Headquarters:

102-4581 Parliament Avenue, Regina, SK

Year founded:

1962

Number of employees:

Phone:

306 751 8300

Email:

sheppinfo@shepp.ca

Website:

shepp.ca

LinkedIn:

ca.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-healthcare-employees%27%E2%80%8B-pension-plan-shepp-

“We don’t just do spreadsheets and decks, we take the lead on execution and communication, and really take care of our clients in ways others don’t in the industry”

Joseph Chan, Looniewell

SASKATCHEWAN HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN (SHEPP)

Alison McKay

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Dustin Antonini

Chief Investment Officer (CIO)

Kendra Dumont

Director of Governance, Strategy & Stakeholder Relations

Leadership

Alison McKay joined SHEPP in 2008 and has been its CEO since 2014. She leads a team of professionals dedicated to administering the largest defined benefit pension plan in Saskatchewan, ensuring retirement income security for the province’s healthcare workers. Passionate about promoting pension adequacy and fostering meaningful discussions on public sector pension policy, McKay actively participates in the broader national scene as a member of several pension boards and formerly served as co-chair of the Canadian Public Pension Leadership Council. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds bachelor’s degrees in both mathematics and administration from the University of Regina.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Alison McKay

Dustin Antonini serves as SHEPP's Chief Investment Officer, overseeing investment strategy, leading the internal investment team, and managing the Plan’s globally diversified portfolio. Prior to joining SHEPP in 2017, Dustin worked for 18 years in the government of Saskatchewan including 15 years with the Public Employees’ Benefits Agency (now Plannera) serving multiple boards for defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, annuity funds, and employee benefit plans. Dustin holds CFA and CPA designations

Chief Investment Officer (CIO)

Dustin Antonini

Kendra Dumont joined SHEPP as director of governance, strategy & stakeholder relations in 2025. She is a seasoned executive with a deep background in pension management and administration, strategic planning, leadership, governance, and plan design. Dumont leads the Plan’s governance, stakeholder relations, and overall strategic direction. She also serves as secretary to the Board of Trustees, championing good governance and liaising with the Plan’s key stakeholder groups. Her extensive experience and passion for plan administration drive her commitment to excellence in governance and long-term organizational success.

Director of Governance, Strategy & Stakeholder Relations

Kendra Dumont

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Allison Nystrom

Chief Experience Officer

Allison Nystrom has been with SHEPP since 2013 and was appointed chief experience officer in 2024. She leads the member experience, employer experience, and communications teams, championing a seamless and elevated experience for all Plan stakeholders. Dedicated to supporting the Plan’s 52 employers and 67,000 members through every step of the pension journey, Nystrom ensures the organization delivers clear, personalized, and proactive service that builds trust and lasting value. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, Pension Plan Administration Certificate, and Governance Professionals of Canada designation.

Chief Experience Officer

Allison Nystrom

Pamela Peters

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Pamela Peters has been with SHEPP since 2017 and was appointed chief financial officer in 2025. She leads the organization's finance and corporate services functions, ensuring operational efficiency to serve the best interests of members. Peters brings over 25 years of accounting experience working at the federal and provincial government levels as well as private industry experience with a variety of roles in finance, external and internal audit, corporate services, budgeting and procurement. In addition to her professional background, she holds CPA, CMA, Pro. Dir., and PPAC designations. She is also actively engaged as a member of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute (CPBI) Saskatchewan Regional Council.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Pamela Peters

Established in 1962, the Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan (SHEPP) has grown into the largest defined benefit pension plan in the province and the only industry-wide pension plan serving the healthcare sector, one of Saskatchewan’s largest and most valued workforces. SHEPP is a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan with 52 participating employers and over 67,000 members either receiving or entitled to a pension benefit under the Plan. Today, one in every 15 people employed in Saskatchewan is a SHEPP member, supporting the health and well-being of communities across the province. SHEPP delivers professional pension administration services through a team of passionate, qualified, and dedicated individuals who believe in the organization’s culture and positively impact it every day. Committed to serving its members’ best interests, SHEPP ensures a consistent experience for all stakeholders, guided by its service standards. Employees are provided a valuable work experience, a competitive compensation package, and the opportunity to integrate work and life in a healthy and effective way.

