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.