THE newly-appointed president of the Bermuda Insurance Institute (BII) says she is dedicated to building a "home-grown" workforce that will be prepared to meet the challenges of an evolving industry.

Elspeth Brewin, a vice-president at Oil Insurance (OIL), will be fulfilling the duties of president for the next two years.

"I am delighted to have accepted this position," said Mrs. Brewin. "I think it is tremendously important that we are able to produce a 'home-grown' and educated workforce for the insurance and reinsurance companies in Bermuda.

"The sophistication of Bermuda is one of the main attractions for companies that set up in Bermuda in the first place. In order to keep them here we need to provide them with staff that are educated to the highest international standards."

The institute is a registered charity with 70 full members and several associate and affiliate members. It is an internationally recognised examination centre for insurance studies and insurance-related studies. It aims to encourage discussion of industry matters and interaction between the industry participants.

The offer to head up the BII came as no shock to Mrs. Brewin.

"I have been the vice-president for the last two years and traditionally the vice-president is the next person to become president," she said. "So I knew it was a strong possibility that I would be asked to take on the role of president after Roger Gillett's two years were finished."

THE former president of the Institute, Roger Gillett, offered Mrs. Brewin his blessing. "In setting the direction of the BII, Elspeth faces an exciting time ahead," he said. "Knowing some of her plans, I am confident that all of the companies in our industry will support our education facility with their continued interest and donations."

Mrs. Brewin's plans for the future include increasing the number of companies that take advantage of the BII's services. "What I'd like to do is perhaps raise the profile of the BII so that all the new companies that come into Bermuda know the services that the Institute can offer them," she said. "I'd like to bring our organisation to some of the newer insurance companies who may not yet be members. That way our facilities can be available to all the staff of all the companies in Bermuda."

Mrs. Brewin, a wife and mother of three, is not new to this kind of responsibility. Her current full-time position at Oil Insurance requires that she oversee the insurance department, administering property and pollution insurance for the 87 energy companies worldwide that constitute OIL's shareholders.

Although Mrs. Brewin studied insurance in England, she always aimed to return to Bermuda to work.

"I really got into insurance by accident," she said. "Not very many people in those days set out to be an insurance industry executive but it was a career that I knew I could one day return home to Bermuda to practise. I got into insurance by accident really. Not very many people in those days set out to be an insurance industry executive.

"It was a career that I knew I could one day return home to Bermuda to practise. There is so much more to it than one would expect. There is always something new to learn so it never really becomes dull."

Mrs. Brewin hopes to bring this love of learning to people throughout Bermuda.

"My main focus over the next few years will be to encourage Bermudian students and those already in the workforce to persevere with their studies and obtain professional designations in order to further develop their skills and knowledge," she said.