2024 Underwriters of the Year | Caroline Girard, Senior Personal Lines Underwriter, Wawanesa Insurance

Caroline Girard’s three-decades-long insurance journey is a testament to her dedication and adaptability.

Girard joined Wawanesa Insurance in 1993 as a sales agent while studying accounting. She says she’s proud to have grown with the organization over the past 30 years.

Her career has seen her navigate various roles, including marketing supervisor, district manager, and business development representative. In 2022, Girard transitioned to the underwriting team as Senior Underwriter, bringing along her extensive experience and commitment to broker relationships.

Girard describes herself as a social and active person who enjoys group activities, walking, hiking, and cycling. She recently adopted a cat named Sky.

Reflecting on her recognition by Fort Insurance, a broker member of the Canadian Broker Network, Girard shared her gratitude: “I’m deeply honoured by this nomination. The relationship I’ve developed with brokers in Québec is very important to me, and I work hard to maintain the collaboration between us. For me, it’s ‘mission accomplished.’”

Q: What makes a great underwriter-broker working relationship?
“I believe the basis is listening and collaboration, working to find a win-win solution that works for everyone, respecting each other’s time and deadlines, and leading with clear communication. I always want to take extra time to explore all possibilities and solutions I can offer Wawanesa’s broker partners.”

Q: Why did you become an underwriter, and what do you love most about your role?
“I became an underwriter because I wanted to deepen my relationships with brokers, help them better understand Wawanesa’s products, and support delivering an excellent experience to our members. Serving as a senior underwriter gives me the opportunity to help other underwriters with their analysis. I have a good analytical mind. I work well in a team, and this allows me to support Wawanesa’s growth in Québec.”

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for underwriters in P&C currently, and one thing they can do to overcome it?
“Ongoing climatic events impact claims, our members, and the industry. We need to be adaptable and come up with creative solutions to adjust to what the market needs now and in the future. As an underwriter, one way I can help meet this challenge is by working closely with brokers and members to educate them about products that support climate resiliency — like Wawanesa’s Stronger Home and Eco-Friendly coverages.”

Q: Given the current talent shortage, what would you say to encourage people to join the industry?
“It’s a very interesting field that offers a lot of different opportunities. My own career demonstrates the different paths you can take — even within the same organization.”

Q: What’s one opportunity you think underwriters should focus more on in today’s marketplace?
“I’m always considering how I can deliver an exceptional member experience — whether I’m interacting with a member directly, offering support to our broker partners, or thinking about how I can promote the right products that are going to meet their unique needs. It all has an impact on the member and the service they receive.”

Q: How do you see technology, including AI, impacting the role of underwriters in the coming years?
“Technology is helping to empower systems, improve processes, and enhance our ability to work more efficiently. It streamlines the workload for us as underwriters, but also for brokers, giving us the capacity to deliver high-quality service with the care and empathy our members deserve.”

The Canadian Broker Network Underwriter of the Year awards is a flagship program that CBN has been running on behalf of its members since 2017. The program is exclusive to CBN in partnership with Canadian Underwriter magazine. The categories allow for each of our member firms, at their option, to select one commercial lines underwriter winner as well as one personal lines underwriter winner from a primary market. The program evolved in 2021 to also allow for one commercial lines underwriter from an MGA in addition to the other two categories. The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to CBN members; writing business that satisfies clients’ needs while creating a win-win for the broker and the insurer; a positive, helpful attitude; and investing time to develop trusting relationships with brokers.

Full list of 2024 Underwriters of the Year Award