Lynn MacLean

Chair

Lynn joined Heartland’s Board of Directors in 2021, as a result of the merger with Kings Mutual. Prior to that, she was on the board of Pictou Mutual which merged with Kings in 2016. Holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dalhousie University, Associate of Education from the Nova Scotia Teachers’ College, and Master of Education (Administration) from St. Mary’s University, Lynn advanced from teacher to high school principal to sub-system supervisor over her thirty-one-year tenure.   Lynn was raised on a dairy/hog farm and continues to support rural communities and their organizations.  In addition to her roles with Kings and Heartland Mutuals, she also has held leadership positions in 4-H, Women’s Institutes (provincial and national), as well as in several local organizations. In 2020 Lynn earned the OMIA Director certification and in 2023 she earned the Professional Director certification. Also, in 2023 she was awarded an Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her work in education and contributions to the community.

 

Gayle Whittamore

Vice Chair

Gayle Whittamore joined Heartland’s Board of Directors on May 7, 2020, and was elected Board Vice Chair in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto.  She is a Human Resource veteran with experience in professional and leadership roles with a diversified portfolio of skills across many Human Resources competencies. She has held several senior positions with IBM, The Hospital for Sick Children, Sun Life and within the mutual insurance industry. Gayle has spent her married life on a fruit and vegetable farm in Markham Ontario. Now retired, she and Mike are avid outdoor enthusiasts.

Allan Melvin

Director

Allan Melvin joined the Board of Directors in January 2025. As co-owner of Melvin Farms Limited, Allan brings a wealth of agricultural expertise and strategic leadership, driving sustainable growth and operational excellence.

A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Allan has honed his financial acumen through a career with firms such as BDO, EY, and Bishop & Company Chartered Professional Accountants Inc., where he managed complex client relationships and delivered innovative solutions.

Allan is a past president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and actively serves on boards including the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council. Through these roles, he continues to champion farmers’ interests and works collaboratively with stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector, fostering resilience and growth across the industry.

Graeme McPhail

Director

Graeme joined the Heartland Board in 2022.  Graeme is a lawyer with broad strategic, legal, governance, transaction and regulatory expertise and has served on several business and not-for-profit boards.  He worked at Rogers Communications for over 30 years in several senior positions, finishing his career as Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer and Corporate Secretary and member of the Executive Leadership Team. Previously, Graeme was a business lawyer with WeirFoulds in Toronto. He holds degrees in economics/political science and law. Since retiring in 2021, Graeme has spent much of his time on his farm in Mulmur Ontario.

Larry Binning

Director

Larry was elected to the Board of Oxford Mutual (now Heartland Farm Mutual) in March 2013 and served as Board Chair from 2020 to 2023. Growing up in Perth County on a small family farm, he then obtained his Hon. BSc. in 1976 from the University of Waterloo.  He spent the next 30 years working in the food processing industry, beginning as a plant microbiologist and quickly becoming a key executive at Cuddy Food Products, Cold Springs Farm, and Maple Leaf Foods. Larry was heavily involved in national industry associations, including the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council.

Louis Durocher

Director

Louis Durocher joined Heartland in 2018 as President and CEO, bringing with him over 30 years of extensive experience in the Property & Casualty insurance industry. His expertise spans operations, underwriting, actuarial, reinsurance, risk management, governance, and regulatory compliance. A Fellow of both the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), Louis harnesses the power of technology, data, and analytics to drive strategic decisions that align with Heartland’s growth and profitability objectives. Guided by a deep commitment to integrity and the core promise of insurance – providing peace of mind – he places a strong emphasis on robust risk management and financial resilience. Under his leadership, Heartland is focused on becoming the mutual of choice, driving sustainable growth and ensuring long-term success. 

Mary Kelly

Director

Mary Kelly joined Heartland’s Board of Directors on May 7, 2020, and is a Professor of Finance and Chair of Insurance at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. Previously, she taught at the University of Calgary and worked as an actuary before entering academia. Mary holds an undergraduate degree in statistics and a Master’s degree in actuarial science, both from the University of Waterloo and a doctorate in finance from the University of British Columbia. She has completed the Canadian Risk Manager designation and is an active member of the American Risk and Insurance Association and the Southern Risk and Insurance Association. She has consulted for several organizations including the Insurance Institute of Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Ministry of Finance for Ontario, and the Ministry of Finance for Alberta.

Nancy McCuaig

Director

Nancy McCuaig is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at IGM Financial Inc., where she is responsible for defining the operations strategy and leading the operational excellence agenda for IGM and its subsidiaries, IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments. Additionally, Nancy serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) overseeing the cybersecurity strategy.

Since joining IGM in 2014, Nancy has held senior leadership roles directing enterprise technology architecture, infrastructure and operations, service governance, crisis management and the real estate portfolio. With over 35 years of experience across financial services, insurance, and gaming industries globally, Nancy currently serves on the Mackenzie Investment Board and Heartland Mutual Insurance Board.

