BFIS Celebrates 20th Anniversary At AGM
The Bermuda Foundation For Insurance Studies [BFIS] celebrated its 20th Anniversary at the Annual General meeting held on December 12, 2016.
The lunch which followed was well attended by nearly 100 insurance professionals with close links to the Foundation, ranging from founding member Brian O’Hara to this year’s graduates just entering the industry.
Chairman Gail Martin said that BFIS had had an exciting year, moving into a larger office space which in turn is enabling the Foundation to expand the programmes it offers helping Bermuda’s students gain the education and knowledge necessary to enter the insurance industry.
She noted that, “Although BFIS is noted for its scholarships, it does so much more – spending time in our senior schools, both public and private, giving career guidance presentations; helping students understand more about insurance and careers in the industry; organizing several networking events every year for both high school and college students; arranging one-on-one mentoring; running summer internships for college students, another hugely successful programme; and giving job search assistance benefitting hundreds of Bermudians.”
Members of BFIS Board and BFIS Advisory Trustees: Brian O’Hara, Konrad Rentrup, Stephen Jones, Joe Rego, Mark Berry, Robin Spencer-Arscott, Terry Pimentel, Gail Martin [Chair of Board], David Soutter, Shelle, Hendrickson, Michael Fisher, Rees Fletcher [Chair of Advisory Trustees], Cathy Lapsley, Allan Fox.
Giving an overview of the Financial Statements, BFIS Treasurer David Soutter said, “I am very pleased to report that the Foundation is in good order with the endowment fund standing at just under $5 million. However fundraising continues to be challenging and in order to remain sustainable the fund needs to increase to $7 million and the Board will be working towards that goal in 2017.”
After a buffet lunch, Cathy Lapsley, BFIS Executive Director, introduced four BFIS alumni, Stephen Jones, Ebony Brockington, Tyler Owen and Brittany DeFrias with graduations ranging from 1998 – 2015 and with different education and career paths. Each gave heartfelt speeches about the various ways in which BFIS had helped and guided them during their education, training and careers in the industry.
Brian O’Hara then gave a short speech touching on the passion with which Brian Hall had encouraged fellow insurance executives to establish BFIS back in 1996 and how pleased he was that BFIS had grown to become of such material benefit to the Bermuda insurance market.
During the lunch the BFIS Alumni Association held a raffle for a variety of donated prizes which raised $1,500 for their annual scholarship.
