Program

ICBC Information Session: Collaborating to Support Communities

Time: 10:30 AM - Noon

Location: Columbia Ballroom

The conference will begin with this session, for Autoplan brokers only, as members of ICBC’s team discuss our shared role in meeting the evolving needs of British Columbians.

Collaborating to Support Communities: Join ICBC's Director, Sales and Distribution David Fearncombe, as well as members of their leadership team to delve into ICBC's 2025 strategy, focusing on affordability, road safety, and our commitment to serving British Columbia. Join us as we explore our initiatives to enhance customer experience, ensure financial stability, and make roads safer for everyone.

Shabnem Afzal, Director of Road Safety, ICBC
A Road Safety Leader and seasoned professional with national and international experience in public safety, Shabnem is an executive of the Transport Association of Canada’s Road Safety Committee. As Director of Road Safety at ICBC, Shabnem leads a team of road safety engineers and managers, inspiring them to enhance safety for all road users. Passionate about public safety, Shabnem’s career spans across the Atlantic Ocean: including research positions at a number of prestigious UK universities before moving into a Senior Consultant role with New Scotland Yard’s organized Crime Unit in London, England where she designed performance metrics for complex criminal files.

Jill Blacklock, Senior Manager, Insurance Sales, Distribution, ICBC
Jill Blacklock, is a Senior Manager in ICBC’s Insurance Sales and Distribution and is responsible for the sale and distribution of ICBC’s products and services through over 900 broker locations throughout British Columbia. During her 25 years with ICBC, Jill has served in a variety of management positions including Claims, Road Safety and Insurance Customer Service. In addition, she’s volunteered with the Insurance Institute of BC since 2017 on the Education Committee, joining the IIBC Executive Board this past year as Secretary-Treasurer.

David Fearncombe, Director, Insurance Sales, Distribution, ICBC
David is ICBC’s Director, Insurance Sales, Distribution. He is responsible for driving our strategic direction of the sale and distribution of ICBC’s products and services. He oversees both the Broker Accounts and Broker Governance teams as they build relationships with our broker partners while continuing to manage broker compliance to over 900 broker locations throughout British Columbia. David has significant sales and distribution experience in financial services including, most recently, at Coast Capital Wealth Management. Prior to Coast Capital, David directed distribution for western Canada for Desjardins Wealth. He also spent some time on the board of North Shore Insurance Services.

Cameron Sutherland, Senior Manager, Broker Governance, ICBC
Cam Sutherland is ICBC’s Senior Manager of Broker Governance. He is responsible for driving strategic broker initiatives, implementing the Strategic Broker Accord, and managing broker compliance programs. Cam chairs and manages various broker consultation groups including the Memorandum of Understanding Council (MOUC), ICBC Broker Liaison Committee and the Broker Online Task Force. Cam has a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and has worked in several divisions at ICBC since 2000.

Brandon Wong, Associate Director of Underwriting, Insurance Division, ICBC
Brandon Wong is ICBC’s Associate Director of Underwriting for the Insurance division. He is responsible for oversight of risk underwriting, underwriting services and the operational delivery of ICBC's commercial underwriting garage and fleet business. Brandon has been with ICBC for over eight years and was also the business lead for ICBC’s Rate Design project as Insurance Portfolio and Product Advisor. Brandon earned his Chartered Insurance Professional accreditation through the Insurance Institute of Canada in 2013 and has worked in the insurance industry well before that at RSA Insurance and Canadian Direct Insurance.

IBABC Annual General Meeting

Time: 1:15 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Columbia Ballroom

Don’t miss the most important meeting of the year. Discuss issues that directly affect brokers and help determine the direction of the association. IBABC members please note the AGM has a separate registration. Only members in good standing are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM.

ICBC Welcome Reception

Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: BC Foyer

After the AGM, join your broker colleagues and conference delegates at the welcome reception for some refreshments and networking.

IBABC Industry Dinner

Time: 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Location: BC Ballroom

After the receptions cap off your day with dinner and entertainment.

The keynote for this evening is Angus Reid. Angus is a former professional football who played 13 years for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. The Richmond Born native who went to Vancouver College before attending Simon Fraser University played in 200 professional games placing him in the top 5 all time for games played by a BC Lion. Throughout his career, Angus has been a 3-time all-star, 2- time Grey Cup Champion and 5-time team captain. He has transitioned from the field to the business world and has built a successful career as a commercial insurance producer at Reliance Insurance. He is also the lead facilitator for the groundbreaking program, “Be More Than A Bystander” that teaches employees how to comfortably stand up to inappropriate behavior and support a healthy work culture. Angus has done two successful TEDx talks, as well as written an Amazon best-selling book “Thank You, Coach”. In his free time Angus coaches high school football and recently helped his team, the Vernon Panthers, become provincial football Champions.

Enjoy musical entertainment from Sons of Granville who specialize in sophisticated dinner music with a new fresh approach. They have been featured three times in the Georgia Straight’s annual ‘Best of Vancouver’ listings under the category of unsigned local band. Their group consists of lead viola/violin, percussion and acoustic guitar. The signature sound of this instrumental trio features original and romantic music. Their song catalogue consists of genres such as Acoustic, Classical, World and Pop. 

