Interim CEO Message

Shelley Rowan
Interim Chief Executive Officer
WCB Nova Scotia

Reflection on success; focus on service improvement

When I pause to think about this organization and the Important role we play in the lives of working Nova Scotians, I think about two key themes – the progress we have made, and the opportunities ahead.

Serving as Interim CEO these several months has provided me with an opportunity to look back at the events that have helped make the WCB the strong and vibrant organization we are today, and to also consider the path forward in our efforts to reduce the impact of workplace injury in our province.

I’ve had the privilege of working at the WCB for over 25 years in various leadership roles, across a variety of portfolios. When I began my career here, the organization maintained a relatively low public profile, and our employees typically didn’t talk about their work with people outside of the organization.

But, over time, we found our voice and invited other like-minded partners to help us build awareness about workplace injury prevention. New conversations emerged, prevention strategies gained traction, ad campaigns were launched, and gradually, behaviours and beliefs began to change. The profile and importance of workplace health and safety grew, as stories both of progress and tragedy were shared through mainstream media and social posts.

WCB Nova Scotia evolved as the needs of workers and workplaces changed. We redesigned our service, modernized our business and supported Nova Scotia workplaces through a global pandemic.

And as a result, there has been continued, significant progress in reducing the toll that workplace injury takes on our province. At the same time, 24 Nova Scotians tragically died at work, or because of their work, in 2022. We renew our shared commitment to ensure everyone in this province returns home safely every day.

We have much to be proud of when we think about the efforts we and our partners have made, and will continue to make, to reduce the human and economic toll that workplace injury takes on Nova Scotians. Those efforts are evolving, as we apply new approaches to support safe and timely return to work, and as we improve the ways we support workers who experience psychological injury, a growing part of our claims mix.

WCB Nova Scotia is changing as the nature of work and the needs of our workforce evolves. We are re-examining our processes and supports for a timely and safe return to work, and exploring opportunities to improve our service to workers and employers.

The fact of the matter is, we need to do more. As of 2021, Nova Scotia ranked 12th in Canada for the length of an average claim due to a workplace injury. Our new seven-year strategic plan, which will chart our course to 2030, will set ambitious goals to help us take our place among the best performers in the country.

Is that an aggressive goal? Yes. Is it achievable? Absolutely.

Because I believe wholeheartedly that our success is rooted firmly in being there for Nova Scotians when they need us most. When we do the right thing to provide service to people at the most vulnerable times in their lives, we can measure our success by theirs.

I am looking forward to the next phase in our journey, guided by our new Strategic Plan and informed by the people we serve, toward a new future for workers’ compensation in our province.

 

Shelley Rowan


Executive Team

Back row, L-R: Maureen Boyd, Chief Financial Officer, Brad Fraser, Director, Governance and Legal Services, Shelley Rowan, Interim CEO.

Front row, L-R:
Dennita Fitzpatrick, VP, Prevention and Return to Work, Marcy Dalton, Associate VP, Strategy and Technology, Wendy Griffin, VP, Service Excellence.