S. general account assets at Foresters, totalling $6.8B as of Dec 31 2024.

He is an experienced investment professional, having previously held roles in asset allocation, manager due diligence, and portfolio management at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Morneau Shepell Asset and Risk Management Ltd (now part of TELUS Health). 

C.J. holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a CFA charterholder.