Taking the platform

Bermuda:Re+ILS has compiled its annual Women in Hamilton special report since the first one way back in 2015. What’s wonderful about this year’s feature is that all of the women have been nominated by their colleagues, which is surely the best possible endorsement.

I very much enjoyed letting these women know they had been nominated for the 2022 Women in Hamilton report, and all of them were flattered. Perhaps that modesty tells us something about them: they do what they do every day for their colleagues, for their company and for their industry.

They haven’t only been admired and respected for their achievements, but also appreciated for their positive influence and for the support they’ve given other women in the industry. Without exception, and even more important, they are impressive individuals and their gender is irrelevant.

These women have a feature to themselves for one reason: we are far from gender parity in the re/insurance work space. In an industry that prides itself on innovation and cutting-edge technology, the pretty basic right to be treated as an equal is not yet embedded. And that goes for race and sexuality, too.

It seems to me that there can be no diversity without equality. In other words, if a company is paying and promoting women less than their male peers, then its DE&I strategy is fancy wallpaper pasted over the cracks. The goal is never to need a Women in Hamilton feature, because everyone, regardless of their gender or background, will have equal representation across the pages of our magazine.

The nominees were all given the same questions: Give us a snapshot of your career to date; What attracted you to the re/insurance industry; Do you feel this sector is especially attuned to D&I; Is there anything you would like to improve or change; Have you encountered any challenges related to D&I; Would you encourage other women to consider this sector; What are your ambitions; Why is this sector a great one to work in; Why is Bermuda a great place to be?

The answers they gave reflected their uniqueness, but also revealed the challenges that all women in the industry face.

Julia Henderson of Stable—a formidable speaker at the Bermuda Climate Summit—said that she would be surprised if any other women who had been in the business for almost 20 years, as she has, hadn’t encountered challenges. Her response? “I am grateful for the challenges, as this brings exposure and problems can be addressed only if they see sunshine.”

That’s the value of the Women in Hamilton feature: to bring those challenges into the light.

It is also about celebrating achievement. For example, Megan Green joined PwC Bermuda in 2017 as a director in the asset and wealth management team, and has now been promoted to partner. She was attracted to the industry for its “global reach and opportunities for global mobility”.

Mobility is preferred to evolution, says Sharmini Samuels of Convex. “Companies cannot afford to be complacent or wait for change to come naturally. I’m proud to be a part of a company that is determined to be a driver of change, not a bystander,” she said.

Donna Cotter of Sun Life said she had encountered situations where her opinions were discarded “only to have a male colleague restate my point to wide acceptance”. I’m sure that chimes with many women, and in all workplaces. Her observation is that men and women have different styles and approaches, which means it’s crucial for women to have female role models.

Barbara Bufkin of Amwins is a true industry veteran, and it was interesting to learn that she didn’t come to the industry with the typical qualifications of an underwriter, but as “a freshly minted, cum laude philosophy grad”.

What has appealed to her in an impressive career is that “the insurance industry was and is a giveback culture, and serving on philanthropic boards and industry associations offered context for social value and talent mentorship”.

In short: the industry is valued for the social good it does—and that should include gender equality at work.

You can read profiles of all our 2022 Women in Hamilton on the following pages.