Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC)

Join Executive Director Wayne Smith as he discusses ABIC’s vision, mission and impact, supporting Bermuda’s business environment and advocacy – positioning Bermuda as the domicile of choice for international companies.

Wayne Smith – A dynamic leader and certified board director, with advanced skills in business development, strategic development, government relations, advisory services, global program management, and emerging technology. Over 25 years of board experience across many industries.

Wayne has over 25 years of executive experience pioneering innovative business strategies across multiple sectors, in enterprises and government institutions. He is currently the Executive Director of ABIC, the Association for Bermuda International Companies. Prior to this post, he spearheaded the government’s concierge and engagement services division, which provides advisory services, expedites government processes, and connects businesses with key government stakeholders.

Wayne holds an MBA from Webster University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University, and completed the Public Service Executive Management Programme. In 2019 he successfully completed the Oxford University FinTech Programme.

Sponsor – ABIC
Website: https://abic.bm/

Grant Thornton

Listen in to find out about Grant Thornton’s experience after 20 months in the Bermuda market place.

Tanya Beattie is a senior qualified actuary with significant expertise across multiple areas of the Insurance industry. She leads the actuarial practice in Grant Thornton Bermuda and also Internal Audit. She brings a wealth of commercial and regulatory acumen, gained from her experience within both the Insurance industry, across Risk Management, Actuarial and Pricing roles, and also with the Irish regulator – the CBI. Tanya moved to Bermuda as part of Grant Thornton’s official launch on island in January 2023, and has developed strong relationships across the market since then – working closely with the on-island service providers, particularly insurance managers and law firms – while leading numerous client advisory engagements with both captive and commercial insurers.

Karen Walrond is a qualified accountant with over 15 years of auditing experience of which 12 relate to work within the Bermuda insurance industry with captive and commercial insurers, investment holding companies, local companies and not-for-profit organizations. Her career commenced at KPMG Trinidad and KPMG Barbados before moving to Bermuda and joining Arthur Morris & Company Limited (AMC) as a senior and after a few years was promoted to Audit Manager. She also gained experience at an Insurance Management company where she worked on captive and commercial insurers before joining Grant Thornton Bermuda as an Audit Director in May 2024. She brings a wealth of knowledge, gained from her experience in the audit and insurance management industries.

Sponsor – Grant Thornton
Website: https://www.grantthornton.bm/

Bermuda Tourism Authority

Listen in to find out more about the Bermuda Tourism Authority with CEO Tracy Berkeley and COO Erin Wright as they explore the business of tourism, offering insights on industry trends, growth strategies, and the future of travel.

Tracy Berkeley, CDME, became the first female CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority in March 2023. With over 20 years of experience, she has held key leadership roles in various industries, including insurance, hospitality and healthcare. Tracy is known for her strategic thinking, collaborative leadership, and commitment to community service. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the BTA and is dedicated to fostering Bermuda’s growth as a premier destination. Tracy is a proud mother of three.

Erin Wright serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority, responsible for operations, finance, and research & business intelligence for the organisation. At the BTA, Wright and her team manage the organisation’s day-to-day operations and provide insights and intelligence to shape the island’s tourism strategy and measure its success. Prior to joining the BTA in 2014, Wright worked for the Bermuda Hotel Association and Bermuda Tourism Board. Her career has included extensive experience in tourism, research, technology, operations, privacy, and marketing.

Sponsor – Bermuda Tourism Authority
Website: https://www.gotobermuda.com/bta

BILTIR

CEO of BILTIR, Suzanne Williams-Charles, discusses her new role within the organisation, BILTIR’s recently released industry report, and the overarching state of the Bermuda long-term insurance market.

Suzanne Williams-Charles is the Chief Executive Officer at the Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers association. As CEO, Williams-Charles is responsible for leading the organization’s global advocacy, public and regulatory policy initiatives. Williams-Charles is also responsible for leading BILTIR’s community outreach agenda.

Prior to joining BILTIR, Williams-Charles was the Director of Policy and Regulation, Corporate Secretary and Data Privacy Officer at the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers. Also serving as Head of Reinsurance Compliance at Hiscox Re and as Deputy Director of Insurance Supervision at the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA).

Williams-Charles began her career with KPMG as an auditor. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Privacy Officer and has achieved several insurance industry designations. Williams-Charles also serves as a Director on the Boards of WeSpeak Bermuda and HBSC Life (Bermuda) Limited.

Sponsor – BILTR
Website: https://www.biltir.bm/

Karen Grissette, US Consul General

US Consul General Karen Grissette provides an incredible insight into the important work and relationship between Bermuda and the US. So much more than immigration and visas! Please listen in to learn more.

