Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers' Compensation
Wispinski, Dale
Dale Wispinski is a lawyer who joined the Appeals Commission in 2012, after several years practicing labour and employment law with a national law firm. From 2014-2018, she was the Commission's General Counsel, with responsibility for legal, privacy, knowledge management, training, communications and quality assurance matters, in addition to serving as a member of the Commission's executive team. Dale holds an LL.B. from the University of Alberta (where she continues to serve as a guest lecturer) and a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Calgary. Dale also holds the Certified In-House Counsel (CIC.C) designation from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.??
Parish, Lynn
Lynn Parish has a background in law having practiced in the United Kingdom and Canada. As a solicitor in England she acted primarily for trade union clients pursuing compensation for workplace accidents. More recently, she has been a member of the City of Edmonton Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for six years, including one year as Chair and member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board. Lynn formerly worked as a Chartered Mediator for Alberta Municipal Affairs and Provincial Court Civil Claims, and as an instructor for the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society and for the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta in Client Interviewing and Counseling. As well, she coaches a law student team to the Canadian Client Consultation Competition. Lynn is an active volunteer with the Edmonton Community Legal Centre and a board member of both the Centre for Public Legal Education and the Rossdale Community League.
Bonnett, Lori
Lori Bonnett received a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Alberta in 1998 and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall in 2003. Lori has been an active member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1998. Her career has included in-house counsel roles for various sectors of the oil and gas industry over the past 13 years. In these roles, Lori has advised on numerous, complex infrastructure projects, joint ventures, and operational matters. Lori's board experience also includes being a member of the Alberta Transportation Safety Board and the Municipal Government Board.
Lori has been an active member of the volunteer sector in each town/city that she has resided. She served as a member, and then as Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut from 2005 to 2014. Lori has been a volunteer at the Calgary Drop-In Centre since 2010. She currently serves on the Research Ethics Board at SAIT in Calgary.
In her leisure time, Lori spends time with her two young grandsons and enjoys travelling.
Humphreys, Michael
Michael Humphreys worked as a lawyer in the United Kingdom, almost exclusively, on behalf of members of trade unions. He specialised in claims for damages for accidents at work, industrial disease, breaches of employment rights, and human rights violations. In 2000, he was appointed to sit as a part-time Chair of Employment Tribunals adjudicating claims for unlawful termination, breach of contract and discrimination cases arising in the work place. In 2007, he came to Canada and obtained a position as an Appeals Advisor on workers' compensation claims. He later worked for the Health Sciences Association of Alberta as a labour relations officer providing advice and advocacy services to members of the union and negotiating collective agreements.
Laycock, Todd
Todd Laycock is an industrial security professional employed with the oil sands industry in northern Alberta. Prior to this, he was a member of the Edmonton Police Service, working in a variety of capacities over the course of his 25-year career.
Todd has previous experience with adjudicative boards, having served on the Assessment Review Board for the City of St. Albert and the Mental Health Review Panel Roster in Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as several professional designations in the security field. Todd has also instructed at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa.
Peckham, Gary
After 34 years of service, Gary Peckham retired from the Alberta Public Service. In his roles he has had extensive management experience. Former positions include the Chair of the Alberta Debtors Assistance Board, Statute Administrator for various pieces of legislation and was the former Director of the Service Alberta’s Contact Centre. He has several management certificates and has received three Premier’s Awards of Excellence during his career.
Saunders, Jody
Jody Saunders joined the Appeals Commission in September 2020. Her past positions have included Tribunal Counsel with the Law Society of Alberta, where she managed the quasi-judicial hearing and appeal process, and Associate General Counsel and Professional Leader, Legal with what is now the Canada Energy Regulator, where she practised administrative law for 16 years. She began her legal career at a small corporate and commercial civil litigation firm in Calgary. Jody obtained her law degree from the University of Alberta and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Calgary.
Tiessen, Jamie
Jamie’s career in media and broadcast networks spans 25 years. He has operated radio stations and broadcast networks in the Calgary area and held positions as an executive, director, chairperson, and consultant. His commitment to community spans over 15 years of dedicated public service, including his time as a municipal councillor for the Town of Okotoks and the Kananaskis Improvement District. He has also served on tribunals for several Government of Alberta ministries, along with other boards, and commissions.
Wong, Gia
Gia Wong is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta and worked with the Society as a Formal Complaints Reviewer, Legal Counsel. She has a varied litigation background with a major insurer as in-house counsel. Gia has over 20 years of active litigation and dispute resolution experience, as well as four years of senior management experience. Gia has a diverse work history, which includes the Legislative Assembly Office, Ethics Commissioner's Office, and private legal practice.
Glavin, Gibson
Gibson Glavin was a commissioned Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police serving for over 31 years. During his policing career, he held the senior positions of executive assistant to the Senior Deputy Commissioner at the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, Aid-de-Camp for the Lieutenant Government of Alberta, Officer in Charge of strategic communications and provincial support services for the Alberta RCMP and he commanded the Special Tactical Operations unit and the Behavioural Sciences Group. He has previous experience as a Chair, adjudicator, and Board Member with the Alberta Transportation Safety Board, Fatality Review Board, and RCMP Discipline Tribunal. He holds a Communications degree and an Advanced Certificate in Police Leadership, and qualified as an arbitrator.