Seminar 1: Flood

Time: 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Location: Columbia Ballroom

CE Credits: 1.25

Changing climate patterns – not just wetter, warmer winters, but also drier, hotter summers – along with aging flood-protection infrastructure and increased growth and density in marginal areas puts more homes, farms, and businesses at risk of overland flooding. The insurance industry has expanded its flood coverage, but it’s still not enough. There is work to be done on the national and provincial levels to implement better flood coverage, work on flood mitigation, and standardize flood mapping.

Caroline Metz, Managing Director, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
Caroline Metz is Managing Director of Economics and Resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaption, at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Her work focuses on developing guidance and mobilizing solutions to reduce risk from extreme weather hazards -- including flooding, wildfire, and extreme heat -- for homeowners, communities, and businesses across Canada. She leads the Extreme Heat file at the Intact Centre, and has contributed to Canada's National Adaptation Strategy.

Jenny Koss, Assistant Program Manager, Flood Management, Fraser Basin Council
Jenny has her Masters in Community + Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia, with a focus in hazard risk reduction. She is an Assistant Program Manager of Flood Management at the Fraser Basin Council where she works on regional projects to reduce flood risk and increase community resilience. She firmly believes that good policy practices, holistic planning, and public education prior to a hazard event are the best tools for reducing risk in our communities.

Seminar 2: Wildfire

Time: 10:45 AM - Noon

Location: Columbia Ballroom

CE Credits: 1.25

Four of the most severe wildfire seasons of the last century in B.C. have occurred in the past seven years – 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023 – with 2023 setting new records. By mid-July the 2023 wildfire season in B.C. had officially surpassed the 2018 season as the most destructive ever recorded as measured by area burned, and by early August it was the costliest with more than $357 million spent fighting wildfires. Forecasters are now warning of a grim wildfire season ahead of us due to unbelievably low precipitation and snowpack since fall 2022. As communities grow and encroach on surrounding forest and grassland, the risk of “interface” fire increases, as does the increase in insurance issues related to wildfires.

Ryan Moreside, Home Partners Program Administration Coordinator, FireSmart BC
Ryan Moreside works as the Home Partners Program Administration Coordinator with FireSmart BC. He has gained years of experience in wildfire response, emergency management, and wildfire mitigation. After seven years with the BC Wildfire Service, Ryan transitioned into roles with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and BC Parks before joining the FireSmart BC team in May 2023. Ryan believes in the FireSmart BC program and the opportunities to increase the overall resiliency to wildfires in British Columbia.

Hannah Swift, Acting Program Lead, FireSmart BC
Hannah Swift works as the Acting Program Lead for the FireSmart BC Program and chairs the BC FireSmart Committee. She has been with the BC provincial government for eight years, most recently as a Regional Manager with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness(EMCR), and previously as a Training Analyst, Information Officer, and Wildland Firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is passionate about creating and sharing public education campaigns that can help local communities learn about wildfire resilience to prepare for wildfires.

Jack Blair, Fire Services Advisor, Office of the BC Fire Commissioner
Jack Blair began his career with the Vancouver Fire Department in 1978, where he was involved in recruit and officer training, fire investigation, and hazardous materials response. After 28 years, he retired in 2005 and became the Fire Services Coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s 13 fire departments. He also served as Deputy Chief of Operations in Vernon for five years. Since 2019, Jack has worked as a Fire Service Advisor for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, supporting fire investigations and reporting across the Interior Region.

Sheldon Young, Deputy Fire Commissioner, Office of the BC Fire Commissioner
Sheldon joined the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) in March 2022 as Deputy Fire Commissioner after a 29-year career with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS). Sheldon gained a wide range of experiences as a Firefighter and Company Officer with VFRS across numerous divisions before moving into an exempt role as Assistant Chief of Operations, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness and Fire Investigations. Sheldon currently oversees OFC Operations and is supported by two Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioners and ten Fire Service Advisors who are located regionally throughout the province.

Luncheon & Keynote

Time: Noon - 1:45 PM

Location: British Ballroom

CE Credits: 0.5

Join us for lunch to celebrate our 2024 scholarship and CAIB awards recipients.

The luncheon keynote is Alister Campbell. Alister is the CEO of the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC) since 2019 and brings over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Former CEO of Zurich Canada and The Guarantee Company of North America, he's known for driving profitability and growth while prioritizing customer needs. With a diverse background spanning property-casualty, life, and travel insurance, he's held key roles in management, marketing, distribution strategy, and digital commerce. Alister's leadership extends to industry boards, including PACICC and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and he is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services. A Senior Fellow at the CD Howe Institute, he also contributes to FinTech startup FINAEO and Sagicor Bermuda Re Limited. Educated at institutions like the University of Toronto, London School of Economics, and the Wharton School, Alister resides in Toronto with his family. His multifaceted expertise and dedication make him a distinguished voice in the insurance landscape.

