Corporate Board

Terry Agoto

Chair

Terry is nominated by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

Terry has been a Union Representative with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) since November 2001. He acts as union counsel representing AUPE and its members in rights and interest arbitrations and is also a spokesperson for the union for a number of collective bargaining tables.

Terry served as an employee-nominated board member on the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) Board from February 2009 until July 2013. He held the position of Vice Chair of the PSPP Board from January 2012 until his departure from the PSPP Board in August 2013. Terry also served on the LAPP Corporation Corporate Board from 2013 to 2020, which included two separate terms as Board Chair.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Terry graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a diploma in Construction Engineering in 1992. He moved to Victoria, B.C., to attend the University of Victoria where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with a major focus in economics in 1997.

Darren Sander

Vice Chair

Darren is nominated by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Darren is a Human Resources Executive Director at AHS. A Business graduate of the University of Alberta, Darren has over 24 years of public (17+ years within Healthcare) and private sector experience in the retirement and insurance industries.

In addition to his broader responsibilities within the Human Resources leadership team, Darren provides governance and management oversight to the many benefit and retirement plans and trusts that exist at AHS. Since the 2009 merger of Alberta's provincial health regions and entities, many of the trusts, policies, contracts, and benefit and retirement programs have been newly established, implemented, and managed by Darren and his team.

Having served on the LAPP Board of Trustees since 2014, Darren has been a long term member of the LAPP Stakeholder Consultation Group and brings a broad professional pension background ranging from administration to plan governance.

Robert Bhatia

Board Member

Robert is nominated by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Robert served 10 years as a Deputy Minister with the Province of Alberta, responsible for four major portfolios. He has more than 30 years of management and leadership experience, and six years as an Executive Coach. He has had significant responsibility for execution of multiple major corporate and financing transactions, including the creation of TELUS Corporation and financial sector regulation.

He was responsible for the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund’s investment policy, oversaw the province’s investment operation, and was instrumental in the creation of AIMCo. Robert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Alberta and a Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen’s University. He holds the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D certification and has been an examiner for the Institute.

Robert also chairs the Board of the Balancing Pool and the Alberta Insurance Council Audit Committee and serves on the General Insurance Council.

Steve Bradshaw

Board Member

Steve is nominated by the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL).

Steve has a long background in organized labour, bringing a wealth of experience representing Plan members' interests to the LAPP Board.

Formerly, Steve was the President and Business Agent for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569 in Edmonton. The Union represents approximately 2400 members in three bargaining units. He has been a union activist for over 35 years in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and earlier in Sarnia, Ontario.

In his role as Business Agent for ATU Local 569, Steve was responsible for negotiating, and with the employer, managing the several benefits plans held with the City of Edmonton and administered by agencies like Alberta Blue Cross and Great West Life.

Noelle Devlin

Board Member

Noelle is nominated by the City of Edmonton.

Noelle is the Branch Manager of Talent Acquisition, Service and Solutions with the City of Edmonton. Her areas of responsibility include talent acquisition, pension, benefits and payroll, as well as workforce analytics and business solutions.

Previously, Noelle spent eight years in various senior leadership roles within both human resources service delivery and employment policy capacities, including supporting total compensation policy and employee pension plans for the Government of Alberta.

Over the past 20 years Noelle has led transformation work in support of major initiatives within government, including supporting significant legislative changes, implementing new organizational structures, and in transitioning to new enterprise platform solutions.

Noelle aspires to cultivate her City of Edmonton leadership competencies and in particular to becoming a more collaborative networker, creative innovator, and inclusive leader. Noelle has had the opportunity to serve in both federal and provincial jurisdictions, and is now excited to extend her experience at the municipal level.

Tina Giesbrecht

Board Member

Tina is nominated by Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Tina has practiced in the area of labour and employment law since she was called to the Bar in 1994. She began her career in Winnipeg with Pitblado LLP, and joined Field LLP when she relocated to Calgary. She later became a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Calgary, and, in 2012, she joined AHS as in-house counsel.

