Experience

A Principal in Eckler’s Toronto pension consulting practice, Jill joined Eckler in 1993 and was the retirement practice leader from 2003 to 2006. She was appointed Managing Principal in 2012, a position she held until May 2023, and Chaired the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2024. A decorative gold medal with the words Benefits and Pension Monitor is small letters and in much larger writing, Elite Women 2024.

Jill is a qualified actuary (FSA, FCIA) with over 30 years of consulting experience and has her ICD.D designation. In 2024, Jill was named among the industry leaders in the 2024 BPM Elite Women.

Throughout her career, Jill has advised corporations, boards of directors, boards of trustees and government agencies on pension and employee benefits matters including all aspects of valuation, administration, risk management, governance, design, funding and accounting for pension, post-retirement and supplemental pension programs.

In 2022, Jill was appointed by the Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA) to a three-member panel of actuaries to review the 31st Actuarial Report on the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). She also peer-reviewed the 30th  CPP actuarial report in 2019.

Most recently, Jill completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Board Oversight of Climate Change course.

Areas of Expertise

  • Defined benefit pension plan valuation, administration
  • Jointly-sponsored pension plans (JSPPs)
  • Supplemental executive retirement programs (SERPs)
  • Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF)
  • Social security
  • Risk management
  • Governance
  • Expert witness

Professional Qualifications

Professional Qualifications 
  • University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management – ICD.D
  • University of Waterloo – Honours Bachelor of Mathematics, Actuarial Science
  • Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA)
  • Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA)
  • Member of the Ontario Financial Services Tribunal (FST)
Professional activities
  • Serves as a member of the Designated Group on Quinquennial Review of Social Security Programs Standards for the Actuarial Standards Board
  • Serves as a member of the Ontario Financial Services Tribunal (FST)
  • Served as a member of the Actuarial Standards Oversight Council (ASOC) for seven years, acting as Vice-Chair for two years
  • Served as Chair of the Task Force on International Pension and Employee Benefits Standard
  • Served as Chair of CIA’s Workers’ Compensation Committee
  • Served as CIA’s representative to the International Actuarial Association of Pension and Employee Benefits Committee
  • Served as a member of the CIA’s Committee on Relations with Other Professions, the Committee on the Actuarial Valuation of Post-Employment Benefit Plans
  • Served as a member of the Canadian Accounting Standards Board’s Employee Benefits Advisory Group
  • Served as a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Employee Future Benefits Implementation Guide Working Group
  • Served as a member of the pension committee of the board of Queen’s University

Personal

In addition to her corporate efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jill has been a champion of gender diversity throughout her career, working towards developing and promoting female leaders within the firm and the industry.  Jill is the co-founder of the Women in Pensions network, which hosts networking events for women leaders in the pension industry.  She also serves as a member of the board of directors of Newcomer Women’s Services of Toronto.

In her spare time, Jill enjoys traveling, hiking, yoga, music and art. She is also an ardent animal lover and enjoys walking and playing with her two Bearded Collies.

Thought Leadership

Jill contributes her insights to a variety of publications and conferences. Here’s just a sampling:

Defined benefit pension plans strike back
Benefits and Pensions Monitor – June, 2024

Staying the Culture Course – Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures Special Supplement
Financial Post – March, 2022

CN Rail dispute ‘catalyst’ for same-sex pension plan policy reviews
Benefits Canada Magazine – June 18, 2021

 2019 Consultants Report: What’s topics are top of mind for consultants?
Benefits Canada Magazine – August 16, 2019

We wanted pension changes, but OAS age wasn’t one of them
The Globe and Mail, March 19, 2016

Tax benefits of differing retirement plans should be equitable
The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2015

Eckler News and Insights

Workplace 2021: The Future is Now

Whether it's remote work, health and safety, or globalization, employers have much to consider about the not-so-distant future. In this Your Workplace Roundtable, Eckler's Jill ...
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