A medical visionary and humanitarian extraordinaire, in 1967 South African surgeon Dr. Marius Barnard helped launch a brave new era by developing life-saving heart transplant technology while assisting his brother, Christian, during the first successful heart transplant surgery. In 1983 he created the world's first Critical Illness Insurance policy. An international speaker, Dr. Barnard has been published extensively on both medical and non-medical topics.

One of the world's leading authorities on Critical Illness Insurance, Alphonso was the 2006 Chairman of the Top of the Table. A writer and publisher, he is the author of the Critical Vision System, the world's first manual on Critical Illness Insurance and the RHU (CI section). Alphonso is also the founder and creator of the World Critical Illness Insurance Conferences, a Life and Qualifying member of MDRT with 11 TOT and 12 COT honours. As Divisional Vice President of MDRT for 2010-2011 for the Member Communication Committee he leads the team that is responsible for membership in MDRT around the world.

Dr. Kong Khoo is a medical oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia. He is involved in cancer advocacy as vice-chair of the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (www.canceradvocacy.ca), particularly in highlighting the large regional discrepancies in access and funding of drugs for cancer patients.

Brian Burlacoff, a CFP, is an author and sought-after speaker within the financial planning profession. He has spoken across North America, on MDRTs main platform and has been interviewed by the financial media numerous times. Brian has qualified several times for MDRTs prestigious Top of the Table. This year his family celebrates 50 years of service in the life insurance industry.

Lisa Burlacoff is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years experience. She currently works as a Clinical Practice Consultant with the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario, an organization dedicated to ensuring equitable and timely access to advanced cardiac care for adults in the Province of Ontario. Lisa volunteers as a scout leader and is active in the parent network of her childrens school.

Ian Green holds a Chartered Insurance Institute Diploma in Financial Planning, and has held a full Financial Planning Certificate since 1996. He is one of the first of thirty advisers in the UK to achieve accreditation in the internationally accepted ISO22222 benchmark for Personal Financial Planning. Author of "The Financial Adviser: How to be a successful practitioner," Ian donates profits from sales of his book to financial service charities.

Joseph "Joe" W. Jordan, Senior Vice President, MetLife, is an industry-renowned thought leader in the areas of behavioral economics, client-centric tools, ethical selling and client advocacy. He is currently responsible for MetLife's Behavioral Finance Strategies and is the company's voice at many industry events worldwide. Featured speaker at: 2004 Million Dollar Round Table; 2006 and 2010 MDRT Experience in Bangkok, Thailand and Seoul, Korea; 2006 and 2009 GAMA LAMP; LIMRA's 2008 "Retirement Industry Conference"; MDRT Ireland, Greece and Poland between 2009 and 2010.

MDRT President Julian H. Good Jr., CLU, ChFC, of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a 27-year MDRT member with three Court of the Table and three Top of the Table honors. He has served in many leadership positions within MDRT, including as Divisional Vice President of Communications, Membership Administration, and Business and Educational Services. Good has also spoken at several MDRT Annual Meetings and is a Diamond Knight and Steward of the MDRT Foundation.

Julian is a former Chair of the Million Dollar Round Table Charitable Foundation in Canada. He is a charter member of CALU. Member of Advocis - Julian has an undergraduate degree from Emerson College in Boston and graduated from Lower Canada College in Montreal and Bishop's College School in Lennox Ville, Quebec. He is a registered member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – whose head office is in London, England.

Mark Halpern, CFP, has used direct-to-consumer marketing to become one of the top living benefits Advisors in Canada. Consumers call illnessPROTECTION.com because they hear him on the radio or learn about him on the web. C.I. is the "thin edge of the wedge" to meet high net worth clients and provide comprehensive insurance and estate planning. He is a busy and proud father of five children 14 years and under.

Greg Abbott resides with his wife and 3 children in Victoria, Canada. In his 26 years in the insurance business Greg has produced at the MDRT level each year. He has been at the Court of the Table level for 5 years. This accomplishment has been achieved with a clear focus and efficient yet minimal infrastructure. Greg has balanced many personal pursuits with a diverse exposure to business beyond insurance. This position provides a unique platform that is a style of Greg's making which has been highly effective for him. It is Greg's hope that his message and experience provide information that allows the listener to reach higher yet.

Ben Miclette is Vice-President, Living Benefits working for RGA Canada. His responsibilities include the development of Critical Illness, Disability income and Long-term Care insurance for the Canadian market at RGA and also sits on RGA's international committee on Living Benefits. Ben has close to 20 years of experience in the Living Benefits and Health insurance markets having worked in Canada, the US as well as internationally. Ben is a regular speaker at industry events in North America and is a past Chair of the Canadian Living Benefits Seminar. Ben is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries.

A fully accredited financial planner with a specialty in life insurance, Bruce holds the CLU, CHFC and CFP designations. His firm, Bruce Etherington & Associates, specializes in family harmony and philanthropy and has achieved the objective of creating $1 billion for charities and not-for-profits by 2010. A renowned speaker, Bruce has spoken to virtually every major insurance and financial planning organization in the world. He has appeared 16 times on the platform of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), which is considered by many to be the preeminent sales organization in the insurance and financial planning industry. His book "See The People" is an international bestseller, as are his tapes and CDs which continue to change the lives of salespeople around the world.