Ms. Karen Grissette is a career U.S. Senior Foreign Service Officer who has served the United States as a diplomat for over 23 years. She was appointed U.S. Consul General to Bermuda in July 2021. She has held various positions in Washington D.C. and overseas, including positions in Greece, Tanzania, and Jamaica. Ms. Grissette was recognized with a department-wide award for her efforts promoting the rights of women and girls. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts from Whittier College. A native of California, she speaks Swahili and Greek and is married with two children.

Sponsor – Somers Isles Shipping Line Service
Website: www.somers-isles-shipping.com/

Marsh Captive Solutions

Marsh launches a first-of-its-kind Cyber-only group captive. Join us as we hear from new leaders of Marsh Captive Solutions in Bermuda, discussing growth, opportunities, and the exciting launch of Bermuda-domiciled Cyber group captive, Edgware Re

Michelle Sivanayson
As leader of the Islands region captive practice, Michelle is responsible for the overall client service, operational strategy, and management of the Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and Barbados offices within the Captive Solutions practice. She establishes growth and retention strategies, ensures success of the client experience, trains and mentors, and oversees performance management for colleagues for the region as a whole. In addition, Michelle serves on the Marsh Captive Solutions global executive team. Michelle has worked for Marsh since 2004. Michelle is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK

Tanja Korff
Tanja Korff is a Senior Vice President with Marsh’s Captive Solutions Group. She recently returned to Bermuda to take the role as the Client Services Leader for the Bermuda office. As Client Services Leader she has overall responsibility for the development and operation of the Bermuda Client Services group and overall performance of each client team within the group. Prior to returning to Bermuda she was a part of the senior management team of Marsh’s US Captive Management Practice. Tanja has been part of Marsh’s Captive Solutions group since 2006 and is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Sponsor – Marsh
Website: www.marshcaptivesolutions.com

The world of Digital Assets, Steven Rees Davies, Partner, Carey Olsen

Steve Rees Davies, one of Bermuda’s leading fin tech practitioners demystifies the world of digital assets including crypto currencies.

Steve has 24 years of experience in advising technology businesses from start-ups to listed companies on all matters of corporate law, including corporate governance, capital and finance, M&A, restructuring and regulation.
A recognised specialist in the fintech and digital asset sector, Steve was involved in the introduction and development of Bermuda’s digital asset regime and represents a significant number of digital asset clients with operations in Bermuda.
In addition to being called to the Bar in Bermuda, Steven has been called to the Bar of New York (US Southern District) and admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising).

Sponsor – Carey Olsen
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carey-olsen

Rego Sotheby’s International Realty

As Rego Sotheby’s International Realty marks 75 years in business, listen in to find out about the outlook for Real Estate in Bermuda in 2024.

Buddy Rego
Buddy Rego is well-known in Bermuda and overseas jurisdictions as the President of Rego Sotheby’s International Realty. For decades, Buddy has developed commercial and residential single-family homes and condominiums in Bermuda and Turks and Caicos. Buddy holds the record for the highest priced single family home sale in Bermuda known as Frick’s Point in the exclusive enclave of Tucker’s Town.

After attending Western University, Buddy worked in the family’s real estate business before moving to Hong Kong where he worked as a Foreign Exchange and Precious Metals Assistant Vice President; then returned home after purchasing Rego Limited from his father.

Through Buddy’s 40 years in Bermuda’s real estate industry, he has served on numerous Boards and was the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Past President, Executive Board Member and Chair of the Real Estate Division.

Penny MacIntyre
Penny MacIntyre is a Partner at Rego Sotheby’s International Realty managing its commercial practice, human resources, operations and business development.

Penny started in New York City as a journalist at Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones and in stakeouts for CNN at the United Nations. Local and international owners, developers and tenants seek out Penny’s commercial real estate expertise with office headquarters, hotel/tourism, retail, data centers, industrial parks and airport facilities. Penny has been instrumental in the success of a number of Bermuda’s most notable commercial properties from Rosewood Bermuda in Tucker’s Point, The Loren Hotel at Pink Beach, Cambridge Beaches and St. Regis Bermuda to Point House and now the new redevelopment of 91 Front Street by Brookfield and HSBC’s Compass Point.

Penny is Past Chair of the Bermuda Hospital Charitable Foundation, Ignite Entrepreneur Mentor, and is Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Real Estate Division Past Chair.

Ben Rego
Ben Rego has over a decade of experience first working in Boston at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in marketing before his return to Bermuda in 2015 to join Rego Sotheby’s International Realty as a licensed agent.

