How did you first arrive in the insurance industry?
Living in Bermuda, which is a big re/insurance hub, I knew about the industry. I studied Business Administration, majoring in Accounting at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, but by fourth year I had realised accountancy wasn’t for me. After moving back to Bermuda post-graduation, I applied to several entry level positions in the industry to get a foot in the door. My first reinsurance role was as a Catastrophe Modeller at Allied World. After a couple of years, I transitioned to the underwriting team, where I focused on Workers’ Comp Cat. Along with the rest of the Specialty Re team, I moved to Third Point Re (later becoming SiriusPoint) before a brief stint at QBE Re in Property Cat. I joined IQUW in March 2023.
Catastrophe modelling was an excellent foundation for underwriting as it gives you a deep understanding of the data and how you can interpret exposures to accurately evaluate deals. Underwriting spoke to me because it’s more sociable, while cat modelling was more back room. The social aspect of underwriting feels like a better fit for me personally.
Tell us about the growth of IQUW’s Bermuda office
When I joined a year ago, I was one of only seven employees, and we are now at thirteen. We’ve added a few people in finance and another underwriter, who specialises in North America business, which has been a great asset as we continue to grow. It’s a great team – we are a good fit; we work hard but we have fun together. It’s a pleasant, sociable environment and I love working in our beautiful new office.
What makes IQUW different to other insurers?
Being part of a small office in a relatively new company means I’m involved in more areas than I was at previous companies, where I stayed within my cat modeller and underwriter job descriptions. At IQUW, I’ve looked at contracts and claims; we’re building a new policy administration system and I’ve had a say in how we want our workflow to look. I feel like I have a voice at the table, and I sit in on meetings about international, cyber, or other lines outside my remit. I have the opportunity to play a role in the company’s direction and growth, and I meet a great variety of people.
What made you join IQUW?
I liked that they were still in start-up mode. I liked the idea of being in at the beginning of a company and growing with it.
I’d worked at larger corporations with thousands of employees all over the world and at a smaller organisation with a few global locations, but the IQUW Bermuda office is relatively small with an underwriting team of four. It means I’m involved in different areas.
At IQUW Bermuda, I can work in the office sitting alongside the Bermuda CEO and CFO, among other leaders – you don’t get that experience in many companies. Getting to know the management team and the people making decisions is a great opportunity. It also helps that I am surrounded by knowledgeable industry professionals and my CEO is Stephen Young. He is respected, well known, and well liked in the market – and if that isn’t a goal in this industry, I don’t know what is!
Can you tell us about your recent promotion to President of the Bermuda CPCU Society Chapter?
The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Society is a community of accredited property and casualty insurance professionals who promote excellence through ethical behaviour and continuing education.
We provide resources, educational programs, and leadership opportunities to attract talent and create opportunities for individuals to network. Bermuda has one of the biggest CPCU chapters, with over 125 active members. It’s a great way for different professionals to get together to talk about their careers and goals. We recently began awarding bursaries to people who want to get their foot in the door of the insurance industry, which has been a great success. It’s educational and work-related but we also have fun. I was Vice-President before moving to President-Elect and will hold the President role for 2024, as we only serve one-year terms. Our chapter is a lot more diverse now than when I joined, with more women and young members on the Leadership Council and I’m excited to see how much more we can grow.
