Sultan Akif, Financial Services Industry Architect, Microsoft Canada, is responsible for supporting financial services clients across the country. Having worked in 9 countries, Sultan has a global financial services industry perspective with a focus on Canadian market. His areas of expertise include a deep understanding of financial services industry trends, technology initiatives, risk management and business process optimization. He presents frequently at financial services industry events. He is also a keen traveler and has visited 42 countries.
Jeff Hasty, FLMI, ACS, Senior Vice President, LOMA, leads the Management Solutions operation responsible for improving the effectiveness member company operations and employees by delivering leading edge learning solutions. Jeff is an integral member of the LOMA/LIMRA integration steering committee formed to leverage the strengths of both organizations into a value added integrated offer. He also has primary responsibility for full development of E-learning as a strategic tool for the new organization.
Ross Morton started his career as a management trainee in the property and casualty business. After three summers and 6 permanent months he decided to opt for the world of life reinsurance. Given excellent mentoring and guidance he rose through the ranks of underwriting positions and made the transition into management. His employment history is comprised of large international companies and Canadian entities that needed his management, reinsurance, technology, marketing or risk selection skills. He has held no fewer than 25 industry association and advisor roles over his career, including Chairman of the Life Insurance Institute of Canada, the predecessor to LOMA Canada. In 2005 Ross was awarded the prestigious LOMA Education Award for his decades of contributions to insurance education at LOMA and around the globe. Also in 2005 Ross published his first book titled “Again, Does it Make Sense?” For more information about Ross, his interests and his career, visit his website
www.rossmorton.com.
Paul Smith is the Vice President, Marketing, Product Development and Pricing, Individual Insurance, Manulife Financial, a role he accepted in 2006. He joined Individual Insurance in 2004 and he successfully helped the area develop its overall strategy, specifically focusing on Living Benefits and its “Make it Easy” service improvement program. Paul has over 24 years experience in the insurance industry. He has spent the last 22 years with Manulife Financial and Manulife Reinsurance in progressive roles in systems, marketing and strategic development. Prior to his current role, he headed up the Canadian Division’s Marketing and Communications central services team, responsible for advertising, creative services, public relations, marketing research and emarketing. Paul holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI), and an Associate of the Insurance Institute of Canada (AIIC). Paul also serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, the Steering Committee for the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network and the Waterloo International Airport Advisory Board.
Sultan Akif, Financial Services Industry Architect, Microsoft Canada, is responsible for supporting financial services clients across the country. Having worked in 9 countries, Sultan has a global financial services industry perspective with a focus on Canadian market. His areas of expertise include a deep understanding of financial services industry trends, technology initiatives, risk management and business process optimization. He presents frequently at financial services industry events. He is also a keen traveler and has visited 42 countries.
Jeff Hasty, FLMI, ACS, Senior Vice President, LOMA, leads the Management Solutions operation responsible for improving the effectiveness member company operations and employees by delivering leading edge learning solutions. Jeff is an integral member of the LOMA/LIMRA integration steering committee formed to leverage the strengths of both organizations into a value added integrated offer. He also has primary responsibility for full development of E-learning as a strategic tool for the new organization.
Ross Morton started his career as a management trainee in the property and casualty business. After three summers and 6 permanent months he decided to opt for the world of life reinsurance. Given excellent mentoring and guidance he rose through the ranks of underwriting positions and made the transition into management. His employment history is comprised of large international companies and Canadian entities that needed his management, reinsurance, technology, marketing or risk selection skills. He has held no fewer than 25 industry association and advisor roles over his career, including Chairman of the Life Insurance Institute of Canada, the predecessor to LOMA Canada. In 2005 Ross was awarded the prestigious LOMA Education Award for his decades of contributions to insurance education at LOMA and around the globe. Also in 2005 Ross published his first book titled “Again, Does it Make Sense?” For more information about Ross, his interests and his career, visit his website
Paul Smith is the Vice President, Marketing, Product Development and Pricing, Individual Insurance, Manulife Financial, a role he accepted in 2006. He joined Individual Insurance in 2004 and he successfully helped the area develop its overall strategy, specifically focusing on Living Benefits and its “Make it Easy” service improvement program. Paul has over 24 years experience in the insurance industry. He has spent the last 22 years with Manulife Financial and Manulife Reinsurance in progressive roles in systems, marketing and strategic development. Prior to his current role, he headed up the Canadian Division’s Marketing and Communications central services team, responsible for advertising, creative services, public relations, marketing research and emarketing. Paul holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI), and an Associate of the Insurance Institute of Canada (AIIC). Paul also serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, the Steering Committee for the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network and the Waterloo International Airport Advisory Board.