Since joining the Company, Ben has achieved significant recognition for his service levels, social media prowess and helping elevate the next generation of real estate agents. Ben has won numerous awards including consecutive years as the Company’s Top Revenue producer, Top Sales Listing and Selling unit volume Agent and Top Rental Agent plus multiple Best of Bermuda Magazine’s ‘Best Realtor’ Awards.

Since Ben’s 2021 promotion to Agency Manager, Ben oversees the coaching and development of the Residential and Rental Agents and participates in executive business strategy planning.

Sponsor – Rego Sotheby’s International Realty
Website: https://www.regosothebysrealty.com/eng

Bermuda 2023/4 Economic Review and Outlook

“Higher for Longer?” Listen in to the Bermuda 2023/4 Economic Review and Outlook with Nathan Kowalski and Jonathan Kent

Nathan Kowalski
Nathan is the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager at Anchor Investment Management Ltd. He sits on the firm’s investment, compliance, and finance committees and has been with the company since 2003. Nathan holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and is a Fellow of CSI (FCSI).

Jonathan Kent, Business Writer
Jonathan is a freelance corporate writer for clients in the international business sector and a business journalist. He is well known to many in Bermuda’s business community, having previously worked for 15 years as Business Editor of The Royal Gazette. During his journalistic career, he also covered news and sports for UK national and regional newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Mail, The Independent on Sunday and the Grimsby Telegraph. Jonathan has an MSc in International Management from the University of Liverpool.

Cyber Risk, One Communications Ltd

Cyber continues to grow at an alarming rate. Listen in to find out how One Communications Ltd cybersecurity defense works.

Niall Sheehy, a seasoned Chief Executive Officer, brings over two decades of exemplary leadership in the telecommunications sector to his role at One Communications Ltd. With a wealth of experience, Niall held pivotal positions, including his recent tenure as the global business development director at Actavo. His career spans strategic leadership roles as the managing director for Cable and Wireless and Columbus Communications in Barbados, along with the significant responsibility of general manager at Digicel Business in Jamaica. Niall’s extensive expertise acquired from these diverse roles underscores his proficiency in guiding companies toward success, establishing him as an invaluable voice in the telecommunications industry.

Darcy McLean, an accomplished Business Development Manager, possesses several years of technical and sales expertise. His tenure at NorthwesTel and Fireminds showcased a consistent track record of surpassing revenue targets, forming strategic alliances, and propelling business expansion. With a distinct fusion of skills in sales, market research, and relationship cultivation, Darcy has effectively broadened market influence and optimized profitability for prominent organizations. His experience highlights his skill in guiding strategic initiatives, positioning him as a key contributor in the field of business development.

Sponsor – One Communications Ltd.
https://onecomm.bm/business/

Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty

Unlocking 25 years of insights, Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty share their perspective on the Bermuda Real Estate market and where we are as 2023 draws to a close.

Adam Birch
Adam began his career with Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty in 2004. Over these years, Coldwell has provided him the continuous training and mentoring necessary to ensure the highest levels of performance are provided to his clients. As part of this training, he has become a City Living Specialist and Luxury Specialist.
Born and raised in Bermuda, Adam has become an invaluable resource for his customers/clients with a depth of knowledge across all facets of real estate – from advising developers to working with luxury listings.
Adam’s ability to create trust and results are proven out not only through his positive attitude, professionalism, and commitment, but as proven by his winning of the top agent award in 2020 and 2021 as well as being a recent recipient of a Best of Bermuda award.

Angela Hanwell
Angela joined Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty in October 2005 after working in the Hospitality Industry for 6 years. As a Sales Assistant, she was the driving force behind much of the success of the Sales representatives that she supported. Angela moved to a position as a Residential Property Manager in 2009 and was promoted to Senior Residential Property Manager in 2012. As a Property Manager, she was responsible for overseeing the management of a portfolio exceeding 200 residential properties.
Coldwell Banker is excited to have Angela back in the Sales Department but this time in a role that she was made for, Sales Agent! In addition to a charismatic personality, she has a working knowledge of the real estate industry. Her experience in Property Management gives her an edge over many sales representatives as she has successfully negotiated many difficult situations in the past 7 years. This combined with her organizational skills has made Angela one of the top 3 agents at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty for the past 3 years and the #1 agent for 2022 and 2023.

Sponsor – Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty
https://coldwellbankerbermuda.com/

Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme

In this episode of the Navigate Series, hear how the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme is going to benefit Bermuda’s economy, environment and provide ESG opportunities for international and local companies.

Cheryl-Ann Mapp manages Blue Economy and development for the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme. She is an experienced lawyer who has had an extensive career in the public and private sectors where she specialises in regulation, compliance and governance issues within the financial services, utility and healthcare industries. In addition, she was a former Compliance Officer with the Department of Environmental Protection where she managed the Fisheries and Animal Wardens teams, advised on environmental compliance issues and facilitated relevant environmental advisory board meetings.

