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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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Iridium’s unique approach and in depth understanding for our business made for a thorough and seamless insurance placement. We can always rely on their guidance and exceptionally prompt responses. Iridium’s knowledge and strong service focus gives us confidence in knowing the job will get done right!

—Dave Hawkins, CA
Chief Executive Officer,
Groundforce geoDrilling Solutions Inc.

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.

Iridium took the time to meet with our rail logistics and tidewater terminal operating teams to learn about Sultran’s overall business activities and related risks. The Iridium team’s analysis of our risks was very comprehensive and resulted in the design and placement of an insurance program that vastly improved coverage of our identified risks. Their prompt service, knowledge of managing risks and attention to detail has been impressive and extremely helpful. Not only has Iridium talked the talk, they’ve walked the walk.

—Warren Barker
Director of Finance and Administration & Corporate Secretary,
Sultran 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 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 are very pleased with the expertise and service that we receive from Iridium. We take comfort that our representatives at Iridium have a current understanding of market conditions and combined with the investment they make in understanding our business and risks, we are highly confident that we are getting the best coverage and competitive premiums. The people at Iridium are very attentive and responsive to our needs. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

—C. Dean Setoguchi
Vice President & CFO,
Keyera Corp.

We engaged Iridium at the same time that we were completing a large asset acquisition and a corporate merger. In order to identify our exposures, the team at Iridium invested the time required to understand our existing business and the new acquisitions. In addition, they worked closely with our staff to compile the data requested by our insurance providers. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the exceptional level of service provided by Iridium and value them as a trusted business partner.

—Brent R, Bracken, CA
Sr. Vice President, Finance & CFO,
Caltex Resources Inc.

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