Keynote Speakers

A definite highlight of the conference was the opportunity to hear from our keynote speakers, namely Dr. Joachim Breurer, Dr. Willi Morger and Dr. Richard Pimentel.

JBPhoto2Dr. Joachim Breuer (Germany)

Dr. Joachim Breuer is the Director General, German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV*), the umbrella organisation of all German accident insurance funds. Dr. Breuer is often consulted as an expert in social security by governments in Europe and abroad. He has published various articles on social law and accident insurance matters. He is a frequent speaker in international panels and conferences on matters of work safety, prevention and accident insurance issues.

His international affiliations, most notably, are: 
 
  • Member of the Bureau of the International Social Security Association (ISSA)
  • Chairman of the ISSA Technical Commission on Accident Insurance
  • Vice President European Region of Rehabilitation International (RI)
  • Founder and president of the "Club of Genève - Global Social Future"
  • Co-chair of the International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC)
  • Member of the Bureau of the European Forum for Accident Insurances (FORUM).

*DGUV is the umbrella organisation of all German statutory accident insurance and prevention institutions in the private and public sector. The member institutions of DGUV insure more than 70 million people. They are responsible for work safety, medical as well as social and occupational rehabilitation and financial compensation of victims of occupational accidents and diseases. DGUV also comprises of several research centres for work safety and occupational medicine, training centres and 11 specialised clinics for accidents and occupational diseases. 
 

WMPhoto4Dr. Willi Morger (Switzerland)

Dr Willi Morger started his career at Suva* as a legal counsel in the legal department in 1971. In 1978, he was elected director of the accident department and, in 1989 a member of Suva's executive board. As a member of Suva's executive board, he heads the insurance benefits and rehabilitation department. He is thus responsible for the sectors of insurance benefits, law, medicine, medical tariffs, military insurance, and rehabilitation clinics as well as for some of Suva's agencies.


In 2008 he received an honorary doctor from the University of Fribourg for his role as pioneer of case management in Switzerland. Since January 2003, he has been Deputy Chairman of Suva's Board of Management. He retired end of 2008 and works now as consultant for case management.

*Suva is the most important carrier of obligatory accident insurance in Switzerland and insures about 1.9 million employees in 112,037 companies against occupational and non-occupational accidents as well as against work-related illnesses. At the end of 2006, Suva employed 2,777 workers. Suva's range of services comprises prevention, insurance and rehabilitation.


RPPhoto3Dr. Richard Pimentel (United States)

Dr. Richard Pimentel is an internationally renowned expert on Disability Management, Job Recruitment, Job Retention, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Attitude Change. He is not only technically proficient, he is also an exceptional communicator whose audiences praise his ability to combine information, humour, metaphor, analogy and storytelling into an informative whole that does not just present the information, but really communicates it in a memorable fashion.

As a consultant, keynote speaker, professional trainer and author of numerous curricula and training guides, Dr. Pimentel is distinguished by his ability to predict industry trends and the needs of employers. He has designed and implemented return to work systems for the private sector and government employers throughout the country. He has pioneered proactive risk management, return to work and equal employment opportunity (EEO) programs to generate both cost-savings and enduring attitudinal changes in corporate culture.

A full length motion picture of his life story 'Music Within' staring Ron Livingston, Melissa George and Michael Sheen was released in 2007. He has consistently rated over the past 20 years as one of the top presenters at Employer, Government, Education and Disability Education Conferences through out the US and Canada.