As BOPP’s Outreach Manager, Ali Hochberg supports the Communications Team by providing writing and copy-editing support for a broad range of communications assets. She assists the Waitt Institute and the BOPP Site Team in developing and implementing communications plans and stakeholder engagement strategies. She is also integral in working with the Marine Spatial Planning Specialist in writing the Marine Spatial Plan for Bermuda’s Blue Prosperity Plan. Ali is a former science writer, webmaster and research technician for the Arizona State University Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and is a certified sustainability consultant.

Sponsor – Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme

Schools to Know – helping boarding schools and families connect

In this episode of the Navigate Series, we speak to Schools to Know to help boarding schools and families connect.

Kelly Sheehan has worked in education for 30 years. With over 24 years of admissions experience and many more than that in event planning, Kelly was delighted to take over Schools to Know, planning fairs and spreading the good word about all boarding schools. The Schools to Know goal is to help boarding schools and families connect and begin a conversation and fairs are a terrific place to start. Though Bermuda is just one location where fairs are hosted, it is one of Kelly’s favourites. The people she meets are kind and welcoming, just like admission offices

Sponsors – Schools to Know

The Economic Development Strategy with Hon. Jason Hayward, JP MP, Minister of Economy and Labour

An exclusive chat with the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, Minister of Economy and Labour on the Economic Development Strategy and the outlook for Bermuda.

Minister Hayward was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019, and was later appointed as the Minister of Labour in 2020. Before becoming a Member of Parliament, he was appointed to the Bermuda Government Senate in 2017, and served as Junior Minister of Education, Health, Labour, Community Affairs and Sports. Mr. Hayward is a former Chairman of the National Training Board and chaired the Working Group which produced Bermuda’s first National Workforce Development Plan.

Prior to entering the political arena, Min. Hayward worked in the Economic and National Accounts Division of the Department of Statistics. Min. Hayward also served as the first elected full-time President of the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU), President of the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, and Director and Treasurer of the Bermuda Credit Union. Minister Hayward is an alumnus of the Canada – Caribbean Emerging Leaders Dialogue (a Commonwealth leadership development program), an alumnus of the US Department of States’ International Visitor Leadership Program, and holds a Chartered Manager Designation from the Chartered Management Institute.

Minister Hayward holds a MBA in Finance from Nova Southeastern University, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University and an Associate’s degree in Arts and Science from the Bermuda College.

Sponsors – Government of Bermuda – Ministry of Economy and Labour

Part 3: Emerging Trends

The third and final part to this three part captive industry series. We hear about emerging trends from industry experts Yanique Miller (Aon), Irish Aleria (Ocorian) as well as Timae Flood from the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Irish Aleria joined the Ocorian Bermuda office in 2019 and has over 16 years of combined experience in accounting, audit and financial services.
She specializes in accounting services, insurance management, principal representative services and listing sponsorships on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Within three years, Irish was promoted to manage both Ocorian Management (Bermuda) Limited and Ocorian Securities (Bermuda) Limited and oversees the insurance business.
Irish is a Certified Public Accountant and currently completing a further certification in Associate in Reinsurance.

Yanique Miller joined Aon in 2014 and has over 22 years’ experience as a finance and risk professional, with 11 years in the insurance industry. Yanique’s responsibilities include the formation of captive and commercial re/insurance entities and is the client relationship leader for a portfolio of clients. Yanique began her career as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers Jamaica in 2001 and has 3 years’ risk and control experience and 3 years’ telecoms revenue assurance experience. Yanique is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the University of the West Indies, receiving a Bachelor of Science honors degree in Economics and Accounting.

Timae Flood: As Assistant Director, Supervision (Insurance), Bermuda Monetary Authority, Timae Flood is responsible for monitoring limited purpose insurers’ activity through review and analysis of complex insurer returns, applications, and financial and prudential filings, as well as overseeing regulatory compliance with laws, regulations, codes, plans, licence restrictions and procedures.
Ms Flood joined the BMA in 2005 as an Analyst in the Supervision (Insurance) Department.
Ms Flood holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Hartford in Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, Ms Flood earned the Associate in Captive Insurance designation with the International Center for Captive Insurance Education.

Sponsors – Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd. and Ocorian.

Part 2: Education in the Captive Industry

Part 2 of this exciting captive series focuses on the Education pillar of the Bermuda Captive Network: key goals and initiatives to promote the captive industry.