Seminar 3: Earthquake

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Location: Columbia Ballroom

CE Credits: 1.25

Research has shown that the overall economic losses in the event of a magnitude 9M earthquake off the west coast would total almost $75 billion, of which only an estimated $20b would be insured. B.C. would have to find funding for the $50b in direct uninsured losses and the entire country would be affected. Preparation is key, including proper insurance coverage. However, there is currently an insurance gap because of insufficient earthquake insurance coverage, compounded by diminished capacity for earthquake coverage in the province, as well as the ineffective nature of existing Canadian earthquake insurance policies.

Alison Bird, Seismologist; Liaison & Outreach Officer, Earthquake Early Warning, Natural Resources Canada
Alison Bird, an earthquake seismologist since 1997, initially worked for the International Seismological Centre in England before joining Natural Resources Canada in 2000. Over 20 years, she analyzed western Canada's earthquakes and was part of the response team for the 2012 Haida Gwaii magnitude 7.8 quake. Recently, Alison contributed to developing a comprehensive risk assessment for Canada and has conducted over 1,000 interviews following significant seismic events. In 2020, she became the Liaison & Outreach Officer for Canada’s Earthquake Early Warning project, helping to establish a national EEW system. Passionate about seismic-resistant engineering, she actively encourages mitigation practices for at-risk communities and educates the public on earthquake hazards. Alison serves on the Board of Directors for the BC Earthquake Alliance and is on the Organizing Committee for the annual Great British Columbia Shake Out earthquake drill, reflecting her dedication to earthquake preparedness and public safety.

Tiegan Hobbs, Ph.D, Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada
Tiegan is a seismic risk scientist for the Geological Survey of Canada and an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in the Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences department. She uses various geologic, geophysical, and geotechnical datasets to better understand active tectonics and natural hazards. Specifically, she is interested in understanding how the stresses that cause potentially catastrophic events are accumulated through time and space, how failure is ultimately initiated, and what the impacts will be for communities and the built environment. She is leading the development of the scenario earthquake catalogue for Canada’s first National Seismic Risk Model, including validation of the framework against known standards.

Seminar 4: Natural Disaster Wrap-up

Time: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Location:Columbia Ballroom

CE Credits: 1.25

The final session will bring together experts from the sessions as well as leaders from the industry to discuss what evolving role insurance has in the quickly changing landscape around natural disasters.

Alison Bird, Seismologist; Liaison & Outreach Officer, Earthquake Early Warning, Natural Resources Canada
Alison Bird, an earthquake seismologist since 1997, initially worked for the International Seismological Centre in England before joining Natural Resources Canada in 2000. Over 20 years, she analyzed western Canada's earthquakes and was part of the response team for the 2012 Haida Gwaii magnitude 7.8 quake. Recently, Alison contributed to developing a comprehensive risk assessment for Canada and has conducted over 1,000 interviews following significant seismic events. In 2020, she became the Liaison & Outreach Officer for Canada’s Earthquake Early Warning project, helping to establish a national EEW system. Passionate about seismic-resistant engineering, she actively encourages mitigation practices for at-risk communities and educates the public on earthquake hazards. Alison serves on the Board of Directors for the BC Earthquake Alliance and is on the Organizing Committee for the annual Great British Columbia Shake Out earthquake drill, reflecting her dedication to earthquake preparedness and public safety.

Kate Hogan, Vice President, Marketing, Communications & Distributions, Gore Mutual Insurance
Kate Hogan is responsible for leading all broker engagement and performance activity nationally, including business development, marketing, communications and analytics. Prior to joining Gore Mutual in 2019, Kate held progressive roles within the insurance industry in both Ontario and Western Canada, working in broker financing, business development and commercial insurance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Queen’s University and a Masters in Management and Accounting from the Rotman School at the University of Toronto, as well as CPA (CA) and Corporate Finance designations.

Graham Haigh, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer – West, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
Graham launched his insurance career in B.C. in 1994 after graduating from Simon Fraser University. He has also completed the FCIP and CAIB designations. He now calls Winnipeg home, but he spent most of his career in Vancouver. In 2009, he joined Wawanesa as its Regional VP for B.C. & Yukon. He has taken on progressively senior positions since and is currently SVP, COO – West, a position in which his passion for leadership and business strategy drives his goal of enabling a world-class sales and marketing culture.

Caroline Metz, Managing Director, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
Caroline Metz is Managing Director of Economics and Resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaption, at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Her work focuses on developing guidance and mobilizing solutions to reduce risk from extreme weather hazards -- including flooding, wildfire, and extreme heat -- for homeowners, communities, and businesses across Canada. She leads the Extreme Heat file at the Intact Centre, and has contributed to Canada's National Adaptation Strategy.

Stay tuned for additional panelists!

IBABC Presidents Reception

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: BC Foyer

Join us for a reception to unwind after a day of sessions. Network with your fellow leaders from brokerages and insurance companies over cocktails and appetizers. Come dressed to kill – but not armed!

Sponsor Events

Time: 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM

Location: Various

Event sponsors and insurers will have networking events the evenings of June 5 and 6 as well as the morning of June 7. Stay in touch with your insurers to find out from them about what they have planned so you can connect and network with our industry partners.