AGENDA

All times in ET

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from chairperson

• 9:10 AM

  Opening keynote: Women leading the way – inclusive decision-making

  Join a leading senior executive as she discusses how the willingness to be inclusive in your decision-making practices can transform you into a more effective leader. She will share the wins, challenges, and transformative decisions that helped her become a CEO alongside a predominantly female leadership team. In this session, you will learn how to develop the framework to increase women in leadership – and how to empower others to do the same.  

• 9:55 AM

  Panel: Competitive intelligence – market trends and the future of insurance

  Digital disruptions, including AI, deep learning technologies and Blockchain, post-pandemic and environmental factors, are changing the insurance market and the way products and services are delivered. As we move out of the pandemic, what are the latest market trends, opportunities, and technologies shaping insurance today? In this session, hear from key industry leaders as they dive into the current and future insurance market – and learn what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader. Among the topics and questions to be explored: 

  • What are the latest market trends and what do they reveal? 
  • Discover current thinking on ESG priorities, big data, and analytics  
  • Addressing emerging trends in natural disasters and climate risk   
  • What’s next? Anticipating market trends and industry changes in 2023 and beyond  

• 10:35 AM

  Networking coffee break

• 11:05 AM

  Panel: Pursuing better together – Harness the power of intersectionality to help you achieve your potential

  Embracing different perspectives and ideas creates more effective, productive, and sustainable organizations. As an industry, we’ve come a long way, but we still are growing. It is vital for industry leaders to evolve current thinking on diversity, equity, and inclusion to include considerations of intersectionality, an academic term that recognises how different aspects of a person combine to create overlapping areas of privilege and oppression (Kimberlé W. Crenshaw, 1989). In this session, our panel will explore how to build on current DEI programs to understand how intersectional groups experience the workplace. By including intersectionality, we can advance opportunities for all and enable each other to succeed.

  Learn about intersectionality and why is it important to overcoming inequality in the workplace

  Discover how to apply intersectionality to empower your workforce and your team

  Examine issues in the workplace through an intersectional lens and learn practical tips and actionable takeaways

  Moderator

  

  Melike Oz Pasaogullari

  Senior Vice President, Head of Business Process Management
  Arch Insurance 

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  Melike Oz Pasaogullari

  Senior Vice President, Head of Business Process Management
  Arch Insurance 

  Melike Oz Pasaogullari is Senior Vice President, Head of Business Process Management at Arch Insurance North America. Previously, she held the role of Senior Vice President, Business Process Management Lead for Delegated Authority at Arch. Prior to joining Arch in February 2020, Melike served as Head of Retail Product Development and Marketing at MassMutual. She also held several different positions in strategy, planning, project management and lean deployment functions at MassMutual. Additionally, she was Senior Business Consultant for Small Commercial Strategic Initiatives and Enterprise Small Business Strategy at The Hartford. Melike earned a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from the Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Middle East Technical University. Melike is Co-Chair of the Arch Women and Allies Employee Network and was Chair of the Women’s Leadership Business Resource Group at MassMutual. In 2022, Melike was honored by APIW as an Extraordinary Women in an Extraordinary Year.

• 11:40 AM

  Breaking the taboos – supporting women’s health at every career stage

  Women face health issues and challenges throughout their lives, and introducing a specific women’s health strategy can provide practical advice on how to enable women to thrive in the workforce. How can we create an open culture in which women feel supported, confident, and safe in talking about health issues like menopause and miscarriage? How can you take control of your own health in the workplace? Hear how our speaker has implemented a culture that prioritizes women’s health, and the strategies you can implement in your own organization. Among the issues to be discussed: 

  • Conversations to expand line managers’ awareness and understanding 
  • Discover how small adjustments can have a significant impact 
  • A breakdown of common taboos around women’s health issues for the benefit of your workplace 

  

  Nicole Hackney

  Training and Research Officer
  Ontario Mutual Insurance Association

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  Nicole Hackney

  Training and Research Officer
  Ontario Mutual Insurance Association

  Nicole Hackney is the Training and Research Officer at Ontario Mutual Insurance Association, an Instructor at the Insurance Institute of Canada and teaches property insurance at Fanshawe College. Nicole has over 10 years of experience working in the Mutual insurance industry. Nicole holds her Certified Insurance Professional (CIP) designation along with additional certifications in Risk Management and In-Person and Virtual Teaching Techniques. With a passion for volunteering for non-profit organizations, Nicole has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as being involved with the Watford Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House. 

   Based on her own personal journey, Nicole has been an advocate for better perinatal support and research around Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Nicole collaborated with MPP Peggy Sattler and allowed her to share her story in the House of Commons in support of Bill 141, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, Research and Care Act. Nicole and her husband have been honoured as bereaved parents at the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Summit and she acts as a peer support for other bereaved mothers. 

• 12:10 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:10 PM

  Panel: Fighting fatigue – how to remain on top of your game

  With competing priorities and stressful working environments, many managers and executives are experiencing various levels of burnout. How can we prioritize well-being, and in turn create a culture of empathy and support? This session will discuss strategies to fight fatigue, boost resilience, and focus on self-care and mental well-being to lead by example. Among the topics and questions for discussion: 

  • What are the best strategies for fighting fatigue, and how can we develop them? 
  • How can managers and organizations encourage and prioritize a culture that supports well-being? 
  • Overcoming common challenges such as time management, multiple responsibilities, and burnout 

  Panelists

  

  Amanda Nordstrom

  Regional Vice President
  Intact Insurance

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  Amanda Nordstrom

  Regional Vice President
  Intact Insurance

  Amanda Nordstrom is Vice President Personal Lines West for Intact Insurance. As the leader of operational underwriting teams located in five Western Canadian cities, she’s focused on connecting with her teams, building and driving strategic priorities, and collaborating with her peers nationally across Intact’s business units. Amanda has a track record of successfully leading large scale national projects as well as driving performance in an engaging environment. She strongly believes in bringing out the best in people by inviting diverse perspectives and leading with a people-first mindset. No stranger to fighting fatigue, at home she is kept busy by her two very active boys, while traveling and leading teams in multiple cites. She is always looking for new ways to drive success while maintaining a sense of balance, good health, and overall well-being, for herself and for her teams.   

