Serenia Life Financial Board of Directors

R. Paul Hogan, Chair

Ajax, Ontario

Paul Hogan brings 30 plus years of experience as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he served a diverse portfolio of clients, including companies in finance (banks), technology, broadcasting, entertainment, energy, mining, real estate, manufacturing, the non-profit sector and government. He is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA) and was formerly a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and a Certified Public Accountant, Illinois. Paul has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA, and has also completed the Institute of Corporate Directors course. He specializes in synthesizing data, seeing the big picture and understanding future business directions, with particular skills in the areas of strategic thinking, human resources matters, risk management financial analysis and projections, customer satisfaction, internal controls and computer risks and controls.

Paul has served the boards of various charities including the United Way, Plan International Canada, World of Science and the Guelph Bible Conference Grounds. Over the years, he has provided governance and strategic planning expertise to many church-related institutions and is currently the Board Chair for Youth for Christ GTA. Paul and his wife Patricia live in Ajax, Ontario.

Glenn Hymers, President & CEO

Oakville, Ontario

Glenn Hymers is an executive leader with a passion for creating teams, leading change and growing businesses. He has demonstrated outstanding performance against key business goals and implemented innovative growth and distribution strategies with organizations such as CST Consultants, Foresters Financial and the Royal Bank. Glenn graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Commerce and received his MBA from the University of Toronto. He is also an Institute-Certified Director through the Rotman School of Management. Glenn has a keen appreciation for Serenia Life Financial’s mission and values, with a particular focus on using kindness as a compass at work and at home. Glenn and his family live in Oakville, Ontario.

Lee Bennett

Greater Toronto Area, Ontario

A senior financial executive, Lee Bennett spent over thirty years working for global financial organizations within insurance, banking, asset management, and capital markets. Before retiring, Lee was President of two brokerage firms: TD Wealth Financial Planning and CIBC Direct Investing and Advice. Lee has over 12 years of experience as a board member, and presently serves as Vice Chair of the board at March of Dimes Canada and Intouch Insight Ltd. Additionally, she serves on the Independent Review Committee for Investors Group Investment Management Ltd.

Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University, earned the Institute of Corporate Directors designation from the Rotman School of Management, holds the Partners, Directors, and Senior Officers designation from the Canadian Securities Institute and the ESG Global Competent Boards Designation, GCB.D.

As a Board Director, Lee brings in-depth experience in strategy design and execution, business to consumer distribution, sales distribution, and large digital and technology transformations to the role.

Lee and her husband, Will, have two children. They live in Toronto, where she enjoys sitting on the Fundraising Committee for Abiona Centre for Infant and Early Mental Health.

Dr. John A. Colangeli

Kitchener, Ontario

John Colangeli is Chief Executive Officer of a large not-for-profit organization operating in Southwestern Ontario. Having spent three decades in non-profits, hospitals and government, John’s passions are public service, board governance and growing people and organizations. He has been an advisor to two Ministers of Health while in government and served on provincial boards and task forces. John has a PhD from the University of Waterloo, has completed graduate work at Queens University in Kingston and attended an executive program at Harvard Business School. He lives in Waterloo with his wife, Lee Ann.

Nick DiRenzo

Oakville, Ontario

Nick Di Renzo is a strategic business leader who has led many transformational changes in leadership, distribution, finance, and operations to achieve superior results while managing risk. He has over 35 years of senior executive experience in the insurance, wealth management, healthcare, mortgage, credit union, banking, and real estate sectors in both Canada and the United States. He recently retired from Sun Life Financial, as President of Sun Life’s investment dealer. He holds a B. Comm. from the University of Windsor, is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), and holds the ICD.D directors designation through the Rotman School of Management.

Nick currently serves on the Boards of Serenia Life Financial and Southbridge Health Care and the Advisory Boards of Yorkville Asset Management and Rapid Dose Therapeutics. He previously served on the boards of various industry associations over the years.