Kavaz, Vesna
Vesna Kavaz has been involved in quasi-judicial appeal adjudication since May 2016, when she was appointed to five Community and Social Services Appeal Panels. She has heard appeals for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, Income and Employment Supports, Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and Family Support for Children with Disabilities benefits. She is experienced in administrative proceedings, interpretation and application of legislation, decision-making, and decision writing. Previously, Vesna worked at NorQuest College, Athabasca University, and several agencies and schools. She has taught English as a Second Language classes to adults from four continents and 25 countries, and was involved in adult literacy program development and delivery. Vesna holds credentials from Simon Fraser University and the University of Zagreb.
Kelly, Gregory
Mr. Kelly was previously employed as the Chair of the Review Committee for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Prior to this, he held the positions of Case Manager and Entitlement Officer/Adjudicator in WSCC's Iqaluit office in Nunavut. Since January 2008, Mr. Kelly has been employed as a relief Correctional Youth Officer with the North Slave Young Offenders Facility. He also served several two-year appointments as a Member of the Northwest Territories Social Assistance Appeals Board and as Vice-Chair of the Student Financial Assistance Appeals Board. Mr. Kelly has a Masters in Criminology, a Bachelor of Arts in Law, and most recently, received certificates in Tribunal Administrative Justice and Professional Leadership Development.
Kelly, Kevin
Kevin Kelly is a lawyer and chartered arbitrator in Calgary with extensive dispute resolution training in negotiation, conflict management, mediation and arbitration. He has practiced primarily in insurance, real property, business law, and estate planning and administration, and has appeared in the Federal Court of Canada and all levels of court in Alberta. Kevin specializes in dispute resolution and regularly acts as a mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator for board meetings and multi-stakeholder group disputes. He has designed and facilitated law and negotiation courses for SAIT, and is a facilitator, assessor and practice manager with the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education's Alberta Bar Admission Program. Currently, in addition to serving as both chair and adjudicative panel member on several quasi-judicial tribunals, Kevin is on the Board of Directors for the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre for Canada.
Moore, Robert
Robert Moore was a commissioned officer with 25 years of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He held a variety of operational and management roles in municipal, provincial and federal policing throughout Alberta and at national headquarters in Ottawa. Robert was also an adjudicator in the RCMP's quasi-judicial grievance and appeal regime. Before joining the RCMP, he earned a BComm degree from the University of Calgary and worked in the banking industry.
Edmunds, Asheena
Asheena Edmunds possesses over 24 years of experience in the workers’ compensation system where she has worked in a variety of roles including disability management, business training and worker advocacy. Asheena has also received certificates in Tribunal Administration, both as an Advocate and as a Tribunal Member through the Foundation of Administrative Justice. Most recently she is working as an adjudicator for the SafeRoads Alberta Branch under the Ministry of Transportation where she conducts impartial reviews related to impaired driving contraventions under the Traffic Safety Act. In her spare time, Asheena enjoys spending time with her family and managing her daughter’s soccer team.
Heslop, Robin
Robin Heslop is a lawyer with private practice experience in litigation support, legal research, and writing. She has a background in accounting and has significant public sector experience, having worked in a number of front-line public service roles with the Government of Alberta. She has also provided guidance to administrative tribunals as an Appeals Lead with the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services’ Appeals Secretariat. Robin holds a J.D. from the University of Victoria and a B.Comm (with Distinction) in Accounting from the University of Alberta.
Robblee, Colin
Colin Robblee has Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and the Arts. He has a varied background in disability management, both worker and employer advocacy, and began his career in health and safety in the not-for-profit sector. He has experience working with small towns in Alberta developing their processes for permanent accommodations and has worked with larger employers and unions in consulting roles.
Prior to his work related to the Workers’ Compensation Board, Colin was a lab technician, a restaurant server, a bar tender, and played in several rock bands in Edmonton. He has a diploma from Grant MacEwan in Jazz Composition.
He and his wife operate a property management business in their spare time.
Brittain, Grace Anne
Grace Brittain has been a Registered Nurse for over 45 years. She also has training in Health Administration and Forensic Studies, and her professional background includes progressive roles in health care management, education, and administrative justice. She has worked more than 28 years in health care leadership, holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer, Director of Care, and Community Team Manager, and she has been an adult educator for mental health, and the Health Care Aide program. Grace? has served on the Alberta Mental Health Review panel, and the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) hearing tribunal, and she was a public member for Alberta Health under the Health Professions Act, and member and chair for the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) appeal panel. Currently, Grace is a public adjudicator with the Law Society of Alberta (LSA) and a member of the CRNA Council. Her interests include dogs, books, writing, and she remains an optimistic golfer.???
