The insurance industry needs Bermudians with a broad variety of skills and talents to maintain the Island?s position as a leader on the world stage says Laurie Orchard Chairperson of the Bermuda Insurance Institute (BII).

Ms Orchard, XL Re Assistant Vice President Operations, was the keynote speaker at the BII Education Awards Luncheon at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Friday.

A total of 95 certificates were awarded to 78 individuals in 14 various insurance designations from introductory to advance level.

?In the 36-year history of the Bermuda Insurance Institute, this is the largest group to complete internationally recognised insurance and reinsurance designations in a given year,? Ms Orchard said.

?This is a huge success for our industry and for the BII, whose principal purpose is to provide a high standard of education and training to those working in the insurance industry or looking to enter the industry.?

Ms Orchard, the chairwoman of the BII?s education committee, said the industry is not just competing for the business it writes but for the employees and executives that produce the business.

?Today we are a world leader in the insurance industry but Bermuda has a small population and a limited size to deal with an influx of visitor workers and it is extremely important for Bermudians to be trained so we don?t have a continuous revolving door of temporary employees,? she said.

?Gone are the days when a billion dollar company can operate with just a CEO, an underwriter, and an office administrator.

?The support staff that manage the business once it?s in the door, and that keep us on track with the regulatory authorities are also integral to our collective success.

?Today our typical Bermuda insurer requires a lot more support. Not only is there more capital and risk being managed, but there are more workers to manage and huge buildings going up that require maintenance and infrastructure support.?

Ms Orchard said is there is a need for analysts, technical assistants, assistant underwriters, claims analysts, accountants, contract wording specialists, risk managers, administrative staff, receptionists, human resource staff, IT staff, systems, office managers and facilities staff.

Ms. Orchard started working in the insurance industry in 1994 after graduating from Trent University with Bachelors of Arts degree in psychology and worked in a series of diverse roles for Stockton Re, Commercial Risk Insurance and Renaissance Re.

These areas included administration, operations, marketing, legal and underwriting and her unique broad based experience in these roles has given her the understanding that the industry needs a broad range of talents in order to survive and flourish.

During this period she obtained her CPCU (Chartered Property And Casualty Underwriter) and ARe (Associate in Reinsurance) designations.

?In 2001, I was asked to join the Education Committee of the Bermuda Insurance Institute and I joined because I thought this was a good opportunity to have a role in developing what courses and topical seminars are offered at the BII and I love to teach and mentor.?

Ms Orchard said there is still a large group of young students, parents, teachers and the general community that are not well educated about what the Island?s industry is about.

?What we need are interested members of the industry that are willing to contribute to the efforts.

?We need people with a passion for seeing our industry thrive long term, and people with ideas to share about how we can continue to source long term employees.

?To all of the members of our industry that are represented here today, I encourage you to find a way to get involved. Share your ideas, and help to implement them beyond your individual companies.

?To the students, I encourage you all to continue to set a good example. Find a way to become a mentor to someone else that?s interested in the industry.

?Join an industry focus group to help design a lesson plan for young students or get involved in presentations to school children to tweak their interest.?