Debbie Caruso

Debbie is Senior Vice President & Head of Legal Services at the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), one of Canada’s largest pension plans, overseeing the Legal Services and Governance function. Debbie leads a team of 24 high-performing, collaborative, business-minded legal professionals who provide strategic legal advice to all business divisions across HOOPP. The team is comprised of the Investments Legal team (including Investment Regulation) and the Corporate and Governance team (including HOOPP’s Privacy Office).

With 26+ years of legal experience, including 20 years in-house, Debbie advises on investments and financing transactions, investment regulation, risk management, and corporate governance. She began her career in private practice at leading law firms in Toronto and London, England. Debbie is licensed in Ontario and in England and Wales and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.

Debbie is committed to advancing women’s equity. She served as past Co-Chair and is a current member of HOOPP’s women’s employee resource group, and she previously served on HOOPP’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council. Debbie also served for nearly seven years as a volunteer director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, including as Secretary and Vice Chair, supporting legal and counselling services for women who have experienced violence.