Dr. Philip Smalley is the Vice President and Medical Director for RGA International Corporation and the Managing Director of the Longer Life Foundation. He is currently responsible for medical research and assisting in product development. Dr. Smalley is an Internal Medicine specialist with 20 years of insurance medicine experience. He received his medical doctorate degree from the University of Toronto in 1986. Prior to joining RGA International, he consulted for many direct insurance companies and also practiced medicine at a University of Toronto affiliated teaching hospital. He was also the 2008-2009 President of the Canadian Life Insurance Medical Officers Association.

Gerry has been the Executive Director of the Insurance Council of British Columbia since September 1991. The Insurance Council is primary regulator in the province, responsible for regulating more than 22,000 persons, more than 10,000 of which are life insurance agents. Gerry has served as Chair of the Canadian Insurance Services Regulators' Organization and currently serves on a number of national industry committees.

A Will that defied death…twice. Opera singer, Actor, Speaker, Survivor, Walking miracle, and self titled, INSPIRATIONIST. Jason Black and his wife Tausha Black show how to find the victory in life as they recount their harrowing story of not only surviving two certain death accidents but rising through and beyond them. They will inspire you to Hope and Victory as they share hard-earned, real-life tools and lessons that you can apply to overcome your own circumstance and trials. They empower you to triumph over impossible odds and live each day of your life to the fullest.

Robert Gignac is a sought after speaker at seminars across North America, he is also the author of the International best-seller "Rich is a State of Mind". Robert's mission is to encourage Canadians to take control of their personal finances in order to have a "Richly Imagined Future" a message he has shared with thousands of financial advisors (and their clients) across Canada from large industry conferences to smaller client receptions.

Darren Ulmer, RHU is one of SunLife Financial's Top 100 Canadian Advisors and Elite Advisors. A member of MDRT, Advocis and CAGP, Darren was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and is living proof of the value of owning a Critical Illness Insurance. His inspirational story of his personal journey through treatment will never leave you!

Doug Nelson is the President & CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation. Doug is a highly successful leader in the health research development sector. He has an outstanding track record of health care philanthropy and a reputation for building sustainable revenue generating programs. Doug is passionate about the importance and relevance of cancer to all British Columbians and about the BC Cancer Foundation's ability to make a substantial difference in the lives of people affected by cancer.

George is the founder of Access Health Benefits which has managed benefit plans for business owners since 1985. George is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table and has qualified in each of the last 14 years for the Top of the Table which represents the top 1% of life and health insurance producers in the world. George is an industry expert on practice management who has spoken internationally to various groups of financial professionals.

At 31 years of age, Warren Macdonald spent two days alone, pinned under a one ton boulder, after a freak hiking accident in the Australian wilderness. He survived only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid thigh. In February 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa's tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft). Warren created history once again in an ascent of America's tallest cliff face, El Capitan, and he is the only above knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada's landmark frozen waterfall, the 600 ft "Weeping Wall" in Alberta. Warren's bestselling book "A Test of Will" became the subject of an episode on the Discovery Channel's "I Shouldn't Be Alive" series. He has appeared on numerous news and current affairs programs, including "Larry King Live", "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and CBC's The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

Ed became the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking - Toastmasters International's highest award, out of 200,000 members worldwide. Ed is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). An honor bestowed on less than 10% of speakers worldwide from the National Speakers Association. Ed is the "Business Presentations Guy!" - Taking Business Presentations from Boring to Profitable.

Corry Collins is a financial planner in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a Qualifying member of MDRT, has hosted Top of the Table, spoken at the Million Dollar Round Table, and is Chair of the Halifax Taste of MDRT conference. He is assistant chair of the Program Development Committee for the 2008 MDRT meeting. Corry is Owner of Living Benefits Atlantic, a financial planning firm for physicians.

Bruce is a lawyer with over 30 years experience in the industry providing tax and advanced sales support for insurance products. His current role with Canada Life includes support for critical illness and disability insurance. Bruce has spoken on tax and insurance subjects at various industry meetings. He is a former contributor to CLU Comment and past president of the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg. He is an associate member of the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Leon has worked in the industry since 2002. He began his career with London Life/Freedom 55 Financial as an Advisor, earning the title of Top Rookie for the region. He progressed into a head office position ...as a Sales Manager helping recruit and mentor advisors starting out in the field. Leon joined HUB in 2005 and has recently been appointed to the role of Advanced Planning and Product Specialist. His focus is assisting advisors with the large case, complex financial planning needs of individuals and business owners.

Nick is Head of Health at the ABI. He is known as a key driving force behind the development of the critical illness market in the UK. He led the development of ABI standard CI definitions, is a frequent commentator on the market and was named Health Insurance Personality of the Year for 2007.

Phil has been with Canada Life almost 18 years. He has been Senior Vice-President, Canada Life Distribution since July 2003. Prior to this he held senior management roles in Distribution, and Eastern Operations. He began his career with Canada Life in 1993 after several years as a successful agent, trainer and sales manager.

Shelina is currently manager of the Living Benefits underwriting department for Canada Life. She has over 20 years' experience in the insurance industry, working with living benefits underwriting and claims for both direct companies and reinsurers in Canada and the US. With Canada Life, she is also involved in living benefits product development in addition to her underwriting responsibilities. Due to her expertise in the living benefits underwriting field, Shelina has participated as a panelist at several industry meetings and is often a presenter at Advisor seminars, including this year's World Critical Illness Insurance Conference.