| Our seminars are presented by experienced
instructors who work in many facets of the insurance industry.
Some of our instructors come to us from the fields of law,
dispute resolution, sales and marketing, and adult education.
Regardless of their backgrounds, they share their extensive
knowledge and experience to provide you with practical and
relevant continuing education.
Jim Bagley is a Member of the Chartered
Institute of Building (UK) and spent 20 years in the construction
industry as a facility manager and developer of both housing and commercial
properties. Jim has worked for PHH ARC Environmental for ten years and
is head of their Western Canada Indoor Air Quality and Mould division.
He regularly presents at conferences and gives training seminars on Illicit
Lab identification and clean-up to professional bodies, building owners
and managers, and other stakeholders. He has presented seminars for IBABC
for several years and also provides training to contractors on safe and
effective remediation procedures.
Nick Batistic has been employed
in the insurance industry since 1963. He has worked in underwriting,
claims and field work with both national and international insurers.
He moved to the brokerage side of the business in 1983 and spent over
ten years as an account executive with one of the leading international
brokers. Currently with Pemberton Insurance Corporation in downtown Vancouver,
Nick handles commercial lines business with a specialty in technology
risks and brokers his own accounts directly with underwriters. He has
been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2003.
Ron Blouin is the President and Creative
Director of Hotshop Communications Inc., a boutique advertising agency
based on Granville Island in Vancouver. Ron brings over 30 years of experience
working with national brands such as Sun-Rype, McDonald’s Restaurants,
Petro-Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company and Canada Safeway. Since 2000,
Ron has been assisting IBABC and the BIP Committee to create a higher
profile for insurance brokers and the BIP brand in British Columbia.
His company has produced television commercials featuring over 100 insurance
brokers from all over BC and across Canada. Ron has also lectured at
SFU, BCIT and has appeared on CBC Television and Radio as an advertising
industry analyst. He has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2003.
Brian Bonsma is a Certified Business
Coach who offers a wealth of inspiration and experience from having been
in the business world for over 30 years. He is a former commercial insurance
broker, life insurance broker, business owner and business partner. Brian
started his insurance career as the third generation in a family brokerage.
Striking out on his own, he spent 10 years building a brokerage before
merging with a larger firm. His primary focus was always to provide excellent
customer service and to constantly explore new ways of enhancing the
brokerage business and the customer experience. By incorporating his
extensive knowledge and experience, he is able to help his clients prosper
in today’s fast moving economy. Brian holds numerous qualifications
and memberships, including: Coach U Certified Business Coach, Founding
member of International Association of Coaches (IAC), Affiliate member
of Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC), CFDC Mentor Coach,
and member of the Okanagan Chapter of International Coaches Federation
(ICF). He is also a freelance photographer, a Black Belt in Tae Kwan
Do, a past President of the Insurance Brokers Association of Brampton
and a contributing business columnist to various newspapers and industry
magazines. He will be facilitating the Best Practices program for IBABC
for the first time in 2008.
Glen Boswall is a Partner with Clark
Wilson LLP and a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and
its Insurance and Construction Practice Groups. He obtained a degree
in Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island
in 1986 and his Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1989. Glen
is a regular contributor to Clark Wilson’s Insurable Interest (insurance)
and Legal Framework (construction) newsletters and has written papers
and presented seminars on various topics, including Insurance Coverage
for Construction Deficiency Claims: Lessons From B.C.'s Leaky Condo Wars
(co-authored with Neo Tuytel), Builder’s Risk Insurance, and The
Commercial General Liability Policy on the Worksite. He has also written
and presented on the subjects of Project Management, Construction Contracts,
and Delay Claims. He has been a featured speaker and seminar presenter
for the British Columbia Building Envelope Council, the Insurance Institute
of British Columbia, the Canadian Institute, and Buildex Vancouver. He
has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2003.
Ann Buchanan,
B.A., CAIB, CIP is a principal and owner of Parksville Insurance
Services Ltd. She has been an insurance broker for over 20 years and
has been teaching licensing courses for IBABC since 1997. Her brokerage
specializes in Personal Lines coverages and insurance for snowbirds,
expatriates, international students, visitors to Canada and university
students traveling abroad. Much of the information included in her seminars
comes from personal experience.