Nick and his wife, Mary, live in Oakville, and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Sharon Giffen, FCIA, FSA, ICD.D

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Sharon Giffen spent her 35-year career in the life insurance industry. Before retiring from full-time work, she spent 15 years at Foresters Financial, progressing from Vice President of Product Management in 2000 to Chief Risk Officer and Chief Compliance Officer in 2014. Throughout this tenure, she actively supported the fraternal purpose of the organization – speaking and volunteering on behalf of the community.

In 2016, Sharon transitioned to Board service. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of three insurance companies in diverse businesses: mortgage insurance, group annuities, and health benefits. Previously, she also served on the Board of a national property and casualty insurance company.

Sharon has also volunteered her time as a Board Director of the Society of Actuaries and as President of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. She also chaired the Board of an opera company on a volunteer basis. The 2010 recipient of the Jacobson-Rugland Award for Outstanding Fraternal Actuary in 2010, Sharon also won an award for an essay entitled “Vision for Insurance Industry for 2020” in 2009.

Sharon moved to the Okanagan Valley in 2021, where she is happily settled with her husband, Ken.

Duane Green, FCSI, CIM, FCA

Greater Toronto Area, Ontario

Duane Green is CEO, Canada & Head of Americas for Aviva Investors, where he is responsible for driving growth, deepening client engagement, and leading regional strategy across North, Central, and South America. With more than 25 years of experience in asset management — spanning institutional, retail, intermediary, and private wealth — Duane has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering strong, sustainable results.

Before joining Aviva Investors, Duane served as President & CEO of Franklin Templeton Canada and as Chair of Fiduciary Trust Canada.

Duane has held board positions with the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance and the Securities and Investment Management Association. He currently serves on the boards of Allstate Canada, Serenia Life Financial, xIPO, Business / Arts, and the Canadian Film Centre.

Duane has a degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa, is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), and holds both the CIM and FMA designations. He also completed the International Directors Programme (IDP-C) in Corporate Governance at INSEAD in France.

Duane is passionate about fostering inclusive cultures, inspiring innovation, and positioning organizations for long-term success in an ever-evolving financial services landscape.

Michele Hengen

Regina, Saskatchewan

A seasoned consultant with proven success across multiple disciplines, Michele Hengen has built a strong career as an actuarial professional. She has assumed roles with increasing professional responsibilities over the years, culminating in her role of Chief Risk Officer for a national multi-line insurance and investment group of companies.

With over 25 years of experience within the insurance, investment, and pension consulting environments, Michele successfully runs an independent risk consulting and executive coaching practice where she serves a variety of clients and supported the team at People First to expand their client base. Michele has also been serving on Farm Credit Canada’s Board of Directors since 2017, and as the Chair of its Risk Committee since 2018.

Michele received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Regina and attained the designations of Fellow and Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst from the Society of Actuaries. She has also been trained in the field of executive coaching through the International Coaching Federation.

John a Sabo (B.Math; M.FAc; M.Ed.; CPA,CA ; C.Dir.; A.C.C.; H.R.C.C.)

Newmarket, Ontario

With over 20 years of corporate board experience, formal governance training, and multiple professional certifications, John Sabo currently serves as President and CEO of OBAS Governance & Advisory Services, an organization established to offer consultative advice and services.

Previously, John served for eight years as the President and CEO of OECM (Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace), a not-for-profit strategic collaboration organization and sourcing partner that serves the Ontario Education sectors, as well as other broader public sector and not-for-profit organizations in Ontario. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles with the York Catholic District School Board, including Treasurer and Associate Director of Corporate Services, where he served from 1984 until joining OECM in 2016.

John’s extensive Board experience includes serving as a Director of the Board at OMERS Administration Corporation, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV) and OECM. He was also a founding member, Board Director, and Vice-Chair of both the OSBFC (Ontario School Boards Financing Corporation) and the CSBSA (Catholic School Boards Services Association).