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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

Paul Aiello

Risk Advisor

Paul brings over 7 years of insurance broking experience, including energy, trade credit and other diverse industries to Iridium. Paul…

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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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Risk Consultants

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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Lisa Lee

Risk Consultant

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Lisa Lee

Risk Consultant

Lisa brings approximately 17 years of experience to Iridium. She has worked both as a Customer Service Representative and an…

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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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Wesley Robinson

Risk Consultant

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Wesley Robinson

Risk Consultant

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

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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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“Enerflex is a complicated global account and I have been extremely impressed with the way that the team at Iridium has been able to dissect and understand our risks to ensure our policies are appropriate for our organization. There are a number of touch points around the globe and the team at Iridium has seamlessly coordinated our program. I am extremely pleased with the risk management focus of Iridium and the results that their unique approach has brought to our company.”

—Jeremy Weatherhead
Treasurer,
Enerflex Ltd.

The Iridium team is very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and professional, and consistently provides timely and relevant advice regarding insurance and risk management issues that are of importance to Propak. Iridium generated underwriter interest in our account through a strategic marketing exercise that resulted in policy coverage improvements alongside a reduction in premium. Iridium analyzed our insurance program and policies, identifying gaps in coverage and wording improvements and proposing and placing new policies, ultimately optimizing our insurance program. Propak is pleased to be working with such a talented and committed team at Iridium. I wish we had made the change years ago!

—Barry C. Taylor, CA
VP Finance and Administration,
Propak Systems Ltd.

Pure is a company that has grown significantly both in size and complexity over the last 10 years and required a new perspective on its overall risk management approach. Through a detailed and in-depth review of our Company and our business, Iridium was quickly able to immediately add value to Pure by helping us develop and implement a comprehensive insurance program that ensured appropriate coverage on a cost effective basis. Our senior management has been very impressed with both the professionalism and responsiveness of the Iridium team as we have made the transition from our previous provider. We look forward to a strong and long term business partnership between Pure and Iridium as our business continues to grow.

—Geoffrey D. Krause, CA, CPA
Vice President and CFO,
Pure Technologies

The Iridium approach to insurance and risk management is very inclusive, encouraging representation from across the business to fully understand the business risks and requirements. The Iridium team brings extensive oil and gas experience, together with useful benchmarking, market research and relationships with insurers that results in intelligent and cost effective risk solutions. Iridium are an important part of our business and we share similar corporate values as Calgary based, owner managed teams with significant pride of ownership and determination to succeed.

—David French
CFO and VP Finance,
Burgess Creek Exploration Inc.

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.

When TransCanada Turbines aligned our business with Iridium, you were dealing with a group of TCT people with very limited exposure to the Risk/Insurance industry. Your ability to articulate insurance matters and jargon into clear terms enabled us to feel comfortable with all of our insurance and contractual decisions. Your team’s willingness to support our business for everything from education and transformational activities to our frequent questions regarding our transactional business dealing has been over the top. We will tell you that TransCanada Turbines would not hesitate to recommend Iridium to anyone. Your team service is excellent, your approach is transparent and your willingness to help is tireless. We look forward to a long and symbiotic relationship with the entire Iridium Team. Well done!

—Tim Wilcox
Vice President,
TransCanada Turbines

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.

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