Ryan, Colleen
Prior to joining the Appeals Commission, Colleen served on the Parole Board of Canada, the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board, and the College of Dental Technologists of Alberta. She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, and practiced criminal law and civil litigation during her legal career. She taught law and business administration courses for over 15 years, earning a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta during that time. She holds an LL.B. and a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta and a B.A. (with Distinction) from McGill University.
Colleen enjoys facilitating learning and has been a mentor/coach in the fields of law, education and athletics. Some of her accomplishments in these fields include receiving a City of Edmonton Citizenship Volunteer Award and earning a Gold Medal in Women's Hockey at the World Masters Games.
Bentivegna, Giuseppa
Giuseppa Bentivegna is a lawyer who worked for the Alberta Utilities Commission and its predecessor for 19 years. Giuseppa has enjoyed an extensive career in administrative law, including stints in Yellowknife, Toronto, and Halifax before moving to Calgary. She has participated in many hearings during her career as counsel to tribunals. Giuseppa has also served as chair of the Ontario Review Board and as a justice of the peace. She has held management positions within government and worked as a consultant. She started her career in private practice in Montreal.
Clark, Christina
Christina Clark is a professional engineer who has spent over 25 years in executive and leadership roles in the electric utility industry. She trained as a mediator at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta, and holds an advanced certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals from Osgoode Hall Law School at York Univerity. She currently serves on the City of Edmonton Assessment Review Board, and the Board of Appeal of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.??
Fisher, Charles
Charlie Fisher is a seasoned professional with years of adjudicative experience. He has a 30-year history of involvement in labour relations, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, and long term disability appeal hearings throughout western Canada. Charlie has received specific training from the Alberta Foundation of Administrative Justice.
He is currently a board member with the Government of Alberta Long Term Disability Income (LTDI) Second Level Appeal Board for Bargaining Unit Employees, as well as a board member and a hearing chair with the Government of Alberta LTDI Second Level Appeal Board for Management, opted out and excluded employees. He is also a former panel member and a hearing chair for the Government of Alberta Children's Services Appeal Board.
Charlie has served as a panel member on the Millard Centre Symposium on Chronic Pain, the Alberta Workers' Compensation Policy and Service Review Committee, and has twice represented the Alberta Industry Task Force on the Alberta Appeals Commissioner Selection Committee. He has acquired a thorough understanding of interpreting legislation, policies, regulations, and medical evidence within the context of administrative justice.
His volunteer experience includes serving as a hearing chair on the St. Albert Community Justice Committee, a director with the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association, a team manager with the St. Albert Raiders Bantam AAA Hockey Team, and a coach with the Calgary, Saskatoon, Thunder Bay, and St. Albert Minor Hockey and Baseball Associations.
Weatherall, Miles
Miles Weatherall is a senior management consultant who works with business leaders and their teams in their pursuit of continuous improvement. He is also a professional project manager, a certified change management consultant, and an executive coach. Miles has extensive experience in quasi-judicial roles and is currently a member of the Land and Property Rights Tribunal. Miles holds a Bachelor of Administration degree with a concentration in public administration with distinction.
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Fernando, Joshua
In 2011, Joshua Fernando started his career in disability management as an adjudicator at the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) in Alberta. Over the next five years, he worked in several roles within the organization. In 2016, he accepted an opportunity to work for a national retailer to manage its western Canada disability management team. He later began his role as a WCB advocate at a large-scale union providing advice and guidance to its members regarding the WCB process. Currently, he is a partner at a financial group specializing in strategies for health-care professionals.
Gilman, Donna
Donna Gilman has had a diverse career in both the public and private sectors, including in managerial, policy and human resource positions, as well as at the Workers' Compensation Boards of Alberta and Saskatchewan. She worked extensively with workers, employers, and business owners while serving as Director of Maintenance Enforcement for Saskatchewan Justice and as Manager of Collections for the Consumer Taxation Branch of British Columbia. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and is also a trained mediator. Donna began serving as a tribunal panel member in 2014, working with panels for Alberta Community and Social Services and the Alberta Transportation Safety Board, prior to joining the Appeals Commission in 2017.
Paquette, Paul
Paul Paquette has served on various boards and committees as a chair and a board member.
His board member experience includes sitting on the Assessment Review Board in Strathcona County, the Child Care Licensing Review Board, and the Bargaining Unit Long Term Disability Income Continuance Second Level Appeal Board.
Paul's past experience also includes consulting and representing injured individuals appealing disability claims.
Verma, Rohit
Rohit Verma is a lawyer with diverse work experience in both Alberta and internationally. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta, Master of Laws from the University of London, and has qualified as a mediator at the London School of Mediation.
He has been employed as a Workers' Compensation Board appeals advisor and legal counsel at the City of Calgary, Real Estate Council of Alberta, and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. Rohit has also worked at the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and he has taught law courses in the School of Business at SAIT.
In his spare time, Rohit enjoys travelling and nature photography.