Beverley Carlson has worked in
the insurance industry for nearly 40 years. She began
her career as a policy typist at Sun Alliance. Later, Beverley also worked
for United Insurance Managers, Safeco Insurance, and the Motor Vehicle
Department. Today, she works for HUB International TOS Ltd. where she
manages the Pleasure Craft Marine Department. Beverley has been teaching
marine pleasure craft seminars for IBABC, along with John Zeiler and
Ron Defieux, since 1998.
Brian Cook is founder and president of PowerCheck Electrical Safety Services, a Vancouver-based company offering electrical safety assessments of homes, apartments and commercial buildings throughout BC for the insurance industry. Brian has an in-depth knowledge of and is keenly interested in electrical safety. He is a licensed electrical contractor and a registered Field Safety Representative. His expertise is founded on 35 years experience in the electrical field. He has a comprehensive background in safety of residential and commercial electrical systems. Brian regularly lectures on electrical safety at UBC.
Debra L. Fitzsimmons, CAIB has
been in the insurance industry for more than ten years. She began her
career on the front lines of a large Prince George insurance brokerage
as an Autoplan agent, then quickly moved into personal lines which became
her passion. Currently an office supervisor for Seafirst Insurance Brokers
on Salt Spring Island, Debra continues to assist clients with their personal
insurance needs. A former IBABC Board Member and BIP Committee Chair,
Debra has been facilitating courses and seminars for IBABC since 2005.
David Keen, a past president of the
Insurance Brokers Association of B.C., entered the insurance
business with Lloyds Brokers Hogg Robinson & Capel-Cure Ltd. after
leaving school at age 17. Born and educated in the south of England,
he immigrated to Montreal with J.H. Minet & Co. Ltd. in 1969 and
transferred to Vancouver with Reed Shaw Osler Ltd. in 1973. Subsequent
to time spent with Reeds, Johnson & Higgins and Leslie Wright & Rolfe,
he and a partner opened a brokerage house in Vancouver in 1978. David
and his business partner currently operate Vanguard Insurance Brokers
Ltd. in Vancouver and Surrey. Vanguard is an ARM (BC) Ltd. owner/broker.
David has, in the past, been involved in youth soccer as a coach, referee,
club president and he owns five acres in Langley where
he breeds and shows Irish Setters under the Saxonhall Kennel name. David
has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2005.
Glen MacRae currently works at a major
insurance brokerage specializing in servicing the construction sector.
His career has embraced many front line jobs in the insurance industry.
After graduating from the University of British Columbia, he worked briefly
as an administration manager in a Canadian chartered bank before joining
a direct writing American insurance company selling commercial P&C,
life and disability insurance. For fifteen years, he worked at producing
and servicing clients in many industry sectors. During those years, he
had first hand experience as a Direct Writer, National Tier I brokerage
and as an equity owner in an independent agency. After selling his business,
he went to work for a decade in increasingly senior positions with one
of Canada's foremost insurance companies. There, he worked closely with
the president and COO as Manager of Claims Operations. Following a corporate
reshuffling, he took a Graduate Certificate in e-Business at the University
of British Columbia. Since then, he has gained experience at day-to-day
e-commerce selling to a global clientele. Glen combines his first-hand
experience of the insurance industry and experience as a senior management
trainer to create educational programs directed at the emerging needs
of the insurance brokerage sector.
Karen
MacWilliam, B.A., FIIC, CRM is an independent insurance and risk
management consultant. She has over 20 years experience as an underwriter,
broker, corporate risk manager, trainer and consultant. In addition to
advising a variety of clients on risk management and insurance matters,
she is the author of The Risk Management and Insurance Guidebook for
Industry © 2001, ABS Inc. and teaches advanced insurance and risk
management curriculum at SFU and UNBC. Karen has been facilitating seminars
for IBABC since 1998.
Greg Mansfield, B.A., CAIB, Dipl.Ed. has
been in the insurance industry since 1987 and is currently Continuing
Education Coordinator and Online Learning Development Manager for IBABC.