Nkechi Kiki Oyemhen Senior Vice President – Insurance Team Leader
Kiki leads the insurance team, with management responsibility for the insurance and claims functions for Marsh Captive Bermuda. As Client Executive and Insurance Manager, she is responsible for providing the full range of insurance, reinsurance, claims and administrative services to her own portfolio of Marsh captive clients, She works with brokers, risk managers, actuaries and other service providers in doing so. Assessing exposures and claims trends, analyzing clients’ programmes and making recommendations for further optimization of their captive insurance company. Kiki joined JLT in April 2017 and subsequently became a part of Marsh in 2019.

Rachel Derry, Executive Vice President Liberty Mutual Management (Bermuda) Ltd.
Ms. Derry is responsible for the client service platform and the overall operations of Liberty Mutual Management (Bermuda) Ltd. She joined the Liberty team in 2005 as an Account Manager and now holds the position of Executive Vice President. Ms. Derry oversees her team of qualified accountants who are responsible for managing commercial and captive insurance companies, segregated accounts companies, management companies and investment companies in Bermuda and Vermont. Liberty Mutual Management (Bermuda) Ltd provides accounting, administration, compliance and corporate governance functions for its clients. Ms. Derry is on the education committee of the Bermuda Captive Network and participates in the Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers association. Prior to working in insurance, Ms. Derry’s background was ten years in accountancy practice in the UK.

Sponsors – Liberty Mutual Management (Bermuda), part of the Liberty Mutual Insurance group. (website)
Marsh (website)

Part 1: Leaders in the Captive Industry

In this episode of Navigate series, listen in to the leaders in the Captive industry and find out about the upcoming Captive conference, key themes and aims, being held on September 12-13th in Bermuda.

Grainne Richmond joined Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd. in September 2022 as Executive Vice President, Head of Captives. Prior to joining Aon, she was Vice President of Strategic Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Limited (‘SRS’) (formally Dyna Management Services Ltd. Mrs. Richmond, by background is a qualified CPA (FCA Ireland) and has over 21 years of Captive experience both in Bermuda and Cayman having held senior roles at SRS, Artex Risk Solutions, and International Advisory Services. Prior to Captive Management Ms. Richmond worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dublin in the business advisory division working on a variety of International and Irish companies. Ms. Richmond is heavily involved in the Bermuda Industry and is former President of Bermuda Insurance Management Association (which is now part of the Bermuda Captive Network. She works closely with industry peers in discussions with the Bermuda Monetary Authority, Registrar of Companies, and the Bermuda Government. In March 2023, Ms. Richmond was nominated in Captive Review Global Top 50 professionals for expertise and service in the Captive Industry

Leslie Robinson has over 34 years’ experience in the insurance industry; 23 years in captive management and 11 years as an Assistant Director at the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Leslie is currently Senior Vice President – Head of Underwriting & Claims at Willis Towers Watson Management (Bermuda) Limited.

Leslie earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University and is also an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London (ACII). She is a Justice of the Peace and was appointed Senator for the Bermuda Government in November 2022. She is a Director of the Bermuda Captive Network through her employment at Willis.

Sponsor – Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd. and WTW

Grant Thornton Bermuda

In this episode of the Navigate Series, Tanya Beattie Head of Actuarial at Grant Thornton Bermuda describes GTs global network, their decision to move into the Bermuda market place and their top three objectives for 2023.

Tanya joined the firm as a Director in early 2022, leading the P&C Actuarial team in Grant Thornton Ireland and, as of the start of 2023, is the Head of Actuarial for Grant Thornton Bermuda.
Tanya is a qualified actuary with significant expertise across the Insurance industry in areas such as Regulation, Risk Management, Actuarial Function and Solvency II. She brings both commercial and regulatory acumen, having assumed various roles to date across both the Insurance industry – where the bulk of her career was in key roles within the European headquarters of one of the world’s largest P&C Insurers – and also in Insurance Supervision with a leading European insurance regulator.

Sponsor – Grant Thornton Bermuda
www.grantthornton.bm/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/grant-thornton-bermuda/

Rego Sotheby’s International Realty

In this episode of the Navigate Series, listen to an in depth analysis of the Bermuda commercial and residential real estate market and what we can expect going into 2023.

Buddy Rego commenced his real estate career working in the family business, Rego Limited, established in 1949. Following University, Buddy worked in Hong Kong for over 5 years in Foreign Exchange and Precious Metal markets.

In 1983, Buddy returned to Bermuda to become President of Rego Realtors Ltd. In December 2006, the company joined the prestigious Sotheby’s International Realty network.

Buddy is internationally recognized as a real estate leader and remains highly invested in the Bermuda community. He founded Turks and Caicos Sotheby’s International Realty in 1989 and has served as president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.