Paul Broadhead

Director

Paul Broadhead joined the Board in 2009 and was Chair from 2017 to 2020. Paul’s primary focus outside of Heartland Farm Mutual Inc. is as an advisor to small and medium-sized business owners through his company Blackfriar Group Inc. He has a keen interest in the role of corporate director and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD). He was part of a charter group of ICD members who developed a regional chapter to serve boards in southwestern Ontario.

Ruphina Kaulback

Director

Ruphina joined the Board in 2018.  She is a partner in Baker Tilly Nova Scotia Inc. and advises businesses on Canadian taxes, including estate planning, succession planning, corporate reorganization, mergers, and acquisitions, and appeals.   Ruphina holds the CPA designation.  She has worked on several profit and non-profit boards, served with community and business organizations, and lectured at Acadia University as a part-time professor.  Ruphina provides presentations to professional and business groups.  She has published articles on various tax subjects.

Louis Durocher

President and Chief Executive Officer

Louis Durocher joined Heartland in 2018 as President and CEO, bringing with him over 30 years of extensive experience in the Property & Casualty insurance industry. His expertise spans operations, underwriting, actuarial, reinsurance, risk management, governance, and regulatory compliance. A Fellow of both the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), Louis harnesses the power of technology, data, and analytics to drive strategic decisions that align with Heartland’s growth and profitability objectives. Guided by a deep commitment to integrity and the core promise of insurance – providing peace of mind – he places a strong emphasis on robust risk management and financial resilience. Under his leadership, Heartland is focused on becoming the mutual of choice, driving sustainable growth and ensuring long-term success. 

Michele Falkins

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Risk Officer

Michele Falkins joined Heartland in 2018 as Vice President & CFO, bringing over 30 years of expertise as a Chartered Accountant (CA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her deep financial acumen enables her to drive ethical, sound decision making across the organization.  By leading with integrity Michele fosters an environment where her team can be authentic, develop their skills and thrive in their roles. In her role as Vice President & CFO, Michele navigates challenges, combining her experience with innovative thinking to successfully achieve Heartland’s strategic objectives and financial goals. 

Carla Moorehead

Vice President, Underwriting

Carla Moorehead joined Heartland in 2015 as a Farm Underwriting Manager and was promoted to Vice President Underwriting in 2019. Carla brings 30 years of insurance and 15 years leadership experience to Heartland across roles as a broker, underwriter and reinsurance underwriter. Using her integrity Carla inspires her team by demonstrating ethical decision-making for long-term success. As the Vice President Underwriting, Carla refers to her history in farm underwriting to evaluate and innovate for the future, while honouring our agribusiness roots. 

Gordon Murray

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Maritimes Operations

Gordon Murray joined Heartland in 2021 as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Maritimes Operations, bringing over 40 years of insurance industry experience, with over 25 years in leadership roles across underwriting, sales, business development and management. Gordon attributes his career success to accountability saying, “My words are my promise, and I own my actions.” In his role Vice President & COO, Maritimes Operations, Gordon is focused on making Heartland a mainstream carrier of choice in Nova Scotia by earning the trust of brokers and customers. 

Carla Reale

Vice President, Human Resources

Carla Reale Joined Heartland in 2025 as Vice President, Human Resources, bringing with her 30 years of progressive human resources experience from a diverse range of industries. Holding an MBA, CHRL, and ACC certifications, Carla is passionate about driving a progressive approach to HR, focused on enhancing the employee experience by ensuring that every team member feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow. As Vice President, Human Resources Carla is leading initiatives that attract and retain top talent, foster continuous leadership development, and prioritize the well-being of all employees, ultimately shaping Heartland’s future success through its people. 

Robert Rice

Vice President of Business Development, Marketing & Communications

Mike Riddell

Director of Direct Sales and Underwriting

Mike Riddell joined Heartland in 2015 as a Farm Underwriter. In 2018 he moved into a sales manager role and was promoted to Director, Direct Sales & Underwriting in 2023. Mike holds a CRM designation and has a breadth of insurance industry experience as an underwriter, insurance advisor, sales manager and now Director. Mike leads by example, demonstrating his integrity in his interactions with staff and business partners. As the Director, Direct Sales & Underwriting Mike uses his experience to inform strategic decisions that mutually benefit sales advisors and underwriters.

Vance Somerton

Vice President, Claims

Vance Somerton joined Heartland in 2024 as Vice President, Claims, bringing over 15 years of experience building high-performing claims teams. His leadership style fosters a culture of integrity throughout his team, empowering them to make principled decisions, and uphold Heartland’s commitment to protecting what matters most to our customers. As the Vice President, Claims, Vance is using data-driven insights and a culture of continuous improvement to position Heartland as an industry leader in claims management. 

David Service

Chief Information Officer and Vice President of IT

David Service joined Heartland in 2023 as Vice President, IT & CIO, bringing over 25 years of IT experience across a variety of sectors, with firsthand experience in architecture, development, and operations, informing his strategic vision as a leader. David recognizes the need for a progressive leadership approach to all elements of technology and the fostering of creativity and innovation in his team to achieve Heartland’s goals. As Vice President IT & CIO, David is a driving force in strategic technology improvements in the user experience for our policyholders, brokers and staff.