After graduating from the University of British Columbia, Greg worked
for the Commercial Union Insurance Company of Canada as a commercial
lines underwriter and claims adjuster. In 1989, he became a broker at
Mellor-Liggett Insurance Agencies in Vancouver, where he served in various
capacities for eight years, including office manager, commercial accounts
executive, and staff trainer. In 1997, Greg became a full-time computer
training specialist on assignment to London Life. He then joined the
IBABC Education Department in 1999. In addition to his administrative
duties at IBABC, he continues to enjoy instructing professional development
seminars. An advocate of life-long learning, Greg received a Diploma
in Adult Education from the University of B.C. in 2003 and completed
a Certificate in Online Learning Instruction through Vancouver Community
College in 2007.
Ken Marriette is a Victoria-based
sales trainer, business coach, and marketing specialist. Ken was an extremely
successful sales professional with IBM Canada Ltd. for twenty-five years.
During his time there, he consistently exceeded sales targets and was
perennially awarded for being a high achiever. In 1992, he left IBM and
is now a full-time seminar instructor, business mentor, and personal
coach. His highly energetic and enthusiastic presentation style puts
him in constant demand as a presenter. He has been facilitating sales,
marketing and business coaching seminars for the IBABC since the early
1990’s.
Jo Anne Mitchell, CIP is founder
and operator of Effective Training & Communications Plus (ETC Plus),
based in Port Stanley, Ontario. Jo Anne has over 20 years experience
in the insurance industry, including commercial lines and farms. A seasoned
facilitator, she has trained over 5,000 insurance professionals across
Canada. Jo Anne’s insurance career spans both a brokerage and company
background, giving her a unique insight into the training needs of both
groups. She has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2006.
Renate Mueller, C.A. is a prominent
figure in the Canadian insurance industry. Originally a public accountant,
she changed her career and became an insurance broker when she purchased
M.G. MacGregor Insurance Agencies Ltd. from her parents over 20 years
ago. As owner and senior manager there, she serviced the insurance needs
of both personal lines and commercial lines clients. In 2000, Renate
sold her highly successful brokerage and stayed on for a couple of years
as a broker/producer. In 2003, she joined AMAC Consultants Inc. as owner
and President. In that current capacity, she manages acquisitions and
mergers, engages in senior executive recruitment activities, and provides
general consulting to the property and insurance industry. Renate is
a past President of IBABC, has sat on the board of the Insurance Brokers
Association of Canada (IBAC), and has been a director of numerous other
professional associations and organizations including the Institute of
Chartered Accountants, Edelweiss Credit Union, and the Greater Vancouver
Real Estate Board. She has been facilitating seminars for IBABC since
2003.
Larry Munn is the Chair of Clark Wilson
LLP’s Privacy Law Group and a member of the Business Litigation,
Intellectual Property and Insurance Law Groups. In these areas, his practice
is focused on regulatory issues and complex litigation. In the area of
insurance, Larry provides advice to insurance clients regarding the regulation
of the insurance industry at both the federal and provincial levels.
He has dealt with numerous coverage and interpretation issues. Recently,
he acted as counsel to the Insurance Bureau of Canada before the British
Columbia Utilities Commission in respect of the ICBC rates and regulations.
He has both a Diploma in Legislative Drafting and an LL.M. from the University
of Ottawa. He received his LL.B. from McGill University. Before moving
to Vancouver and joining Clark Wilson LLP, he practiced with a major
Toronto firm.
Krista Prockiw is
an associate with Clark Wilson LLP and a member of its Insurance Law
Group. She has been a member of Clark Wilson’s Litigation Department
since 2002. The focus of her practice is insurance litigation and the
defense of personal injury claims. In the past, Krista has worked on
behalf of private insurers, ICBC, and for Plaintiffs in personal injury
claims. As a result, she has a broad experience with both third party
and first party claims. Krista obtained a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
from the University of Alberta in 1993 and, after graduation, taught
English in Kagoshima, Japan. Following her return to Canada, she obtained
her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia in
1998 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1999. She has been
presenting seminars for IBABC since 2004.