Penny MacIntyre started as a journalist at Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones and is a Partner at Rego Sotheby’s International Realty managing its commercial practice, human resources, operations and business development.

Fortune 100 clients’ and individuals seek out Penny as an international commercial real estate expert with headquarters, retail, data centres, hotel resorts, industrial parks and airport facilities. Penny has been instrumental in the success of a number of Bermuda’s most notable commercial sales, redevelopments and leased properties.

Penny serves as the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Real Estate Division Chair; Ignite Entrepreneur Mentor and Chair of the Bermuda Hospital Charitable Foundation.

Sponsor – Rego Sotheby’s International Realty
Website: https://www.regosothebysrealty.com/enb

Bermuda Commercial Bank

In this episode of the Navigate Series, hear BCB’s initiative in helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder, their key strategies and an outlook on the banking industry in Bermuda for 2023.

Neville Grant is the Chief Executive Officer of Bermuda Commercial Bank. Neville’s nearly 30-year business career includes a number of senior roles in banking formally with HSBC, both locally and internationally, as well as the former General Manager of Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. Neville sits on a few boards and committees including Fortitude Re, Bermuda Economic Development Corporation and the Centennial Bermuda Foundation. After spending time with his wife, 15-year-old son and 13 -year old daughter, Neville spends his time boating, exercising and travelling for enjoyment.

Sponsor – Bermuda Commercial Bank
Website: https://www.bcb.bm/

Business review 2022 and the Outlook for 2023

What kind of a year has it been for Bermuda in 2022 and what can we expect for 2023?

Nathan Kowalski, Nathan is the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager at Anchor Investment Management Ltd. He sits on the firm’s investment, compliance, and finance committees and has been with the company since 2003. Nathan holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and is a Fellow of CSI (FCSI). He is the President of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.

Jonathan Kent, Business Writer, Jonathan is a freelance corporate writer for clients in the international business sector and a business journalist. He is well known to many in Bermuda’s business community, having previously worked for 15 years as Business Editor of The Royal Gazette. During his journalistic career, he also covered news and sports for UK national and regional newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Mail, The Independent on Sunday and the Grimsby Telegraph. Jonathan has an MSc in International Management from the University of Liverpool.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA)

In a rapidly changing financial environment, learn about KBRA’s approach to ESG in the credit rating process and how it is keeping pace as issues evolve.

Patrick Welch is Chief ESG & Ratings Policy Officer at Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), responsible for leading all aspects of KBRA’s commitment as an ESG-focused firm, delivering to investors the highest quality credit analysis and research. Prior to this role, Pat served as KBRA’s chief credit officer for five years.

Previously, Pat worked for 19 years at Goldman Sachs, where he served as a vice president within the Credit Risk Management and Advisory Department, and as deputy chief credit officer at Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

Previously to Goldman Sachs, Pat spent seven years in the Structured Finance Group at Standard & Poor’s (now S&P Global Ratings), where he rated numerous asset classes. He began his career as an analyst at Security Pacific National Bank.

Pat holds both a B.S. and MBA from Cornell University.

Van Hesser is a Senior Managing Director and Chief Strategist at KBRA, where he is responsible for commenting on market and economic developments and their impact on credit markets. Previously, he led the company’s Financial Institutions and Corporates credit rating groups. Van has been named to Institutional Investor Magazine’s All-America Fixed Income Research Team rankings 10 times across three categories.

Prior to joining KBRA, Van was a managing director in the Financial Institutions Group at Wells Fargo Principal Investments. Previously, he worked at HSBC Securities for 10 years, serving as managing director and global head of Credit Research and head of U.S. Fixed Income Research.

Van also held senior sell-side corporate bond research roles covering financial institutions at Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman Sachs, as well as a corporate finance position in Salomon Brothers’ Financial Institutions Group. He started his career as a bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Van earned a B.S., cum laude, from Fordham University and an MBA from Yale University.

Sponsor – KBRA
Website: https://www.kbra.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kroll-bond-rating-agency-llc/

Captive Insurance

In this episode of the Navigate Series, understand more about Emerging trends for the Captive Insurance Industry and how it forms part of risk management solutions in the current hardening market

Grainne Richmond FCA, is currently Executive Vice President, Head of Captives at Aon Bermuda.
Ms Richmond has over 20 years in the Bermuda And Cayman Captive business with prior roles as a Vice President at Strategic Risk Solutions (and Dyna Management Services Ltd), Artex Risk Solutions and International Advisory Solutions.

Ms Richmond also worked with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Dublin, Ireland prior to moving to Bermuda. She is currently President of the Bermuda Insurance Management Association and strategy Director of Bermuda Captive Network.

