The individual winners at this year’s Insurance Business Canada Awards (IBC Awards) may come from different backgrounds, organizations, and career journeys, but they’re all united by three things: passion, purpose, and dedication.
Held November 16, 2023 at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, the 2023 IBC Awards was a night of celebration and gratitude among winners, nominees, and attendees.
The annual event, now in its eighth year, recognizes Canada’s outstanding brokers, brokerages, insurers, underwriters, MGAs, and risk managers.
This year, women dominated the individual categories at the IBC Awards, clinching six out of the seven awards.
“Overwhelming and humbling” is how Stacee McCulloch (pictured below) described winning Underwriter of the Year.
McCulloch leads a team of 19 underwriters at Regina-based SGI Canada, handling 170,000 policies with over $260 million in written premiums.
“I love working with our broker partners,” she told Insurance Business. “I love figuring out how to write a risk versus how not to. My underwriting box has a little bit of rounded corners.”
McCulloch attributes her success to strong relationships and her passion for underwriting.
“Underwriting is not just the acceptance of risks; it's the relationships that are built,” McCulloch said. “I think that’s what makes a good underwriter.”
Melissa Bajwa (pictured below) of PROLINK Insurance Inc., who received the Steamatic Canada Award for Woman of Distinction, dedicated her win to other women in insurance.
“It's an honor to be recognized for all the hard work I've done over the last 20 years,” she told Insurance Business.
“But this award is not just for me, it’s for every woman that has struggled. Being a woman in this predominately male industry can be very, very challenging. It's hard. So, I'm just very fortunate.”
Amidst her success, Bajwa is paying it forward by supporting immigrants and helping them build careers in insurance.
“I oversee a broker network comprised of 50% first-generation Canadian [immigrants], which is very near and dear to my heart,” Bajwa said. “We need to make sure that we're building this industry for individuals who might be new to the country and are looking for that dream.”
For Jo-Anne Raymond (pictured below) of Paisley Partners, winning the Cansure Award for Insurance Broker of the Year is a “shock and a huge honor.”
“I define success as finding your passion, finding what you love to do. When you first go into insurance, it's not glamorous,” Raymond said.
“But when you do what you love, it comes naturally, and you find great success.”
Raymond wants to continue building on success at her brokerage and the RIBO Council next year, where she serves as an elected member. She’s also passionate about mentoring and hopes her win will inspire her mentees to achieve higher.
“The people I mentor can also see that there is success in their future if they work hard and are dedicated,” she said.
For Sukhman Brar (pictured below) of Armour Insurance Brokers Ltd, persistence and dedication from her teen years have paid off.
“I've been in the insurance industry since I was 18. I took a break when I went to uni for my commerce degree,” Brar said.
“I'm overwhelmed but humbled and grateful to be recognized among such established individuals in the insurance industry.”
As winner of the PAL Insurance Brokers award for Young Achiever of the Year, Brar plans to forge a path of success with her team in 2024.
“I'm very persistent. I'm ready to take my sales team to the next level next year. We’re very excited. We have great plans,” said Brar.
Pursuing success for RAISE Underwriters has led Diana Ho (pictured below) across Canada, often travelling to meet and engage with clients in person.
“It means a lot post-COVID to be with people. There's a connection there that you can't get on Teams,” said Ho, who was awarded Business Development Manager of the Year.
“Sometimes I think about how hard it is to leave a three-year-old at home. But I know there's a fair purpose, so it’s worth it. I think passion, hard work, and commitment to a bigger purpose shine through most genuinely.”
Find out more about the 2023 Insurance Business Canada Awards and the winners on the website.
