A reinsurance chief with close links to Bermuda has won a top award in the US.

Barbara Bufkin, executive vice-president for business development at the US arm of Bermuda-based Hamilton Insurance Group, was honoured for her contribution to the advancement of women in the industry by the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF).

Ms Bufkin, who lived in Bermuda while working at Argo Group, retains ties with the Island through sitting on the board and member of the membership committee of the Centre on Philanthropy.

She is also a member of the Strategic Alliances Innovation Group set up by the Bermuda-based Microinsurance Venture Incubator (MVI).

Hamilton USA CEO Conan Ward said: “Barbara justly deserves this important award.

“She is a tireless mentor and advocate for inclusion and doesn’t just open doors for young women — and men — she welcomes them into rooms of possibility, nurturing their capabilities, counselling them if their spirit falters and revelling in their success as if it were their own.

“We’re all proud to have her on the Hamilton team.”

Ms Bufkin shared the Inclusion Champion Award from the IICF with Farmers Insurance chief administrative officer Deborah Aldredge.

The citation said they were singled out for “their community service, commitment to developing talent and influential roles in advocating and leading others within their organisations to advocate for the advancement of women in insurance.”

Ms Bufkin joined Hamilton USA last September after a stint at Guy Carpenter & Co. where she was chief operating officer for global strategic advisory. Before that, she was a member of the executive team at Argo International Holdings.

She also worked as director of Swiss Re new markets and as chairman, president and CEO of Swiss Re subsidiary Facility Insurance Holding Corporation.

Hamilton USA is the US-based arm of Hamilton Insurance Group, set up by industry veteran Brian Duperreault as a holding company for insurance and reinsurance operations that underwrite property and casualty risks in Bermuda, the US and at Lloyd’s of London.