Agenda

Navigating change. Shaping the industry. Elevating women. 

8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast and registration

 

9:00 – 9:05 AM
Opening remarks from chairperson

 

Celyeste Power
President & Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Bureau of Canada
9:05 – 9:50 AM
Keynote: Unshakeable well-being: Small habits, massive impact

In a world that demands so much of your time and energy, prioritizing your well-being is no longer optional – it’s essential. This empowering session is designed to help you take back control of your mental, emotional, and physical health through simple, proven strategies that actually work. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in unhealthy cycles, or simply ready to feel better, this session will equip you with practical tools you can implement immediately.

  • Easy, evidence-based habits that are realistic to maintain in busy professional lives

  • Techniques to manage stress in real time and reset during high-pressure moments

  • Strategies for creating small, consistent changes that lead to lasting well-being

9:55 – 10:30 AM
Panel: Redefining ambition: How women are reshaping careers in insurance

Career ambition is being fundamentally redefined — and the insurance industry is feeling the impact. Today’s high-performing women are prioritizing flexibility, purpose, influence, and sustainable leadership over linear career paths and traditional advancement models. This session explores how organizations can modernize career design, leadership development, and workplace culture to attract, engage, and retain top talent in a rapidly changing workforce.

  • How to advocate for flexibility, development, and career pathways aligned with your goals
  • How organizations can build leadership pathways that include executive development and board readiness
  • How to design workplace cultures that attract, engage, and retain the next generation of insurance leaders
Lisa Kack
Founder and CEO, Royal City Recruitment Inc. (Moderator)
Cassandra Chowdhury
Senior Manager, Technology Consulting, Ernst & Young LLP
Brenda Gibson
President and CEO, Red River Mutual
Mackenzie Oldfield
Senior Underwriter, Private & Not-for Profit Financial Lines, Chubb
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Morning coffee break – meet & mingle

Refuel with refreshments, introduce yourself to someone new, and swap insights from the morning sessions.

11:00 – 11:25 AM
Fireside chat: Beyond the headlines: Economics, risk, and real-world impact

Insurance leaders operate in an environment shaped by economic uncertainty and shifting risk dynamics. In this fireside chat, an economist translates macroeconomic trends into practical insight, helping insurance professionals better understand the forces influencing today’s market and tomorrow’s decisions.

  • How current economic conditions are affecting insurance performance and risk exposure

  • Why broader economic forces are contributing to trends such as social inflation and evolving claims behaviour

  • How economic context can strengthen strategic decision-making and leadership conversations

Geneviève Fortier
Chief Executive Officer, Promutuel Insurance
Anushree Prakash
VP, Direct Operations, Definity
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Morning Discussion Tables: Your insurance world, your voice

The first of two sessions of its kind, interactive discussion tables offer you the chance to dive deep into key topics and issues facing insurance professionals. Choose a topic that interests you most and enjoy the chance to sit with like-minded peers for an informal session of brainstorming ideas, sharing experiences, and making connections.

*Note: You will have the chance to choose a second topic of interest in the afternoon!

LEARN MORE
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch and networking activities
1:15 – 1:50 PM
Panel: The power economy: How influence, advocacy, and visibility accelerate women’s careers

In today’s leadership landscape, performance alone is no longer enough. Career advancement is increasingly shaped by visibility, influence, and strategic advocacy. This session shows how women in insurance can strengthen executive presence, strategically build visibility, and cultivate sponsorship relationships to unlock leadership opportunities. Learn practical ways to position yourself for opportunity and accelerate career momentum.

  • How to raise visibility and influence without self-promotion — within teams, cross-departmental initiatives, and enterprise leadership circles
  • Strategic meeting presence: How to influence outcomes, not just contribute
  • Building sponsorship relationships that open doors and create advocates for advancement
Stephanie Banning
AVP, Cyber Practice, HSB Canada (Moderator)
Jolee Crosby
CEO Reinsurance Canada, Swiss Re
Rose Freeman
Founder & CEO, Willow Insurance Corp.
Jaime Yoon
SVP, Head of Distribution – Canada, SOMPO
1:55 – 2:25 PM
Showcase: Navigating trust, risk, and fraud in the age of technology

Technology is reshaping insurance and exposing new, fast-moving forms of fraud along the way. In this curated showcase, speakers from different backgrounds and roles across the insurance ecosystem will highlight how fraud is showing up today, the tools being used to detect and prevent it, and the practical next steps organizations can take now.

  • How technology-enabled fraud is emerging across underwriting, claims, and customer touchpoints

  • Tools, data, and approaches being used today to improve detection, visibility, and response

  • Practical next steps insurers can take to strengthen fraud prevention while maintaining customer trust

1:55 – 2:25 PM
Mentorship Labs: Find Your Fit

This fast-paced, interactive mentorship experience, in partnership with Sovereign, is designed to create meaningful peer connections, practical career insight, and real takeaways through guided small-group discussion. Participants will engage in focused conversations that encourage shared learning, professional growth, and authentic relationship-building.

  • Career Growth & Direction

  • Confidence, Influence & Leadership Presence

  • Belonging, Culture & Retention

2:25 – 2:55 PM
Afternoon coffee break – connect & reflect

Grab a refreshment, join a networking activity, and trade one insight or tip you’ve picked up during the summit.

2:55 – 3:40 PM
Afternoon Discussion Tables: Your insurance world, your voice

The second of two sessions of its kind, interactive discussion tables offer you the chance to dive deep into key topics and issues facing insurance professionals. Choose a second topic that interests you and enjoy the chance to sit with like-minded peers for an informal session of brainstorming ideas, sharing experiences, and making connections.

LEARN MORE
3:45 – 4:10 PM
Fireside chat: Career shock-proofing: How women build momentum in times of disruption

Economic shifts, regulatory change, digital transformation, and industry consolidation are reshaping the insurance landscape — fast. This session shows how women leaders stay visible, agile, and strategically positioned when change is constant. Learn practical strategies to maintain career momentum, strengthen influence, and turn periods of disruption into leadership opportunities.

  • Staying career-forward through disruption — including M&A, restructuring, and leadership transitions
  • Leading with authority and strategic presence across teams and the broader organization
  • Transforming disruption into strategic advantage while guiding teams through change
Pamela Derkson
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, Canada, NFP (Moderator)
Susan DuHamel
VP, National Distribution & Field Leader, CNA Insurance
Gillian Noble
VP & Chief Operating Officer, BMO Insurance
Erin Magilton
Executive Vice President, Complex Risk, HUB Insurance
4:10 – 4:15
Closing remarks from chairperson
Celyeste Power
President & Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Bureau of Canada
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Networking drinks reception and activities