  

  Colette Taylor

  Chief Operating Officer
  Sovereign Insurance

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  Colette Taylor

  Chief Operating Officer
  Sovereign Insurance

  Colette Taylor is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Sovereign Insurance, where she leads the business strategy to drive new growth in the rapidly changing Canadian marketplace. 

  Colette has been in the P&C insurance industry for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. She found her passion when she entered the world of team leadership. Prior to joining Sovereign, she had extensive experience in the mid-market commercial and specialty space as an executive and senior leader. She has led front-line commercial underwriting teams, managed strategic broker relationships, and spent time during her career as a broker working directly with commercial end-clients. 

  Since joining Sovereign in 2018, Colette has had a significant impact on the organization, quickly demonstrating her capabilities and growing within the leadership team. She began by leading the Specialty Lines Solutions team and assumed responsibility of the Commercial Solutions team in 2020 in her role as VP Commercial Solutions and Specialty Lines Solutions. Colette was responsible for the streamlined execution of Sovereign’s strategies within Commercial Solutions and Specialty Lines Solutions to support Sovereign’s goals for each channel of distribution. Her focus on innovation, efficiency, and informed underwriting has streamlined Sovereign’s operations; fostered a more collaborative and efficient experience for the organization’s brokers and partners and made a significant impact on supporting Sovereign’s profitability.  

  Although originally from New Zealand, Toronto is now her home base where she lives with her husband, two kids, two cats and a dog.

• 1:55 PM

  Know your worth – how to negotiate during pay discussions

  Gender pay inequity exists at all levels in the insurance profession. This interactive session will provide you with the confidence to negotiate your remuneration while meeting the needs of your organization. Among the topics that will be discussed: 

  • How to prepare for the conversation to get the outcome you want  
  • Understanding your compensation expectations, incentives, and career progression   
  • Alternative compensation models that value performance and outcomes   

  

  Lauren Ritchie

  Certified High Performance & Career Coach
  

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  Lauren Ritchie

  Certified High Performance & Career Coach
  

  Lauren Ritchie is a certified high-performance and career coach. She empowers individuals and teams to 5X their career through strategic pivots and accelerated performance. Leveraging the six pillars of high performance, she works with her clients to achieve heightened and sustained levels of performance and success.

  Lauren spent almost a decade working in financial institutions before pivoting her career to entrepreneurship. She has worked with some of Canada’s most prominent organizations, helping them drive engagement, retention and growth of their people and business.

  Lauren believes that gaining clarity about who you are; your value and self-worth, is essential to accelerating performance and to leading a fully engaged, purpose-driven life.

• 2:25 PM

  Networking coffee break

• 2:55 PM

  Speed networking

  Expand your network, make new connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.  

• 3:30 PM

  Fireside chat: Accelerating your career – the latest scoop on skills development

  The industry is rapidly changing, and leaders need to be at the forefront to deliver business objectives. How can you ensure you are performing at your best through self-driven learning and development? This fireside chat on skills development will discuss strategies to develop capabilities and skillsets for career advancement. Among the issues to be explored: 

  • What are the top three emerging leadership skills, and how can we develop them?  
  • How can managers and executives encourage and prioritize learning and development for themselves and their teams?  
  • Overcoming challenges, such as leading inclusively and authentically in a hybrid environment, juggling multiple responsibilities, and collaboration among multi-generational teams  
  • Tips on how to take the next step in your career

  Panelists

  

  Marcela Abreu

  Vice President, Head P&C Solutions Canada & English Caribbean
  SwissRe

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  Marcela Abreu

  Vice President, Head P&C Solutions Canada & English Caribbean
  SwissRe

  Marcela Abreu is the Head of P&C Solutions for Canada and English Caribbean at Swiss Re. Based in Toronto since February 2021, Marcela leads the region’s go-to-market strategy for delivering proprietary tools, data analytics capabilities and bespoke consultancy services offered by Swiss Re Reinsurance Solutions.

  Marcela has held multiple roles during her 10-year tenure with Swiss Re. Before moving to Canada, she was responsible for driving all P&C business in Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. With over 14 years in the industry, she has technical underwriting, strategy and client management expertise within global P&C reinsurance and brokerage operations.

  Marcela is known by her peers because of her high levels of energy and can-do spirit. Passionate about sales and talent development, she has been involved with Inclusion & Diversity initiatives since the beginning of her career, and currently dedicates time to mentor Latin women looking to internationalize their career. Marcela received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and has a specialization in Business and Management.

  

  Melissa Bajwa

  Vice President, Compliance and Broker Network Operations
  Prolink Insure

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  Melissa Bajwa

  Vice President, Compliance and Broker Network Operations
  Prolink Insure

  Melissa Bajwa joined PROLINK Insurance Inc. in 2016, and presently holds the title, “Vice President of Compliance and Broker Operations”. In just six years, Melissa has established herself as a critical senior leader, resulting in her 2020 appointment as Principal Broker (DI) for both PROLINK and over 30 brokerages that comprise the PROLINK Broker Network. Additionally, Melissa holds the highest P&C license in all provinces and territories, excluding Quebec.

• 4:10 PM

  Closing remarks from chairperson

• 4:15 PM

  Networking drinks reception