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3EpyRS4

Sponsor – Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd.
Website: https://www.aon.com/home/index

Corporate Concierge and Elevate Executive Selection

In this episode of the Navigate Series, learn more about a twin engine that enables people to be successful in both their careers and living in Bermuda.

Sylvia Jones has built a twin-engine vehicle that fulfills her vision for enabling people to be successful in their careers and in their life in Bermuda.
Corporate Concierge is a relocation and destination services provider and over the past fifteen years has served Bermuda’s international business sector as their top executives and high net worth individuals move to and from Bermuda. Elevate Executive Selection provides Senior Executive and INED Search support as well as Leadership Development. Sylvia has built communities of connection that enable her to offer unique insights on the corporate fabric of Bermuda.

Sponsor – Elevate
Website: https://elevateselection.com/

Institute of Directors

In this episode of the Navigate Series, find out more about how you can connect with other leaders, develop your skills and be heard, with our guests from the Institute of Directors in Bermuda.

Michelle Cardwell is a Director/Consultant for The Pillars Consultancy Limited a company incorporated in Oct 2019. Michelle has over 18 years’ experience within the financial, insurance, corporate, trust and real estate business sectors within Bermuda. Michelle holds a Masters of Business Administration, is a Certified AntiMoney Laundering Specialist (CAMS), a Certified Compliance Officer and holds the Institute of Directors Diploma in Company Direction (Dip IoD).

Michelle currently serves as Chair of the Institute of Directors Bermuda Branch and is a non-executive director (NED) for two Bermuda registered Companies. In addition, Michelle also sits on several boards of Bermuda registered charities.

Danielle Riviere

In 2006 Danielle become the first Programme Manager for The Centre on Philanthropy, developing the organisations volunteer programme, extensive training and education platform.

In 2013, Danielle left The Centre to become as an independent consultant for OD Solutions. Focussin on strategic and organisational development, Danielle has worked with a number of clients to help them grow, improve and develop their organisation.

In 2017 Danielle returned to The Centre on Philanthropy until the organisation closed in 2019.
In January 2021, Danielle Riviere became the first Executive Director for the Institute of Directors Bermuda Branch, a role that allows her to follow two of her greatest passions: programme and leadership development.

Sponsor – Institute of Directors in Bermuda
Website: https://www.iod.bm/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3oY4GbO

Appleby

In this episode of the Navigate Series, understand more about how the legal profession is the driving force behind Bermuda being the risk capital of the world.

Brad Adderley is the Managing Partner of Appleby’s Bermuda office. He is also head of the Corporate practice in Bermuda and the Insurance & Reinsurance global sector leader at Appleby.

Brad has extensive experience in the insurance and reinsurance market and specialises in ILS and alternative collateralised reinsurance investment transactions including catastrophe bonds, special purpose insurers, sidecars, life insurance securitisations, and other fully collateralised structures. Brad is also a member of Appleby’s global Technology & Innovation group.

Jim is the Board Chairman of DealVector, serves on the boards for the New York City/Long Island Chapter of JDRF, and is an elected member of The Economic Club of New York.
Jim earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Rutgers University.

Brad is top-ranked by the leading legal directories and is recognized for his significant contribution to Bermuda’s reinsurance sector in Bermuda’s Risk Transfer Hall of Fame. He sits on the steering committee of ILS Bermuda, the trade association for the ILS industry in Bermuda. He participates regularly at conferences and seminars, and provides commentary to international and local media on the Bermuda insurance industry.

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3ImzETG

Sponsor – Appleby
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/appleby/

KBRA – Kroll Bond Rating Agency

In this episode of the Navigate Series, learn about KBRA – the credit rating agency that has changed the landscape of rating analysis and find out about their comprehensive strategy for ESG ratings.

Jim Nadler is President and CEO of Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA)
Prior to joining KBRA, Jim was responsible for all alternative assets in the New England Asset Management Division at General Re Corporation.
Over the last 30 years, Jim has held several executive roles in the financial analysis arena; In 1989, he joined Fitch Ratings and was instrumental in the growth of Fitch’s Structured Finance.
Jim was a senior accountant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers before moving to Standard & Poor’s (now S&P Global Ratings), as a ratings officer.
Jim is the Board Chairman of DealVector, serves on the boards for the New York City/Long Island Chapter of JDRF, and is an elected member of The Economic Club of New York.
Jim earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Rutgers University.

Kate Kennedy is a Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of the Business Development Group at Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), responsible for Marketing and Investor Relations. Kate also oversees KBRA Analytics, the company’s product platform for high-quality data and advanced analytics, which includes KBRA Financial Intelligence (KFI), KBRA Altman, and the company’s Ratings Feed platform.
Prior to joining KBRA in 2011, Kate was a senior director at Fitch Ratings for 12 years, spearheading the investor relations initiative across U.S. Structured Finance.
Prior to Fitch Ratings, Kate worked for two years at the Norinchukin Bank, where she was responsible for portfolio management reporting and trade settlement with U.S. investment banks, brokers, and custodians.

