Bermudians head to Chicago and Atlanta on BFIS internships

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Two teams of four Bermudian university students will be learning in depth about the insurance business in two different US cities, Chicago and Atlanta. BFIS has been sending students to Chicago since 2006 but the Atlanta programme is brand-new this year.

The eight set out for the US on Saturday for a two-week stint learning about the industry.

Cathy Lapsley, BFIS executive director said: “The new Atlanta Programme came together remarkably easily through our industry contacts, which included former BFIS President, Mark Lima, who now works in Atlanta, and with the assistance of Georgia State University, all of whom were delighted to help ensure the students have a worthwhile learning experience.”

This is mirrored in Chicago where the Katie School of Insurance and Finance at Illinois State University and its alumni now working in Chicago, put together an excellent schedule for BFIS students.

BFIS President and Chairman Michael Fisher noted that none of this would be possible without the tremendous support of the industry whose members will be generously donating time to share their knowledge, insights and experience with the students.

Featured below are brief biographies of the students who are in the US now with BFIS.

Atlanta interns

Magic Boyles

Education: Bermuda College, graduated 2011. Associates Degree in Actuarial Science, fall 2012, St John’s University, New York majoring in Actuarial Science.

Work experience: Allied World Assurance Company underwriting assistant, actuarial assistant. Sabor Dance School, dance instructor SalsaMania Productions, host/producer. Bermuda Monetary Authority, summer student.

Community and interests: De Boys’ Day Out Club, Bermuda Overseas Missions (travel to Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Columbia and Zambia).

Internship focus: Hopes it will provide a great opportunity to experience what an insurance market is like outside Bermuda. Having worked in insurance in Bermuda, the experience will allow him to compare and contrast the differences between the two.

Michael Jones

Education: Newcastle University, UK. Major: Zoology — graduated 2012. Fall 2012: Cass Business School, MSc Insurance & Risk Management.

Work experience: New World Wines, summer student. Senior lifeguard, Tuckers Point Hotel, dive shop and beach club.

Community and interests: Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Captain of water polo, hockey and golf teams, Red Cross beach lifeguard. Sports — numerous. Skydiving. Travel and adventure.

Internship focus: Has always had a keen interest in the financial world and believes his interests and skills are well suited to a career in insurance. Attending BFIS events has allowed him to network with many professionals and their input has helped him to make his decision on underwriting.

Fraser Moore

Education: University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Major: Engineering, graduated MEng 2012.

Work experience: BCM McAlpine — Intern, Site Engineer: summers 2008 — 2011. Swizzle Inn summers 2008 — 2010. Pickled Onion — Bartender.

Community and interests: AV Africa & Asia Venture: teaching in Kenya, April-August 2007. Engineers Without Borders — Edinburgh branch. Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. Junior coach for both tennis and squash.

Internship focus: Hoping to gain valuable experience and determine how best to transfer relevant skills from an MEng degree to the insurance sector in order to further a career. Potentially interested in property underwriting, but open minded to any area which can provide a challenging experience. Primarily interested in international insurance and how it relates to Bermuda.

Devin Page

Education: Georgia Institute of Technology, International Affairs: Security & Development, graduating MSIA 2013. ARM 54/55/56 — CPCU in progress.

Work experience: Bowring Marsh — associate broker, technical assistant. Christian Record Services — accountant. Maracle Press — maintenance assistant.

Community and interests: National Camps for the Blind — assistant director. Southern Accent/Memories — staff photographer. SAU School of Business — accounting tutor.

Internship focus: Following with two years’ experience in professional lines, this internship will complement and expand existing knowledge. Hopes to broaden understanding of the global risk industry in order to have a more thorough understanding of how Bermuda fits into the larger picture and how best to keep it relevant.

CHICAGO INTERNS

Samuel Bridges

Education: University of Liverpool, UK. Major: Law, graduating 2013.

Work experience: Wakefield Quin — litigation assistant.

Community and interests: BHS Football coaching assistant, University of Liverpool Law Society, University of Liverpool Law Department football team. Football, golf, piano.

Internship focus: Having viewed last year’s programme, the range of experiences really caught his eye. Sees the variety of aspects involved as a great way to sample the different fields of insurance and help with future decisions regarding employment in the insurance field.

Sophie Farrow

Education: University of Bristol, UK. Major: Civil Engineering / Actuarial, graduating MEng 2014.

Worom experience: Allied World Assurance Company — actuarial internship. Colonial Insurance — underwriting assistant.

Community and interests: Participant in Mongol Rally (London to Mongolia). Raleigh International Expedition, Costa Rica.

Oxford Union debating society

Internship focus: Plans to become a qualified actuary and sees the internship as an opportunity to understand the fabric of the insurance market — how actuaries support underwriters, the role that brokers and underwriters play, and also marketing.

Peter Miller

Education: Connecticut College. Major: History, graduating 2013.

Work experience: Pequot Yacht Club — racing coach, sailing instructor. Bermudian Publishing — researcher, contributor. Bermuda Sloop Foundation — intern.

Community and interests: Captain of Connecticut College Varsity Sailing team. Connecticut College Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Brewing, Culinary Arts, Music

Internship focus: Very interested in a career in insurance, particularly underwriting, as he thinks that is where his skills will be most valued. Hopefully the programme will provide opportunities to see both the underwriting process and other facets of the insurance industry to help prepare for a potential career.

Dominique Richardson

Education: Barry University. Major: Business Administration (Finance), graduating 2014.

Work experience: Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation — sports specialist for Summer Day camps. St George’s Trust Fund — summer intern. Bermuda Society of Arts — summer intern

Community and interests: PR officer for Caribbean Student Organisation. Junior coach for Bermuda Netball Association. Volunteer at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Volunteer at Camillus House (food preparation/serving for the homeless).

Internship focus: Hopes the internship will deepen her insurance knowledge as she learns from and connects with professionals. Believes the exposure will provide her with a practical understanding of how the industry operates.

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