Fourteen Bermuda College students yesterday attended the opening day of the ILS Bermuda Convergence 2017 conference.

The group, who came to the Hamilton Princess with faculty members Craig Simmons, economics lecturer, and Ali Arouzi, mathematics professor, were guests of conference organisers ILS Bermuda.

Tim Tetlow, of ILS Bermuda’s Thought Leadership and Education team and partner and chief operating officer of HSCM, said: “Last year we had a few Bermuda College students attend the event and it was well received by both them and their professor.

“After some internal committee discussions we all agreed this was an excellent opportunity to engage and educate young Bermudians on the niche segment of insurance-­linked securities and the alternative reinsurance space.

“This is how the idea came about and is only part of our full education initiative with also includes our complimentary work with the BII.”

Last month, ILS Bermuda also announced a new education initiative that will provide scholarships for five Bermudian students to work towards an Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation through the Bermuda Insurance Institute’s ‘Career Pathways’ programme.

The Bermuda College students who attended were: Nasaj Burgess, Johndell Cumberbatch, Khaleel Daly, Dante Dandridge, Di’Neasha DeSilva, Nathanael Fubler, Bathsheba Jones, Candace Paynter, Kyrie Parfitt, Busayo Salawu, Jahkai Smith, Jaquelyn Smith, Kayla Smith and Torri Wilson.

Mr Tetlow, a Bermudian, holds a BSc degree in physics. He is a fellow of both the faculty and Institute of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society as well as a former student of Mr Simmons.

This year’s event includes topics such as market uncertainty, insurtech, longevity trends, cyber-risk, natural catastrophes, emerging risks, and a special panel on “ILS and flood – from talking to action”.

Best-selling author Dan Gardner was the keynote speaker yesterday, while Michael McGavick, CEO of XL Group Ltd, will address delegates today at 5.30pm.

Kathleen Faries, deputy chairwoman of ILS Bermuda, and head of the Bermuda branch of Tokio Millennium Re, said: “ILS Bermuda is proud to be in the fifth year of hosting the Bermuda Convergence event and fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with Bermuda College students who have interest in the property-catastrophe business and the various methods by which the industry engages in risk transfer.

“We hope the students enjoy the event and find interest in the supporting lectures at the Bermuda College.”

Mr Simmons said: “Our students are fully prepared to take advantage of this year’s ILS Convergence event. They have all participated in two comprehensive pre-conference sessions put on by Tim Tetlow, which has given our students the background needed to gain maximum benefit from the conference sessions.

I am impressed with the seriousness with which our students are taking this educational initiative that will give them unprecedented access to the reinsurance sector and alternative risk market in Bermuda.”