Your Management Team
The Management Team at WISE Trust is dedicated to delivering on the defined benefit pension promise to you and all pension plan members. This team is led by Chris Brown, Chief Executive Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer reports to WISE Trust’s Board of Trustees and is responsible for overall leadership and management of the organization.
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Chief Executive Officer
Chris Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Brown became the Chief Executive Officer of Workplace Insurance & Safety Employees Trust (WISE Trust) in November 2022.
Prior to joining WISE Trust, Chris was the President & Chief Executive Officer of LAPP Corporation, the administrator, and trustee of the pension fund, of the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP). The largest pension plan in Alberta, LAPP serves the health, municipal and education sectors in the province.
Previously, Chris was a practicing lawyer for over 20 years and has been a leading pension expert counselling clients and working with regulators and other pension policy makers on pension legislation and governance at the provincial and national levels. Over his legal career, Chris had extensive experience counselling clients on all matters relating to the governance, investment, administration and regulatory compliance of pension plans and other employment benefits and compensation plans. Chris was a founder and managing partner of a firm specializing in human resources-related law and has been a partner in leading national law firms.
Chris served as the President and Chair of the Board of the Association of Canadian Pension Management from September 2010 to September 2013, and is a current member of ACPM's Executive Committee and National Policy Committee. Between October 2007 and November 2008, Chris served as Co-Chair of the Alberta-British Columbia Joint Expert Panel on Pension Standards. Chris also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Benefits Canada.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Alberta), and a Bachelor of Laws (Osgoode Hall Law School, York University).
Prior to joining WISE Trust, Chris was the President & Chief Executive Officer of LAPP Corporation, the administrator, and trustee of the pension fund, of the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP). The largest pension plan in Alberta, LAPP serves the health, municipal and education sectors in the province.
Previously, Chris was a practicing lawyer for over 20 years and has been a leading pension expert counselling clients and working with regulators and other pension policy makers on pension legislation and governance at the provincial and national levels. Over his legal career, Chris had extensive experience counselling clients on all matters relating to the governance, investment, administration and regulatory compliance of pension plans and other employment benefits and compensation plans. Chris was a founder and managing partner of a firm specializing in human resources-related law and has been a partner in leading national law firms.
Chris served as the President and Chair of the Board of the Association of Canadian Pension Management from September 2010 to September 2013, and is a current member of ACPM's Executive Committee and National Policy Committee. Between October 2007 and November 2008, Chris served as Co-Chair of the Alberta-British Columbia Joint Expert Panel on Pension Standards. Chris also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Benefits Canada.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Alberta), and a Bachelor of Laws (Osgoode Hall Law School, York University).
Chief Financial Officer & Vice President, Risk
Theo Heldman
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Risk
Theo first joined WISE Trust in September 2021 as the Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and became our permanent CFO and Vice President, Risk, in April 2023, reporting directly to our CEO.
Theo has over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry and has spent time developing finance functions and building teams. He is a dynamic leader who focuses on transformation, tackles opportunities and challenges with a creative approach, and uses his “build mentality” to create innovative processes.
Theo currently serves as a Board Member of Burgundy Asset Management’s Independent Fund Governance Committee and was previously Chair of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada’s Tax Committee.
Theo has the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D), and holds both the Chartered Professional Accountant (CA, CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Theo has over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry and has spent time developing finance functions and building teams. He is a dynamic leader who focuses on transformation, tackles opportunities and challenges with a creative approach, and uses his “build mentality” to create innovative processes.
Theo currently serves as a Board Member of Burgundy Asset Management’s Independent Fund Governance Committee and was previously Chair of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada’s Tax Committee.
Theo has the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D), and holds both the Chartered Professional Accountant (CA, CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Vice President, Pension Services
Tracey Douglas
Vice President, Pension Services
Tracey became Vice President, Pension Services of WISE Trust in April 2023 and reports directly to our CEO.
Tracey leads the day-to-day execution of our pension services, having oversight of member and employer services, policy and regulatory compliance related to pension administration, and actuarial services. Working closely with our pension services providers, Tracey and her team are accountable for serving and engaging our members while achieving high levels of operational excellence.
Tracey joined WISE Trust from WSIB in May 2021 and brings over 25 years of combined pension consulting and administration experience implementing solutions for a wide range of Canadian and US pension plans, taking on many transformational and member service-centered roles during her career.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Tracey leads the day-to-day execution of our pension services, having oversight of member and employer services, policy and regulatory compliance related to pension administration, and actuarial services. Working closely with our pension services providers, Tracey and her team are accountable for serving and engaging our members while achieving high levels of operational excellence.
Tracey joined WISE Trust from WSIB in May 2021 and brings over 25 years of combined pension consulting and administration experience implementing solutions for a wide range of Canadian and US pension plans, taking on many transformational and member service-centered roles during her career.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
General Counsel, Board Secretary
Mark Johnson
General Counsel, Board Secretary
Mark joined WISE Trust in November 2023 as its first General Counsel and Board Secretary, reporting directly to our CEO.
He manages legal matters and acts as a trusted legal advisor to WISE Trust and its board of trustees. WISE Trust relies on Mark for practical legal advice and strategic counsel on a wide range of matters.
Mark has over 25 years of experience as a lawyer, with the last fifteen years in general counsel positions in the private and public sector. He has directly advised seven Chief Executive Officers in large private and public entities as part of his executive duties and leadership of five legal departments. Mark was named to the 2016 GC Powerlist-Canada by the UK-based Legal 500 that recognizes in-house innovation, quality, and excellence. He was also profiled in the February 2017 issue of InHouse Magazine.
Mark graduated from the University of Toronto in economics, the University of Ottawa with an LL.B., and York University (Osgoode Hall) with an LL.M.
He manages legal matters and acts as a trusted legal advisor to WISE Trust and its board of trustees. WISE Trust relies on Mark for practical legal advice and strategic counsel on a wide range of matters.
Mark has over 25 years of experience as a lawyer, with the last fifteen years in general counsel positions in the private and public sector. He has directly advised seven Chief Executive Officers in large private and public entities as part of his executive duties and leadership of five legal departments. Mark was named to the 2016 GC Powerlist-Canada by the UK-based Legal 500 that recognizes in-house innovation, quality, and excellence. He was also profiled in the February 2017 issue of InHouse Magazine.
Mark graduated from the University of Toronto in economics, the University of Ottawa with an LL.B., and York University (Osgoode Hall) with an LL.M.
Work With WISE Trust
From HR to Finance, Actuarial, Communications, Pension Operations, and Project Management, we all work together to deliver on the pension promise. We also work with trusted partners in the areas of Legal, Investments, Actuarial and Pension Administration to ensure that we are meeting that pension promise in a financially responsible way.