Bermudian insurance industry veteran Catherine Duffy has been named a winner of the 2021 IICF Inclusion Champion Award.

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation uses the biennial award to "recognises extraordinary contributions of insurance industry professionals working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion".

It congratulated this year’s winners, Ms Duffy, who is AIG's country leader of Bermuda, and Dawnmarie Black, who is head of US broker practice for Lloyd's Corporation.

Betsy Myatt, IICF vice-president, chief programme officer, said: "These leaders are both remarkable advocates for diversity and inclusion within the insurance industry who have also contributed in generous, personal and meaningful ways in their communities."

The awards will feature at next week's IICF International Inclusion in Insurance Forum, which is being held virtually.

Ms Duffy has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined AIG in 2018 from XL Bermuda Ltd, and among other companies she has worked for are Torus Insurance Bermuda, and XL Insurance (Bermuda).

She graduated from Howard University with a BA in business administration, insurance, and was the first woman to earn the CPCU designation in Bermuda.

In addition, she is the author of Held Captive, A History of Insurance in Bermuda, which is regarded as the first comprehensive book on the insurance industry in Bermuda.

Ms Duffy said: "I live and breathe diversity every single day, just by the colour of my skin coupled with the fact I am a woman. It allows me to be a leader who is compassionate, empathetic and able to create a space where courageous conversations can be had. We have to move beyond the zero-sum game to lifting each other up regardless of race, gender, sexuality, accessibility or mental capacity."

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Ms Duffy is executive sponsor of the AIG Women and Allies Employee Resource Group, she advocates for the AIG student internship programme and speaks on topics including Bermuda's role in re/insurance, career guidance and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

She is chairwoman of the DEI Committee for the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, participates in the Association of Bermuda International Companies CEO Roundtable and sits on the DEI Council for AIG.

The IICF, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, will host the IICF International Inclusion in Insurance Forum from June 15 to 17.

It will gather insurance industry professionals, C-suite executives and D&I leaders for discussions related to diversity, inclusion, innovation, the future of work, and mobilising the insurance industry as “a force for positive societal and workforce change”.

The forum will feature sessions focused on how insurers can address ESG-related risks and opportunities; the future of work; emerging risks of mental health; the why behind the how in DEI; and gender and inclusion advocacy.

IICF’s Inclusion in Insurance leadership events, including the IICF International Inclusion in Insurance Forum, were established in 2013 as the Women in Insurance Conference Series.

For more information on the International Inclusion in Insurance Forum, visit: https://inclusion.iicf.org/