Headquarters:

Toronto, ON

Year founded:

2020

Number of employees:

Phone:

(905) 467 0221

Email:

sbury@wisetrust.ca

Website:

wisetrust.ca

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/wisetrust

“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”

Brett Bastow, IQumulate Premium FundinG

Christopher Brown

Chief Executive Officer

Theodor Heldman

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President

Mark Johnson

General Counsel, Board Secretary

Leadership

Christopher Brown is the chief executive officer of WISE Trust, responsible for guiding the organization’s strategic direction and ensuring operational excellence. Since joining in November 2022, he has led with a collaborative and purpose-driven approach, fostering a culture of accountability and long-term thinking. Brown is deeply committed to strengthening pension governance and delivering sustainable value for members. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. His leadership ensures WISE Trust remains focused on member security, transparency, and long-term plan sustainability.

Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Brown

Theodor Heldman is the chief financial officer and vice president, risk at WISE Trust, responsible for financial strategy, enterprise risk, and supporting the organization’s long-term sustainability. Since joining in September 2021, Heldman has brought over 25 years of asset management experience and a creative, solutions-focused approach to transformation. Heldman has the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation 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. A dynamic and thoughtful leader, Theo is committed to innovation, ensuring WISE Trust remains resilient and member-focused.

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President

Theodor Heldman

Mark Johnson is the general counsel, board secretary at WISE Trust, responsible for overseeing legal affairs and supporting the governance of the Board of Trustees. Since joining in November 2023, he has served as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, bringing over 25 years of legal and executive experience. Johnson graduated with an economics degree from the University of Toronto, an LL.B from the University of Ottawa, and an LL.M from York University (Osgoode Hall). In 2016, he was named in the GC Powerlist - Canada by the UK-based Legal 500, which recognizes in-house innovation, quality, and excellence. He is recognized for his thoughtful leadership and commitment to governance.

General Counsel, Board Secretary

Mark Johnson

BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs

Leadership

Shannon Bury

Director, People & Culture

Shannon Bury is the director, people & culture at WISE Trust, where she leads the organization’s talent and culture strategy in alignment with its long-term goals. With over 15 years of experience, she brings deep expertise in workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational design. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to drive transformation through inclusive, high-performance cultures. Bury holds a CHRL designation and studied criminology at Carleton University and human resource management at York University. Her work ensures WISE Trust remains a resilient, people-centred organization prepared for future growth.

Director, People & Culture

Shannon Bury

Alexander Nordang

Principal

Alexander Nordang is a principal in CDI Lawyers’ litigation and dispute resolution team, bringing over 12 years of experience in complex, multijurisdictional construction disputes. He has acted for international contractors, state-owned enterprises, and government entities on matters valued up to $1 billion, involving projects across Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. In addition to his dispute resolution expertise, Nordang provides strategic advice during pre-contracting and contract administration phases, helping clients build strong contractual foundations. His in-depth understanding of technical construction issues enables him to identify and manage risks early – covering everything from variation claims to site-based correspondence.

Principal

Alexander Nordang

Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues. In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has: • experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year • improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40% • significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience • expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers. The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.

“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”

Wayne Tower, IQumulate Premium Funding

Steve Tchepak

National Underwriting Manager

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Steve Tchepak became the national underwriting manager at CHU in June 2019. He has over 13 years of experience in strata management and strata insurance. He has held various positions, including commercial underwriter, team leader and NSW and ACT branch manager.

National Underwriting Manager

Steve Tchepak

Thierry Pascal has over 13 years of experience in business and corporate banking in various financial/credit analytical and relationship management roles with the NAB and CBA. After a career break to undertake postgraduate studies, he joined GE Capital as a senior risk analyst in premium funding in 2010. Following the divestment of the premium funding business to the Macquarie Group in 2015, he joined Macquarie Premium Funding and was promoted to credit risk manager, where he led the credit underwriting team. Following the re-branding to IQumulate Premium Funding, Pascal was recently promoted to head of credit and legal, a role that sees him manage the credit underwriting team as well as oversee IQumulate’s in-house legal function. Pascal holds undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary qualifications in accounting and law.

