As Executive Director of the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies (BFIS), Catherine Lapsley is dedicated to leading bright young people into rewarding careers in insurance. She has helped match countless talented youngsters to scholarships, mentoring and internship programmes which, over time, have provided Bermuda's insurance companies with well-educated and well-prepared Bermudian staff.

Mrs. Lapsley joined BFIS in 1997, a year after the foundation launched and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Graphic Design) from Kingston-on-Thames University, UK.

"My qualification in graphic design taught me project management, which is how to manage and look at the creative side of business. It is good to be able to see things from all perspectives, and to critically think about things," she explains.

Before joining BFIS, she was the quality service department manager at Butterfield Bank from 1992 to 1997, and prior to that a senior graphic designer in the bank's marketing department.

As Executive Director, Mrs. Lapsley is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of the Foundation's activities - along with the many insurance professionals who serve on BFIS committees.

Not only does she help students who are interested in insurance careers, but she is also an information resource for the general public and interacts with everyone from CEOs and students, to corporate and individual donors and educators.

"The most rewarding aspect of my work is getting young Bermudians started on their careers in the insurance industry," she says. "We help match students with insurance industry mentors and also help with r[LCacute-e]sum[LCacute-e]s."

One of the highlights of her job, she says, is visiting the various schools to talk about the different careers in insurance - aided by Bermuda Insurance Institute's Young Members.

She says getting the general public, parents and students to understand what opportunities are available in Bermuda in the insurance industry is one of the greatest challenges facing BFIS.

When asked what aspect of her work makes her the happiest, Mrs. Lapsley says: "Doing the job well and feeling that I have made a difference in someone's life by helping him or her."

When BFIS was formed in 1996, she adds that it was believed that the insurance companies generated about 40 new jobs a year, but since then the industry has grown beyond anyone's expectations, and so the more Bermudians who have the education and ability to enter the industry, the better.

"All of our scholarship graduates are bright and highly motivated individuals embarking on extremely interesting careers in an industry in which Bermuda has become a, if not the, top global centre," she elaborates.

"Opportunities are open to anyone willing to apply themselves with the hunger to create a career. In this field if you are smart, have the right attitude, and are prepared to work hard there are no limits on how far one can go."

Mrs. Lapsley is married and lives in Smith's and when not at work, likes to work in her garden and dabbles in painting.