“Our philosophy is to be honest, ethical, and transparent with our clients; focus on what’s in their best interest; and help their business thrive” 

Joseph Chan, Looniewell

Paula Potter

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Karen Vigmond

Partner

Lara Fitzgerald-Husek

Partner

Liane Brown

Partner

As SHEPP’s chief operating officer, Paula Potter leads the integration of technology, compliance, and data-driven insights to enhance decision-making and optimize operations. Passionate about the pension and benefits sector, Potter has devoted over two decades to SHEPP and its predecessor, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) Retirement Plan. Holding the distinction of Certified Employee Benefits Specialist and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, Potter brings a unique blend of expertise and leadership to her role. She also actively contributes to the industry as a member of the regional council for the Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM).

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Paula Potter

Karen Vigmond is committed to assisting personal injury victims and their loved ones achieve the best possible outcomes. Her practice focuses solely on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and occupiers’ liability cases.

Partner

Karen Vigmond

Lara Fitzgerald-Husek joined Oatley Vigmond after practicing insurance defence at a leading national firm. The experience of representing many of Canada’s largest insurers has provided Lara with valuable insight into personal injury claims, allowing her to better serve her clients.

Partner

Lara Fitzgerald-Husek

Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.

Partner

Liane Brown

Partner

Liane Brown

Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.

Partner

Ben Irantalab

This modern mindset extends to how Looniewell manages client interactions.  “We don’t hide our commission, our clients know exactly how we’re compensated,” explains Chan. “We strive for same-day response and acknowledgement. Oftentimes we respond and at least acknowledge within an hour.”  As a result, the firm’s client retention is “very high” and a by-product of the trust built upon Looniewell’s methods of operation.  Eager to keep evolving and offering more to the market, Chan is considering expanding beyond consulting services to provide Software as a Service (SaaS) for Total Rewards through platform and analytics.  Chan comments, “Our philosophy is to be honest, ethical, and transparent with our clients; focus on what’s in their best interest; and help their business thrive.” 

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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories,” says McLean. “Our im is to continue to grow our market relevance and strengthen our partnerships with our strategic brokers as we expand our leadership position in key sectors. “We will also continue to invest in talent. We are committed to drawing from the broadest pools of talent, and to creating an environment that attracts and retains stellar employees. We recognise the importance of building teams that are diverse, collaborative, and innovative and are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in which all our employees can thrive.”

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There is also an absence of ‘consulting speak’ and corporate red tape as Looniewell provides clients with the top-quality fundamentals of measurable results and a highly responsive team.  An example of how focused the team is on delivering the best work possible, Chan prohibited the acceptance of gifts/meals from vendors/partners to ensure there is never any potential conflict of interest.  He says, “We put our clients first and advocate for them.”  Looniewell’s rapid rise has been driven solely by organic growth, and its customer base is the result of referrals, which include organizations with over 10,000 employees to start-up operations seeking to scale.  The firm’s team of consultants have been attracted by the progressive and innovative work environment that features: 

· Global Office – work up to two weeks from anywhere in the world · Work from anywhere – not hybrid, no office, 100 percent remote · Proprietary tools and best technology to support digital-first work · Immediate benefits coverage from day one · Unlimited vacation · No corporate red tape, no hierarchy, no nonsense – staff are empowered to focus on meaningful client work and professional development

· Day-to-day Shout-outs – to award outstanding work, employees can exchange earned points for gift vouchers of up to $150 · Quarterly Stars Award – employees demonstrating core values have the chance to win $500 · Annual Hero’s Celebration – manager-nominated and peer-voted awards where outstanding employees earn a $5,000 bonus

Ben Irantalab

Partner

Ben Irantalab

Partner

Ben Irantalab

Partner

Liane Brown

SASKATCHEWAN HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN (SHEPP)