contributors
YAFA SAKKEJHA
Yafa Sakkejha is the general manager and partner at Beneplan Inc., which
runs the Beneplan Co-Operative, a non-profit, member-owned structure
that provides group health benefits to small and medium employers in
Canada. She has been published in The Wall Street Journal, National Post,
CBC, Toronto Star, Benefits Canada, Advisor’s Edge and was named a rising
star in Toronto’s entrepreneurial scene by The Globe and Mail. She
helped launch the TEDxToronto event and a wellness vacation company.
She has spoken at the HRPA annual conference on returning to work
after a mood-related disability. She graduated with a B.Comm (Hons)
from Queen’s University. Sakkejha discusses the dos and don’ts of an employee’s
mental health leave, starting on page 41.
LINDA LEWIS-DALY
Linda Lewis-Daly has over 20 years’ experience developing innovative
workplace physical and mental health programs to support employee
wellbeing. In her private consulting practice and as a GoodLife Fitness’
Workplace Wellness Program consultant, Lewis-Daly assists organizations
in the development and implementation of programs that support
employee engagement and health promotion focusing on sustainable behaviour
change. She is regularly featured in the media, both print and
radio, as a subject matter expert on workplace wellness program design.
She also co-authored the wellness publication Managing My Life: Managing
My Health. Lewis-Daly explores reducing mental health stigma in the
workplace, starting on page 38.
STEVE O’BRIAN
Steve O’Brian is VP of Client Services for Chronus Corporation. O’Brian
oversees marketing and client services for Chronus and brings 20 years of
marketing and operations experience to the organization. Prior to joining
Chronus, O’Brian led the marketing efforts at University of Washington
Professional & Continuing Education for nearly five years. During that
time, he significantly expanded the role of marketing and its value to the
organization, helping more than double revenue. Read O’Brian’s take on
implementing a workplace mentoring program and why such a program
benefits organizations, starting on page 43.
RICHARD MATTHEWS
Richard Matthews has been part of the Canadian Recruiting landscape
since 2000 and is the founder of Granite Consulting, the online communities
RNG/HRNG and the annual Recruitment Innovation Summit(s).
He is known as a thought leader and expert in social and professional networking.
He is one of Canada’s leading resources on recruitment strategy,
best practice and process.
Richard can be found attending, hosting and speaking at the latest recruitment
industry events, authoring articles, sharing industry insights
and building the Granite network. Read what Matthews has to say about
Canadian recruitment trends, starting on page 45.
4 ❚ JANUARY 2014 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL