ABIR to offer free online course covering the reinsurance industry

A complimentary online course, aimed at imparting fundamental knowledge about the global reinsurance industry, with a specific focus on Bermuda, is scheduled to start on Monday (Jan 15), offered by the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR).

Titled “Special Topics in Insurance,” the educational initiative is in collaboration with Bermuda College and the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science at St John’s University, New York, and is now in its fourth consecutive year.

As per a report from The Royal Gazette, the course is set to begin on January 15 with an inaugural roundtable discussion, which will delve into the socioeconomic impacts of international business in Bermuda. This opening session will serve as an introduction to the course and offer a comprehensive overview of the industry’s evolution.

Key speakers at the event include Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, Mark Cloutier, the executive chairman and group chief executive of Aspen and deputy chair of ABIR, and economist Craig Simmons. Suzanne Williams-Charles, ABIR’s director of policy and regulation, will moderate the discussion.

Lectures are scheduled to be held virtually via Zoom every Monday, extending until April 22. The series, encompassing 14 lectures, will feature perspectives from industry thought leaders and executives from ABIR member companies, as well as regulators from the Bermuda Monetary Authority and faculty from St John’s University.

John Huff, ABIR president and chief executive, remarked on the success of the course over the past three years, noting its role in educating 100s of Bermudians about the island’s premier reinsurance industry. He encouraged individuals interested in the reinsurance sector, whether as students, career changers, or simply as learners, to register for the course.

“The commitment of ABIR to building a strong pipeline of local talent is exemplified by the executives of member companies who have generously agreed to give their time and share their expert knowledge to add value to the course,” Huff said.

The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the reinsurance sector, covering topics like the industry’s evolution, its economic significance both locally and globally, climate risk, Bermuda’s role in natural catastrophe reinsurance, various career paths within insurance, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Additional topics also include life and annuities, collateralized reinsurance, captive reinsurance, and the critical role of regulation in ensuring the market’s success.

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