Almost 20 years after it was established, the Bermuda Foundation of Insurance Studies (BFIS) has matured into a support organisation that is making the most of its own rich alumni to further enhance networking opportunities for new and past members.

Since 1996, BFIS has provided more than $5 million in scholarships as part of its mission to develop a workforce of Bermudians capable of taking up positions in the Island’s insurance industry. It has been doing this through mentoring, internships, career guidance and scholarships.

There have been 109 scholarship graduates, of whom 102 have gone on to have careers in the insurance and reinsurance sector.

And there have been an additional 95 graduated students who have taken part in the BFIS intern programme.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary, the organisation has formed an alumni association.

“The collective BFIS alumni represent a group highly trained in fields ranging from actuarial and underwriting to IT and law,” the BFIS said in a statement.

“One of the primary goals is to create a network of BFIS alumni who are working as professionals within the (re)insurance space.

“It is an opportunity for university graduates to network with more experienced members and it is also an opportunity for people who have been involved in insurance for a while to scope out new talent and build relationships. Throughout the year, the alumni association will be hosting various events, some educational and others more social, that BFIS alumni will not want to miss.”

The BFIS Alumni Association will also support the work of the BFIS in the community and will award its inaugural Alumni Association Award next year. It hopes to raise enough to present a $20,000 scholarship.

David Amaro, co-chair of the alumni committee, said: “BFIS has done an incredible job in providing support, financial and otherwise, for young Bermudian students over the years.

“The Alumni Association will not only provide a unique platform for those graduates and interns to network and develop as market professionals, but also act as a liaison between the alumni and BFIS so that BFIS can continue to grow and provide even more opportunities for young Bermudians.”

For more information on BFIS or the BFIS Alumni Association, visit www.bfis.bm or e-mail bfisalumni@gmail.com