Medavie Blue Cross Leaders
Recognized as Industry Trailblazers
Tara Anstey, Rebecca Smith win BPM Elite Women Awards
Two Medavie Blue Cross leaders are being celebrated for their “innovation and excellence” as industry “trailblazers.” Tara Anstey, Director of Business Development, Client Value, and Rebecca Smith, Director of Group Life and Disability Services, are among the winners of Elite Women awards for 2025. Benefits and Pensions Monitor (BPM), the publication behind the awards program, describes award recipients as top female leaders who value diversity, are leading with authenticity, and helping to reshape industry standards for the next generation of women leaders. Each awardee exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership and makes significant contributions to Canada’s benefits, pensions, and institutional investment space.
Empowering Women’s Health: Tara Anstey’s Leadership in Transforming Care and Advocacy
Tara is a dynamic leader whose expertise and lived experience drive transformative change in the healthcare landscape. As the senior leader at Medavie Blue Cross responsible for the evolution of the company’s client value proposition, Tara leverages her extensive background working with plan sponsors, advisors and provider partners to foster client engagement, build meaningful relationships, and optimize value.
A passionate advocate for women’s health, Tara focuses on developing solutions that address the unique healthcare challenges women face throughout their lives. Her work is deeply personal — informed by her own experiences navigating the health system and accessing care. By sharing her story, Tara shines a light on the gaps in women’s healthcare and champions innovative, accessible solutions. She takes immense pride in her involvement with Medavie Blue Cross’s groundbreaking industry-first solution to support women experiencing menopause.
Tara brings over 25 years of expertise in benefit plan design, insurance contracts, and drug plan management to her role. Previously, she served as a Principal at Mercer in Halifax, where she led the National Legislative and Drug Consulting teams. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts degree from Acadia University and a Law degree from Dalhousie University.
Tara’s contributions extend to her active support of the Canadian benefits industry, serving on the board of the Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corporation and the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute Atlantic Region Council. Outside of her professional life, she is a “Pawsome” supporter of SPCA Nova Scotia.
Rebecca Smith: A Champion for Transformative Change in Disability Management
Rebecca is a trailblazer in disability management and a champion of women’s leadership. As Director of Group Life and Disability Services at Medavie Blue Cross, she has spearheaded initiatives that have positioned the organization as a national leader and pioneer in disability management. Under her leadership, the company consistently exceeds industry benchmarks for return-to-health-and-work outcomes, reflecting Rebecca’s dedication to excellence and expertise in the field.
Rebecca’s unwavering focus is on providing claimants with the best and most immediate care possible. During her tenure, the company’s groundbreaking model for early-stage assessment and treatment of mental health issues has been expanded to address musculoskeletal conditions, ensuring early intervention and expedited treatment for even more claimants.
With over 30 years of experience in disability management and progressive leadership, Rebecca has risen through the ranks from her beginnings as a claims assessor at the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. At Medavie Blue Cross, Rebecca oversees a diverse range of responsibilities, including rehabilitation services, quality assurance, training, technology adoption, and organizational advancement.
Rebecca’s influence extends beyond operational achievements. She is deeply committed to empowering other women to thrive in their careers, as exemplified by her leadership team: two of the three managers on her team are women, and seven out of nine team leaders are women. By mentoring and advocating for these emerging leaders, Rebecca ensures they have the tools and opportunities for career growth and advancement, creating a legacy of inspired and capable professionals.
Congratulations Tara and Rebecca!
We are proud of your achievements and the well-deserved recognition you have received for championing groundbreaking solutions that improve the wellbeing of Canadians and being role models to emerging leaders in our organization.