Head of Credit and Legal

Thierry Pascal

Cemal Akgul sees the head of risk and collections role as pivotal in guiding and influencing business decisions. He has more than 15 years of experience across financial and government services, most recently with the NDIS, where he was the leading consultant driving the Risk Management process’ nationwide. Prior to that, he served various roles at BMW Finance across the United States, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia. During Akgul’s tenure at BMW Finance, he predominately worked in risk management, guiding the organisation through seismic changes between 2016 and 2018. In his time prior, he was based out of New York, leading BMW Finance’s American subsidiary's market risk and data analytics teams between 2011 and 2016. Akgul values a balanced approach to business, encourages a positive work culture and is passionate about teaching and guiding the business and individuals at IQumulate.

Head of Risk and Collections

Cemal Akgul

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view. IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance. “We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.

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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, with the potential to allow IQumulate to capture a larger market share, whilst continuing to deliver service excellence to clients.” “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share. “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

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Ivan Verescuk

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Shaun O’Brien

Head of Underwriting

Emily Walker

Head of Strata and Development

Rex Oakman

Head of Operations and Risk

Sandy Newton

Head of Underwriting

Andrew Mitchell

Manager – NSW

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

WISE Trust is the dedicated defined benefit pension administrator for over 10,000 active, deferred, and retired members. As an organization, we are committed to delivering secure retirement income and long-term financial stability. Established through a jointly sponsored governance model, WISE Trust ensures that both employer and employee voices are equally represented in the administration of the plan. This modern structure supports transparency, accountability, and member-focused decision-making. With a strong governance framework and a member-first mindset, WISE Trust is not just a pension administrator, it’s a trusted partner in retirement security and a great place to work. WISE Trust is dedicated to continuously modernizing its systems and simplifying solutions to meet the evolving needs of its members. The organization's commitment to digital transformation ensures that pension information is not only accurate and secure, but also accessible anytime, anywhere. Whether navigating retirement milestones or seeking clarity on plan changes, members can rely on intuitive tools and timely updates that make their pension journey seamless and informed. At the heart of WISE Trust’s operations are five core values: integrity, accountability, service excellence, inclusivity, and innovation. These principles guide every aspect of the organization’s work, from pension administration and member communications to strategic planning and service delivery. WISE Trust fosters a culture of transparency, collaboration, and respect, whereby it makes space for ideas, differences, and diverse experiences. “Workplaces are better places when everyone feels recognized, respected, and accepted for who they are. Strong teams bring better results when diversity of thought and perspectives are not only allowed, but encouraged, in our work and decision-making,” says Christopher Brown, Chief Executive Officer.

“This ‘boots on the ground’ approach has seen lawyers from CDI working directly with clients in their offices or on the project site for several different projects,” says XXX. Equally notable is the firm’s internal culture, as of CDI’s five principals, three – Christopher Rowden, Jason Pungsornruk and Jay Hatten – began as clerks under Pyman. Their shared history has fostered a continuity of vision, ensuring that CDI’s service-first philosophy remains deeply embedded. Junior lawyers are trusted to contribute meaningfully, provided they demonstrate discipline and aptitude. CDI also invests heavily in education-based marketing. From onsite seminars to thought leadership in legal journals, the firm seeks to upskill project teams and deepen client relationships. Its visibility across the legal landscape is reflected in its sponsorship and participation in key industry events – such as the ICC Arbitration Day in Tokyo and the SOCLA national conference – as well as its publishing credentials, including the widely used annotated guide to Queensland adjudication law. “We consider that success is only achieved when our clients feel they have received the most outstanding legal service experience they have ever received from a law firm,” says XXX. “Of course, results are important, but results can be unpredictable. What can be predicted and controlled is the commitment to adding value to our clients’ businesses.”

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”