Sponsor – KBRA
Twitter: @krollbondrating
Linkedin: @kbra
YT/Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Oazpwx

BILTIR – Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers

In this episode of the Navigate Series, we learn about Bermuda’s fastest growing business sector – The Life Insurance Industry.

Martin Laframboise is an experienced senior leader and internationally savvy re/insurance industry expert, with over 20 years of experience executing cross-border strategies in many different markets, including Bermuda. Prior to assisting BILTIR as Interim Executive Director, he served as CRO & Head of Reinsurance at Sun Life Financial International from 2017-2021.

From 2008-2017, he was leading Group Reinsurance at Munich Re Canada, where he contributed to the growth of MR’s traditional and structured reinsurance business for the Canadian and Caribbean markets. Before that, he served as Resident Actuary for Colina Insurance Ltd.; Les Services actuariels SAI (Canada); and Standard Life (Canada).

Martin is a Fellow of both the Society of Actuaries and Canadian Institute of Actuaries since 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science (B.Sc.) from Université du Québec à Montréal and a minor in Financial Planning (Pl. Fin.).

Bermuda Real Estate

In this episode of the Navigate Series, we discuss what is actually happening in the Real Estate market in Bermuda. Listen in to learn more from the experts at Bermuda Valuers and Appraisers Ltd…

Suzanne Stones became a Chartered Surveyor in 2006 and started her professional career in the UK. In 2009 she moved to Bermuda and joined Bermuda Realty as a Property Manager and Valuer where she worked for over 11 years and valued over $7.2bn of property. Her focus is on residential and commercial valuation including private client work, divorce, probate and trust accounting. A large proportion of her time is spent valuing for secured lending for each of the major lending institutions on the island. Suzanne is a Registered Valuer with the Bermuda Surveyors Registration Council as well as being an RICS Registered Valuer.

Steve Bowie has been a Chartered Surveyor since 1990. In 2009 he moved to Bermuda, to work for Rego (now Rego Sotheby’s) as Head of Professional Services, where he headed up the Valuation Department for seven years. In August 2016 he established the Professional Services department at The Property Group and has valued over $1.5 billion worth of property in just under four years, whilst increasing the company’s exposure, market share and broadening the client base. Steve has been voted ‘Best Valuer in Bermuda’ for the last three years, by the Bermuda Property Professionals. He is a Registered Valuer with the Bermuda Surveyors Registration Council and became an RICS Registered Valuer in 2018.

For more information, you can contact our special guests at:
Website: www.valuation.bm
LinkedIn: @SuzanneStones and @SteveBowie

ESG – Environmental Social Governance

In this episode of the Navigate Series, we discuss how ESG should be at the forefront of every company’s strategy. How is Bermuda impacted… listen in to find out more!.

Stephen Weinstein was elected BDA Chair in 2020 and has been a member of the board since 2016. He currently serves as an advisor to RenaissanceRe having retired after two decades from his role as Executive Vice President, Group General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Stephen serves on several boards including Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), an independent U.S. nonprofit scientific research and educational organisation based in Bermuda, and the R Street Institute, a leading U.S. non-partisan policy organisation. He also serves on the President’s Advisory Counsel for the National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest non-profit conservation organisation, and is a member of Bermuda’s COVID-19 Economic Advisory Committee.

The complex global tax agreement uncovered

In this episode of the Navigate Series, we learn what is the global minimum tax agreement and what will it mean for Bermuda? Will Bermuda become a less attractive hub for international businesses in the future? Listen in to learn more!.

Will McCallum, Managing Director and Head of Tax at KPMG. Will provides a diverse range of U.S. tax compliance and advisory services to the insurance and reinsurance industry, including advising on tax efficient structures and assisting companies and shareholders in meeting U.S. tax compliant requirements.

Business Outlook 2022

This podcast is a an open discussion based on the Business Outlook Feature in the Royal Gazette. Join host Shivani Seth with the experts, where they discuss the economic outlook for Bermuda for 2022: In the words of Jonathan Kent “we need to think long term…”, with Nathan Kowalski reinforcing the need to support local business, and what actually lies in Bermuda’s future success? Listen in to learn more.

Jonathan Kent is a local Business contributor to RG Business, RG Mags and The Royal Gazette.
Nathan Kowalski is the new President of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.
Shivani Seth is the Producer/Host of the RG Business Navigate Series.