Legal & General Reinsurance has provided internship opportunities for two Bermudian students this summer and sponsored an education award for a third.

Tyler Kelly, Victoria Lindsay and Nisha Smith were selected to benefit from L&G Re’s partnerships with the Association of Bermuda International Companies (Abic) and Bermuda International Long Term Insurers & Reinsurers (Biltir).

Each year, L&G Re provides educational funding, internship opportunities and mentoring to talented young Bermudians to support them in achieving their education goals and career ambitions.

This is part of a commitment to providing educational assistance to local students and developing on-island business talent.

Tyler Kelly began his Biltir-facilitated internship in June and was mentored by chief investment officer Matt Roche, and chief financial officer Mike Walsh.

He worked with the company’s pricing, performance and investments teams over the course of the two-month programme. The former Saltus student, finished high school in the US and is now studying mathematics and computer science at the University of Toronto.

Victoria Lindsay commenced her internship in the pricing team last month and is being mentored by strategy & pricing actuary Charlotte McNealy, and actuarial analyst France Griesel.

The 2020 recipient of the Abic Education Award sponsored by L&G Re, Ms Lindsay has been mentored by L&G Re chief actuary Zane Olivier over the past year.

She is a second year mathematics and actuarial science student at the University of Leicester.

Ms Lindsay obtained her associates degree at the Bermuda College, graduating with Distinction and the Dean’s Award of Excellence for the Business Administration division.

Nisha Smith is the 2021 recipient of the Abic Education Award sponsored by L&G Re. The junior at St John’s University is studying quantitative risk management & insurance with a concentration in actuarial science.

Ms Smith was the Most Outstanding Actuarial Science Graduate while studying at the Bermuda College and is being mentored by L&G Re performance director Margot Sawin.

The ABIC Education Awards are sponsored by donations from international companies with a mission to support young Bermudians to help them obtain their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

The students are selected based on financial need, academic abilities, and their goal of attending an accredited college or university.

CEO of Legal & General Reinsurance Amy Ellison commented: “In my first two months in Bermuda as CEO of L&G Re, I’ve been delighted to see the island’s young people embracing careers in reinsurance.

“I look forward to nurturing and working further with young Bermudian talent. I have been greatly impressed by these three students; their focus and drive bode well for the continued growth of our industry here in Bermuda.”

Mr Kelly stated: “The internship has been very positive for me. I enjoyed the breadth of experience I gained by rotating through departments to understand every aspect of the business.

“I wanted to get a feel for the different routes you can take to become an actuary. A member of the team was always right there if I needed help, and anytime I hit a roadblock, I had someone available to answer questions.

“The team has morning meetings to discuss who has what on their plate to balance work and stress levels. It’s very beneficial for all of us because if you need a bit of help, you can get it. That’s important.”

Chief investment officer Matt Roche said: “Now more than ever, it is crucial for our business to stay connected to the next generation of talent. It has been wonderful having Tyler with us this summer and to be able to share our company values: straightforward, purposeful and collaborative.

“His input has been invaluable, and this has been as much of a learning experience for us as it has been for him. We’ve been really impressed with Tyler’s work ethic and enthusiasm. He is very much a team player.”

Meanwhile, Ms Lindsay commented: “Over the last year, my mentor Zane Olivier, has been so helpful to me. I feel honoured to have received the opportunity to intern with L&G Re and gain hands-on experience working alongside qualified actuaries.

“The team has made me feel very welcome and comfortable. It is important to me to feel that I am around people who are willing to help me learn and grow and, from my first day, the team has been enthusiastic about offering support and showing me what it takes to be an actuary.”

Chief actuary Zane Olivier commented: “Mentoring Victoria over the last year has been a great experience for me. Witnessing a young person be so committed and enthusiastic about their future has been very fulfilling. ”After Victoria joined us for a one-week internship in January, I was delighted to facilitate welcoming her back to the team for a longer stretch this summer. She’s been a delight to work with.”