Meet our leadership team
WCG's executive team believes in the power of work. That belief motivates us to create exceptional work environments and to deliver client-based, community-driven services that improve people’s lives.
Tania Bennett
CEO
Designations: BA, MBAWith over 20 years of operational leadership experience, including as WCG’s Vice President of Operations between 2014 and 2016, Tania has contributed to the success of 50 contracts that provided life-changing services for over 160,000 people across Canada.
Tania earned her Master of Business Administration (Innovation Leadership Specialization) in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours degree (political science and economics) from the University of Victoria. Tania has a reputation throughout the industry as a collaborator who builds partnerships globally and locally to bring inclusive, accessible, and innovative solutions to social and economic challenges.
Crysta Walski
VP People & Culture
Designations: MA, CPHRCrysta Walski has served as WCG’s VP People & Culture since 2017. Prior to that she spent five years as WCG’s VP Talent. Crysta is responsible for driving performance through excellence in human resources practices and supporting high levels of engagement through marketing and communications.
As WCG’s VP People & Culture, Crysta has nearly two decades experience ensuring that WCG’s teams are “best-in-class” and have the skills, expertise and knowledge they require to successfully deliver workforce development programs. Crysta’s communications leadership has contributed to WCG’s high staff and stakeholder engagement. Crysta is well respected in the human resources field for ensuring a balanced and people-focused approach that supports business objectives, and was recognized by her peers in 2013 as a finalist for HR Professional of the Year.
Crysta holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University as well as an Associates Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Leadership from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. She is a certified EQ-I and Resilience in the Workplace trainer and registered yoga teacher. Crysta is a heart-centred leader who values integrity, compassion and agility.
Risë Bulmer
VP Business Development & Risk Management
Designations: MBARisë Bulmer has been leading WCG’s growth as Vice President of Business Development since 2015, with the added responsibility of risk management since 2018. Risë’s responsibilities includes oversight of the procurement projects within WCG, risk management, and compliance reporting. Her goal is to ensure WCG’s growth and continued operations are sustainable, mitigate risk, and align with the organizational values.
Risë has 25 years’ experience in program development and design, management and leadership in employment programming, including seven years’ experience in business development, procurement and project management, following 12 years in senior field delivery management positions. Risë was responsible for leading WCG’s competitive bid process that resulted in WCG currently holding the largest market-share in employment services delivery in BC. She continues to work towards WCG’s growth in new markets across Canada.
Risë’s education includes a Master of Business Administration in Executive Management and a Diploma in Marketing and Sales Management from the Sauder School of Business, University of BC. She believes in creating team-based strategic development that has a foundation of integrity, respect and innovation
Ben Forsyth
VP Finance
Designations: CGA, CPA, MBAAs integral part of the Executive Team at WCG, Ben Forsyth provides strategic and financial oversight to the company through forecasting, strategic planning, and leading WCG’s financial department in its day-to-day activities. Ben carries more than 20 years of financial work-experience, having served as WCG’s Director of Finance from 2017 to 2021, and prior to that as Controller for eight years, and Assistant Controller for two more.
Ben’s insightful approach to financial systems have brought workflow efficiencies to WCG’s finance department, resulting in substantial business improvements throughout the organization. Ben is a Chartered Professional Account and Certified General Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Calgary and obtained a Master of Business and Administration (Specialized in Leadership) from Royal Roads in Victoria.
Ben continuously strengthens the fabric of WCG’s Executive Team and the organization as a whole through his recognition of the importance of collaboration, openness, and work-life balance.
Gillian Blair
Vice President, Rehabilitation Services
Designations: BA, RRP, RTWDMGillian Blair joined WCG as VP Rehabilitation Services in September 2021. An experienced senior leader, she develops robust teams by creating a culture of continuous improvement that drives employee engagement and business excellence. Gillian possesses a diverse skill set with significant expertise in the hands-on design, implementation and optimization of disability management transformation programs, originating tailor-made rehabilitation and claims models that have brought sustainable value add in relation to customer strategy with associated accelerated performance outcomes.
Gillian holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology coupled with Diplomas in Rehabilitation Counselling & Rehabilitation Benefits Administration. She is also formally trained in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Methodology. As an active member of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada since 1994, Gillian’s longstanding focus has been to help to accelerate best in class rehabilitation support services throughout the industry that are underpinned with innovation and thought leadership.
Gillian is an active participant with the Woman in Leadership Foundation (WIL) Mentorship Program (Toronto Chapter), dedicated to positive change in the future of women’s leadership in Canada.
Robin Thompson
VP Information Services & Technology
Robin Thompson joined WCG in October 2021 as VP Information Technology Services. Robin is an
open and engaged technology/business transformation leader with a people-centric, quality
driven approach. Working within public and private sectors, Robin rallies teams to achieve
outstanding results. Leveraging modern technologies and innovative design thinking, she and
her teams have delivered multiple service transformations with a focus to both serve and
delight the customer.
Robin brings over 25 years of progressive leadership experience across multiple roles
including Vice President Rogers Communications Inc.; Chief Information Officer, Assistant
Deputy Minister for the Ministry of the Solicitor General; Vice President Business
Improvement and Chief Information Officer for ServiceOntario; and most recently, Chief
Technology Officer for the Ontario Public Service. An adept negotiator and influencer, Robin
excels at strategic planning, program management and outcome delivery, powered by innovation
and creativity.
Robin believes in people. As a strategic leader and colleague, she strives to build a work
environment in which people can thrive. With teamwork at the heart of every great
achievement, she is energized by challenging work, passionate colleagues and the drive for
excellence in service delivery.
Vanessa Corbett
Chief Operating Officer
Vanessa joined APM in 2012 in a State Management role focused on the performance and cultural transformation of APM’s largest employment services regions. In that role, she supported a management team of 14 to increase their performance against contractual KPIs. This transformation was achieved by rebuilding the culture within the staff group of close to 100 consultants. These efforts built the confidence of the funding body in APM as it earned the highest performance average across the state within the industry.
In 2017, Vanessa moved into a General Management role focused on engagement, marketing, attraction, and retention of job seekers. During this time, she led several large-scale competitor acquisitions for APM.
In 2019 Vanessa relocated to Ingeus in the United Kingdom (UK) to support and mentor the senior management team within the Work and Health Programmes (WHP). After successfully supporting the teams to increase their programme performance and building back the confidence of the funding bodies, the team quickly moved up the league table.
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, and on the back of strong performance in the WHP program, the UK government awarded Ingeus the JETs contract. As Director of the Program, she was responsible for program design, service delivery model and processes, recruitment of over 140 staff, and building relationships with over ten supply chain partners. The key objective of this program, as identified by the government, was to fully roll out the program at speed to support the growing number of affected participants. The rollout had to be fully achieved within six weeks from the initial announcement. We are proud to say that all of this was achieved during a difficult lockdown period, to the overwhelming satisfaction of the Commissioners.
Vanessa returned to Australia in November 2021 to lead the APM Participant Platform, Employable Me. She continues to lead the team focused on the design, development, and implementation of what was soon to become an APM offer for participants in our programs globally.
Vanessa joined WCG as our Chief Operating Officer in July 2022.