Edith Strauss, CIP began her career
in the insurance industry in the mid-1970's. She has worked as a broker/manager
in both British Columbia and Ontario. Edith is an Associate of the Insurance
Institute of Canada and is a member of the Chartered Insurance Professionals
Society. Since 1990, she has served as a senior instructor for the IBABC,
teaching Fundamentals and CAIB courses as well as seminars. She is also
chief editor of our online CAIB courses. Edith is one of the contributors
to the Fundamentals of Insurance textbook and, in the past, she has been
a text auditor for the Insurance Institute of Canada. She now devotes
her energy full-time to the education and training of insurance professionals.
Neo Tuytel,
LLB is a partner with Clark, Wilson and is chair of the firm’s
Environmental Law practice group, co-chair of its Insurance
practice group, and a member of the Business Litigation group. Neo obtained
his LL.B. from the University of British Columbia in 1984 and was called
to the bar in 1985. He was also accredited as a mediator
in 1994. He is a member of the Environmental, Civil Litigation and Insurance
subsections of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the
Defense Research Institute. Neo is a contributing editor of the Canadian
Journal of Insurance Law and Covered Events (newsletter of DRI’s
Insurance Law Committee) and has written and presented numerous papers
at seminars under the auspices of DRI, the BBABC, the Canadian Risk and
Insurance Managers Society, the Continuing Legal Education Society of
B.C., the Insurance Institutes of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario
and other organizations. Neo was winning counsel in the Supreme Court
of Canada in the landmark overlapping insurance case of Family v Lombard.
He has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2004.
Peter Willcock, LLB has practiced
law at Harper Grey Easton since his call to the Bar in
1983. His litigation practice focuses primarily on the defense of professionals,
most specifically insurance professionals and physicians. He is a member
of the Civil Litigation and Insurance subsections of the B.C. Branch
of the Canadian Bar Association, the Medical Legal Society of British
Columbia and the Defense Research Institute. Peter has spoken extensively
on Professional Errors and Omissions. He has lectured in Insurance Law
at the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria and has presented
seminars on Professional Errors and Omissions and Insurance Law for the
IBABC on numerous occasions.
Don Woode was in the general insurance
industry for over thirty years and, for that time, was a highly successful
broker / producer. At the time of his retirement in 1997, he was Senior
Vice President of Aon Reed Stenhouse. His formal education includes a
Diploma in Business Management from the University of B.C. He has chaired
several commissions and councils, including the 2000 Langley B.C. Games
for Athletes with a Disability. An avid golfer, traveler and fishing
enthusiast, Don has been presenting seminars for IBABC since 2001.
Peter
Wright, C.Arb. has been involved in the insurance industry for well
over fifty years. He has been active in the Marine Insurance field throughout
his career and has held senior management positions with the Fireman’s
Fund Insurance Company of Canada and Axa Pacific Insurance Company. In
addition to his extensive insurance experience, Peter is a Chartered
Arbitrator and has been a pioneer in the alternative dispute resolution
field. He has acted as an arbitrator and mediator for over fifteen years
and is currently retained by the IBABC and oversees the Insurance Dispute
Resolution Services of B.C. As an international marine consultant, arbitrator,
mediator, expert witness and lecturer, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge
and experience to the various seminars he facilitates for IBABC.
John Zeiler, CIP has
been in the insurance industry for over thirty years.
He began his career in 1970 with Zurich Insurance as a Personal Lines
Supervisor. Soon after, he began specializing in Marine insurance when
he joined Dale and Company in 1972 as a Marine Insurance Marketer and
Accounts Executive. Since then, he has held numerous positions in marine
insurance for the Fireman’s
Fund Insurance Company, Marsh & McLennan Ltd., the Allianz Insurance
Company, and he was President and CEO of Oceanic Underwriters
Ltd. He is also a member of the B.C. Insurance Adjusters Association,
the International Association of Marine Investigators, and the Vancouver
Maritime Arbitrators Association. John is an experienced instructor,
having taught courses for the IBABC, the Insurance Institute of Canada,
the Association of Marine Underwriters of B.C., and the Northwest Community
College for many years. |