Register Here for the Introductory Insurance Course

Hamilton, Bermuda (December 17, 2025) — The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) will sponsor a free foundational course for the sixth consecutive year, providing Bermudian students and the public with free access to education about Bermuda’s re/insurance industry.

The Special Topics in Insurance programme, starting in January, is offered in collaboration with Bermuda College and the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. John’s University, New York.

The 14-week, online course is designed to help participants build a basic knowledge of Bermuda’s international re/insurance market and to serve as a stepping stone to potential careers in the industry for students and career shifters alike.

The Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies (BFIS), which helps Bermudian students to build careers in the re/insurance industry through financial support and mentorship, is a new partner this year and will coordinate the course and engage with students.

Continuing their partnership with the programme for a second year are Lloyd’s, the longest-standing global re/insurance market, and The Institutes Knowledge Group, a global provider of online courses and designations in the risk management and insurance field including the Bermuda-important Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designation. Each will host one of the sessions.

The programme will be conducted via the Zoom videoconferencing platform on Monday evenings from 6pm to 8pm. The first session, on January 12, will focus on re/insurance in Bermuda’s economy. Esteemed faculty from St. John’s University and senior executives from ABIR member companies will be among those presenting.

Course topics include:

• The history and economic importance of Bermuda’s re/insurance industry
• Careers in insurance
• Bermuda’s leadership in natural catastrophe reinsurance and climate risk
• Focus on market segments including collateralized reinsurance, cyber re/insurance, captive insurance, life/annuity and run-off (legacy) insurance
• Opportunities for inclusion in the industry
• The role of regulation in insurance
• The Lloyd's market is, how it operates and its collaborative relationship with Bermuda
• Trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and an overview of The Institutes organization and its offerings for re/insurance professionals.

John Huff, ABIR CEO, said: “ABIR’s continued sponsorship of this programme reflects the dedication of our member companies and their employees to support this community education initiative and to build a diverse and inclusive talent pipeline. By opening doors to Bermudians who are curious about the re/insurance sector, we are helping to inspire the next generation of leaders in an industry that is both global and vital to Bermuda’s economy.

“We value our ongoing collaboration with Bermuda College and St. John’s University, and the continuing support from Lloyd’s and The Institutes. We’re also delighted to welcome BFIS on board to help ensure course participants get maximum benefit from the programme, including access to advice on pursuing a re/insurance career.”

Craig Simmons, retired senior lecturer at Bermuda College and the course facilitator, said: “At its core, insurance is about making people whole after they experience an unfortunate or catastrophic event. This course will give you clues about how insurance does just that. We’ll explain the difference between insurance and reinsurance and then take deep dives into the various lines of reinsurance produced on island.

“Each week, starting Monday, January 12, we’ll take on a different topic. If you’re in the industry and wondered what your colleagues in cyber, life, or legacy are doing, or if you wanted to know more about catastrophe models and climate change, then this is the course for you.”

Mark J. Browne, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Faculty at the Greenberg School, said: “The Special Topics in Insurance course — jointly produced by St. John’s University’s Greenberg School of Risk Management, ABIR, and Bermuda College — will provide insights into Bermuda’s insurance sector and serve as a gateway for those interested in careers in the industry. The class will offer professionals insights into Bermuda’s essential and dynamic insurance and reinsurance sectors.”

Victoria Cunningham, BFIS Executive Director, said: “This established and highly successful programme aligns seamlessly with our mission, and BFIS is honoured to be its new home. It has already changed lives and bringing it under BFIS strengthens what we do best: preparing young Bermudians to succeed in international business. We are also proud to continue our partnership with Bermuda College, an institution we value and look forward to working alongside in the years ahead. Together, we’re ready to take this opportunity to the next level for our students.”

Registration is open now for the course, which is free of charge, courtesy of ABIR. Participants can sign up for individual sessions, based on their interests or the full course.  Register free here.   https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IMUGzON3RN6xfEaN9XeDiQ

Insurance introduction: top row; John Huff, CEO of ABIR and Mark J. Browne, Chair of the Faculty at the Greenberg School; bottom row; Craig Simmons, course facilitator, and Victoria Cunningham, Executive Director of BFIS.

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About ABIR: The Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers (ABIR), which represents Bermuda’s major property and casualty insurers and reinsurers doing business in 150 countries, was founded in 1993. For three decades, the Bermuda market’s risk-bearing capacity has played a key role in enabling insurance to be accessible and affordable, to the benefit of consumers around the world. Bermuda is an internationally recognized center of global expertise on underwriting for catastrophe, climate, cyber, mortgage & credit risk transfer products, along with other specialty insurance and reinsurance. For more information, please visit www.abir.bm or follow us on X @ABIR_Bermuda

About Bermuda College: Bermuda College is an internationally recognised accredited community college, which offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in the areas of applied sciences, business, technology, hospitality, and the liberal arts. Bermuda College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. For more information, please visit www.college.bm.

About St. John’s University: The Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, has a rich history and tradition. It was formed initially as the Insurance Society of New York in 1901, and became the School of Insurance in 1947 and the College of Insurance (TCI) in 1962. GSRM evolved from the merger of TCI and St. John's University in 2001. For more information, visit the website.

About the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies: BFIS was founded in 1996 by re/insurance industry leaders, and empowers Bermudian students to build careers in the re/insurance industry through financial support, mentorship, networking and career development. For more information, visit www.bfis.bm.

About Lloyd’s: Lloyd’s is the world’s leading marketplace for insurance and reinsurance. Through the collective intelligence and expertise of the market’s underwriters and brokers, we’re sharing risk to create a braver world. The Lloyd’s market offers the resources, capability, and insight to develop new and innovative products for customers in any industry, on any scale, in more than 200 territories. We’re made up of more than 50 leading insurance companies, over 380 registered Lloyd’s brokers and a global network of over 4,000 local coverholders. Behind the Lloyd’s market is the Corporation: an independent organisation and regulator working to maintain the market's successful reputation and operation.

About The Institutes Knowledge Group: The Institutes Knowledge Group helps people build foundational, technical and leadership skills to stay ahead of evolving trends in risk management and insurance. We offer more than 25 practical Institutes Designations, including CPCU®, along with topic courses, micro-courses for learning in the flow of work, collegiate studies, and executive and leadership education programs, all focused on the business of risk management and insurance. For more information, visit The Institutes Knowledge Group’s website. CPCU is a registered trademark of The Institutes Designations, LLC.