Students and interns from Bermuda, Canada, the United States and Britain have been learning about the industry from experienced professionals during the Bermuda Captive Conference.

Those studying for, or considering, a career in the industry have been able to observe veterans up close, such as the risk manager from Sony Corporation who took the time to meet them.

The students include a contingent from Calgary, Alberta, who are being shuttled around the globe to understand the insurance industry as it is practised in different domiciles.

Christopher Trollope is a sessional instructor at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, where he teaches courses on International Insurance Markets and Introduction to Risk Management.

He also leads the Risk Management, Insurance and Finance programme's international experiential learning trips to major global hubs such as Bermuda and London.

He is also with Mennonite Mutual Insurance, billed as Alberta’s insurance for faith communities, a choice for evangelical Christians in Alberta.

MMI has roots planted deep in the mutual aid that church members provided to one another, beginning almost 100 years ago.

Mr Trollope said his Calgary students were only at the conference for the first day, as they prepared to fly to London.

But he said the prior day’s networking combined with the Monday events were a useful way for his students to connect with participants in a broad captive market.

Meanwhile, local students include those from the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies’ internship programme, Bermuda Introduction to Insurance, together with those from the Bermuda College.

The BFIS Summer Intern Programmes are offered annually in Bermuda, London and Chicago.

They are intensive, structured, two to three-week programmes for four groups of four Bermudian undergraduate students who are planning careers in Bermuda’s insurance industry. Students gain an in-depth understanding of the insurance industry and the careers it can offer.

BFIS executive director Victoria Cunningham said students have had a great opportunity to learn about more than just the basics of captives.

She said: “I am delighted that the Bermuda Captive Network has partnered with a lot of Bermuda College students and institutions in Bermuda to provide access for those students to the conference and the various networking events this week.

“As the executive director of BFIS, I am proud that we have brought seven of our students who are currently participating in our Bermuda internship programme.”