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Meet our team

You can count on our experts to provide timely and practical risk management and insurance advice to your business. Exceeding your expectations is our goal. If you are curious about what makes us so passionate about what we do, please read our manifesto.

Leadership

Berto Di Manno

President

Berto is the President and CEO of Iridium Risk Services Inc. Berto started his career in 1995 at Marsh specializing…

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Frances Weeks

Managing Partner

Frances joined Iridium in 2006 as a Partner, and is the Account Lead on a variety of E&P, oilfield service,…

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Geoffrey Cowling

Managing Partner

Geoff joined the Iridium team in 2008 as a Partner and works on a variety of technical risks including E&P,…

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Shelly Swartout

Partner and Team Lead

Shelly joined Iridium in 2008 and plays an instrumental leadership role in the company. She is the Account Lead on…

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Andrew Barker

Partner and Team Lead

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Andrew Barker

Partner and Team Lead

Andy joined Iridium as a Risk Technician in 2010, immediately upon graduating from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of…

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Hugh Patterson

Partner and Team Lead

Hugh joined Iridium in 2012 as a Risk Technician and progressed to his current role as Partner and Team Lead….

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Partners

Brent Blasetti

Partner

Brent joined Iridium in 2006 and is the Account Lead on a number of Canadian E&P and oilfield servicing accounts….

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Hristo Minkov

Partner

Hristo has been with Iridium since 2010 and works on a variety of E&P, technology and marine clients. Prior to…

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Risk Advisors

Bruce Barton

Risk Advisor

After graduating from the University of New Brunswick Saint John, Bruce moved to Calgary in 1990 and started his insurance…

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Ryan Tokar

Risk Advisor

After graduating from MacEwan University’s Insurance and Risk Management program in 2012, Ryan started his career at a Edmonton-based regional…

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Martin J. Delaney

Risk Advisor & Surety Leader

Martin joined Iridium as a Risk Advisor and Surety Practice Leader in 2020. Martin brings a diverse background to his…

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Tenille Burdz

Risk Advisor

Tenille began her insurance career in 2009 with a Calgary-based insurance brokerage, where she was a personal lines broker responsible…

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Mike Dow

Risk Advisor

Mike brings over 25 years of risk management and insurance experience to Iridium, having worked as an underwriter, broker, and…

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Joanne Hankinson

Risk Advisor

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Joanne Hankinson

Risk Advisor

Joanne brings over 20 years of energy, manufacturing, transportation and contractor insurance experience to the Iridium team. Joanne has a…

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Wesley Robinson

Risk Advisor

Wes joined Iridium in the role Risk Technician in 2017 as a graduate from the University of Calgary Haskayne School…

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Risk Consultants

Phillip Stawowiak

Risk Consultant

Phil joined Iridium two and half years ago as a Risk Technician. Prior to Iridium, Phil worked in sales for a…

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Jessie Gwynne

Risk Consultant

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Jessie Gwynne

Risk Consultant

Jessie joined Iridium in 2012 in the role of Administrative Assistant. She was promoted to Technical Assistant in 2014 and…

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Hristo Minkovski

Risk Consultant

Hristo joined Iridium in 2014 as a Risk Technician, and works primarily with E&P clients. Prior to this, he worked…

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Financial Lines

Danielle Gorst

National Practice Leader, Financial Lines

Danielle brings almost twenty years of financial lines insurance experience with over thirteen years in Executive Protection with a leading…

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Navacord Executives

Roger Swierstra

Chairman of Iridium Risk Services Inc.

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Roger Swierstra

Chairman of Iridium Risk Services Inc.

Roger is the Chairman of Iridium Risk Services Inc. He has over 27 years of insurance and risk management experience…

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T.Marshall Sadd

Chairman of the Board of Navacord Inc.

Marshall is president and CEO of Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers and Executive Chairman of Navacord, and has over 20 years’…

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Shawn DeSantis

President & CEO of Navacord Inc.

Shawn is President and Chief Executive Officer of Jones Delaurier Insurance Management Inc. and President and CEO of Navacord Inc. Shawn…

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Iridium earned our business through their fresh, consultative approach to helping us manage the risks faced by our business every day. Iridium was able to identify gaps in our insurance and risk management program and bring innovative, thoughtful solutions to the table while being cost conscious through the process. Iridium is indispensable to any oil and gas producer as their availability and expertise in risk management and insurance has us deem them as a partner versus a service provider.

—Craig W. Albert CGA
Controller,
Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd.

We engaged Iridium as Crescent Point’s risk management and insurance partner because they encouraged us to take a big-picture view on risk. Their collaborative and analytical approach enabled us to gain a better handle of our exposures and allowed us to put rigour around our many risk-improvement initiatives. Iridium impresses our team with their ability to develop intelligent risk solutions and they have more than delivered on their promise to be our strongest claims advocate. Without question, I would recommend Iridium as a risk management partner to anyone.

—Steve Downing
Manager. Risk and Treasury,
Crescent Point Energy Corp.

We were impressed with the depth of research and analysis Iridium preformed in determining our operational exposures and regulatory insurance requirements. Iridium developed and executed an intelligent marketing strategy which resulted in a competitively priced insurance program that reflected our exposure needs. We now consider them to be our partner in risk management.

—Bruce Sherley
P.Eng, President,
Dundee Oil and Gas Ltd.

We can always count on Iridium to be available at a moment’s notice. Whether it be to discuss a random insurance related topic, review a contract, or request documentation for board level meetings, they always deliver regardless of timing. Iridium has been great at bringing forward ideas, issues and solutions that have helped Perpetual build a better insurance program. They also introduced us to a new marketing strategy of building direct relationships with the underwriting community. Not only did it pay dividends at the time Iridium first became our broker, but it has continued to do so in subsequent renewals. Their professionalism, ability to speak on a technical level and refreshing style are all big reasons why our firms continue to do business.

—Jeffrey R. Green
Vice President,
Perpetual Energy Inc.

Iridium’s energy industry knowledge, technical expertise, and meticulous attention to detail gives us the confidence that our exposures are properly managed. The people at Iridium are true risk management and insurance professionals and I would strongly recommend their services to any firm operating in our industry.

—Scott Kirker
Secretary and General Counsel,
Tourmaline Oil Corp.

Iridium provides us with the guidance we need to ensure we have the proper coverage for our business. Iridium goes beyond the traditional broker role enabling us to explore different and new avenues that helped identify and address our various risk exposures.

—Marcia Elaschuk, CMA
Controller,
Divestco Inc.

The team at Iridium handled our significant pollution liability claim like the consummate professionals we’ve come to know them as. We felt supported throughout the entire process and knew Iridium always had our back. Whether it be in dealings with insurers, adjusters or third party experts, they advocated for us every step of the way. We are very grateful for their level of involvement and the ultimate settlements along the way.

—Graydon Glans
Chief Financial Officer,
Highwood Oil Company Ltd.

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