Tina was appointed General Counsel at Alberta Health Services in July of 2016. She manages the provision of all legal and privacy services for AHS. Tina has spoken at numerous labour and employment conferences over the years and also taught Employment Law at the University of Manitoba. She is currently on the LPIP Reciprocal Insurance Exchange Advisory Board.

Peter Marsden

Board Member

Peter is nominated by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Peter has over 25 years of labour relations experience in the municipal and electrical power industry. Peter was formerly the President of CUPE Local 38 which represents 5,000 members with the City of Calgary and ENMAX. Peter has also served on the Provincial board of CUPE and as President of his community association.

Robert Nicolay

Board Member

Robert is nominated by Alberta Municipalities.

Robert returned to Medicine Hat in October 2018 when he was appointed by City Council as the CAO / City Manager. Robert provides leadership for the City organization in executing Council’s strategy and implementing the policies and programs of the municipality. 

Prior to joining the City of Medicine Hat, Robert was City Manager in Grande Prairie, and prior to that, he was President of Bluenergy Solarwind Canada and Chief Operating Officer of Bluenergy Solarwind Inc (Houston). Robert has also served as President and CEO of Oak Point Energy, an oil company he co-founded, Vice president Mergers and Acquisitions for Pengrowth Energy, President and CEO of the Calgary Olympic Development Association, and President and CEO of ENMAX Corporation. He also served as Chief Commissioner (CAO) for the City of Medicine Hat after managing that City’s Utilities Finance function for several years. Bob started his career in corporate finance and business planning with Amoco Petroleum and Gulf Oil.

Robert holds a Master of Business Administration degree, a Bachelor of Commerce degree, as well as diplomas in business administration and advanced management. He also holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and has served as director on numerous private and public sector boards over his career.

Antonia Stiuca

Board Member

Antonia is nominated by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA).

Antonia is the Finance Manager at Alberta School Boards Association. She maintains and develops the budgeting system of the Association, and implements financial policies and accounting internal controls. She also liaisons on fiscal items between the Association, Board of Directors, and Audit & Risk Management Committee. She is a Board Director for the Supplemental Integrated Pension Plan (SIPP) and Alberta School Boards Insurance Exchange (ASBIE).

Antonia is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan.

Liz Thompson

Board Member

Liz is nominated by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA).

In her role as a Labour Relations Consultant for HSAA, Liz provides advice and guidance to staff and members involving disability insurance, Workers’ Compensation benefits, health benefits, and pension benefits.

Liz has over 30 years of benefits experience and decided to pursue her interests and become involved in pensions in 2011. She served as a Trustee on the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) Board from 2013 to 2018.

She previously worked for the federal government where she managed the operations of the employment insurance appeals unit, provided training on legislative changes, and provided support to staff and management as a trainer and technical advisor.

Liz presently alternates as Chair and Co-Chair on the Canadian Blood Services Defined Contribution Pension Advisory Committee and serves on the Board of Directors with the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre. Liz previously served on the Board of Directors with the Grant MacEwan University Disability Advisory Committee.

She has spoken as a labour representative at Lancaster House conferences and employer conferences. Liz participated as a panelist and speaker in Share’s pension round table discussions, participated as a speaker for NUPGE’s pension webinars, and has completed her FTMS, ATMS, and courses in the Pension Plan Administration Certificate Program at Humber College.

Joanne Weninger

Board Member

Joanne is nominated by LAPP Corporation.

Joanne is the Chief Operating Officer at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Joanne has been at that organization for five years and is responsible for shaping child health investment opportunities through key partnerships with strategic donors, funders, academic and health system partners, and government.

Joanne holds an MBA from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Ottawa, following a decade-long career as a registered nurse in Alberta. Joanne was also a Principal with Ernst & Young’s consulting arm in New Zealand where she supported both public and private sectors in strategic and capital planning, governance, optimizing operations, and project management, primarily for post-secondary and health system organizations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea.

Richard West

Board Member

Richard is nominated by the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA).

Richard is a Labour Relations Advisor for UNA. He has worked serving the needs of members of that organization for the past 20 years.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. He brings with him to LAPP years of understanding and experience about pensions and benefits. Richard has served previously on the LAPP Board, from 1994 to 2006, and during that time he was elected Board Chair for two separate terms.