RESUME

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Recognized as one of Canada’s most prominent experts in life and health underwriting, with extensive international consulting, training, and expert-witness experience across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.

CAREER OVERVIEW

A skilled consultant with deep underwriting, new business, mortality management, and administrative expertise. Specialized in high‑growth, start‑up, and turnaround environments, with a proven ability to design processes, build strong teams, and drive operational improvements.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

BARRY J. PLENER CONSULTING (2003–Current)

Consultant (Self-Employed)

• Provided litigation support including expert opinions on underwriting practices, claims handling, and life expectancy.
• Recognized as an expert witness, with testimony accepted in courts across Canada, the United States, and throughout the Caribbean.
• Delivered extensive training and development in Nassau, Trinidad, Barbados, Curaçao, Suriname, and subsidiaries throughout the Caribbean.
• Consulted for Guardian Life, Pan American Life, Family Guardian, Sagicor, and CLICO throughout the Caribbean.
• Provided underwriting and new business expertise with emphasis on profitability, service, mortality control, and creative decision‑making.
• Consulted on product design and underwriting philosophies for life and critical illness products.
• Developed procedures manuals, training materials, and helped negotiate reinsurance treaties.
• Responsible for overall mortality for CLICO Trinidad, Nassau, Guyana, Faith Life Financial, Family Guardian Bahamas, and Canada Protection Plan.
• Developed claims committees and provided expert opinions on contestable claims.

THE CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (1997–2003)

Director, Individual Insurance Operations & Chief Underwriter

• Accountable for profitability and performance of Individual Insurance Life Underwriting.
• Led a team of 20 Underwriters, 1 Manager, 1 Business Analyst, and indirectly 8 Underwriters and 2 Managers.
• Member of the Senior Management Team responsible for competitive pricing, product strategy, and underwriting direction.
• Oversaw reinsurance quality, MIB processes, and all internal underwriting audits.
• Documented all underwriting processes for OSFI and privacy compliance.
• Project‑managed Canada Life’s automated underwriting initiative, evaluating system integrations with Ingenium, NBUW, TAI, Siebel, FASAT, and MIB.
• Negotiated reinsurance treaties and service-level agreements with third‑party vendors.
• Designed a Preferred Underwriting Program used nationally by Top Producers and integrated it into broader marketing initiatives.
• Presented underwriting direction and philosophy to national accounts, top brokers, and MGAs across Canada.
• Managed a $15M new business budget.
• Led process redesign initiatives across underwriting and administration.
• Managed contestable claims and participated in dispute resolution and mediation processes.
• Delivered major operational improvements: 25% staff reduction while increasing new business volumes by 25%, achieving 4‑hour service on 70% of cases and 98% within 8 hours.
• Designed and implemented an Automated Medical Evidence Program processing 7,000+ pieces per week, reducing cycle time by 2 days, error rate by 40%, and increasing productivity by 20%.

KEYFACTS CANADA (1996–1997)

Director of Underwriting and Customer Service

NORTH AMERICAN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY (1993–1996)

Manager, U.S. Underwriting

SUN LIFE OF CANADA (1991–1993)

Senior Underwriting Analyst

MANULIFE FINANCIAL (1987–1991)

Senior Underwriter

THE EXCELSIOR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (AETNA) (1983–1987)

Underwriter / Supervisor / Claims Processor

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) – Feb 2024 “We Live in a Material World”
• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) – Jan 2015 “Underwriting Uncovered”
• Atlantic Province Trial Lawyers Association (APTLA) – Nov 2015 “Underwriting Uncovered”
• ATTIC Trinidad – Sept 2026

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• York University – B.A. Economics (1982)
• LOMA Parts I, II, III, IV, IX, X
• HIAA
• Academy of Life Underwriting – Part I

MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES

• Canada Life Global Chief Underwriting Team
• HealthNet Board of Directors
• Contestable Claim Committees (various)
• NAL Corporate Compliance & Audit Teams
• CIU Executive (2000–2002)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 1994 Service Excellence Gold Award (NAL)
• 1996 Toronto Insurance Softball Hall of Fame
• 1990 Ontario Amateur Baseball Association MVP

References available upon request.