Toronto – September 3, 2024 – Canadian Broker Network (CBN), Canada’s leading network of independent insurance brokers, is pleased to announce its 2024 Underwriters of the Year.  

“Each CBN member selects their personal and commercial lines underwriter winners as having met and exceeded our award criteria,” said Lorie Phair, President of CBN. 

The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to our 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.  

“These are significant achievements that underscore the importance and value of broker-underwriter relationships,” said Andrew Kemp, Chairman of CBN. “We congratulate all of our winners on this recognition and thank each and every one for their commitment and support.” 

Commercial Award Recipients   

Tamara Bagnell, Intact Insurance
Angela Brooks, Intact Insurance
Julie Bryant, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group
Robert Campbell, Northbridge Insurance
Andrea Carlson, Aviva Canada
Martine Chouinard, L’Unique General Insurance
Brad Clisdell, Aviva Canada
Alexander Hoppe, Intact Insurance
Rhonda Kehler, Optimum General Insurance
George Leszczynski, Chubb Insurance
Will Peterson, Aviva Canada
Matthew Poce, Intact Insurance
Melissa Reid, Intact Insurance
Chris Sheehan, Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Michelle Sugawara, CNA Canada
Liza Van de Water, Economical Insurance
Michael Watts, Intact Insurance   

Personal Award Recipients 

Dave Allan, Portage Mutual Insurance
Roman Babej, Intact Insurance
Jomar Ballesteros, Peel Mutual Insurance Company
Karen Bernard, Heartland Mutual Insurance
Nicole Boulard, Heartland Mutual Insurance
Christina Euteneier, SGI Canada
Caroline Girard, Wawanesa Insurance
Linda Kerel, Travelers Canada
Bridget Lee, Optimum General Insurance
Franco Mok, Intact Insurance
Leighton Salmon, Intact Insurance
Sutharsan Sellar, Intact Insurance
Pam Southern, Portage Mutual Insurance
Monica Waddell, Intact Insurance
Katie Witt, HD Mutual Insurance Company  

MGA Award Recipients 

Shannon Bagnell, Agile Underwriting Solutions
Marli Baluk, Trans Canada Insurance Marketing
Kapil Bhagirath, Beazley
Gillian Butterly, Special Risk Insurance Managers
Kandy Choi, ABEX Insurance
David Dunn, Lions Gate Underwriting
Graeme Finnell, ABEX Insurance
Brett Fulmore, Agile Underwriting Solutions
Grace Gillis, Agile Underwriting Solutions
Patrick Hagel, i3 Underwriting
Darren Imrie, Revau
Alfiia Khannanova, BOXX Insurance
David Leitch, Coast Underwriters
Heath Paull, i3 Underwriting
Michael Phillippo, Trinity Underwriting
Jeffrey Phillips, Burns & Wilcox
Caroline Subirana, Burns & Wilcox 

About the Canadian Broker Network 

Canadian Broker Network (CBN) is an alliance of leading independent insurance brokerages representing more than $3 billion in property casualty premiums, as well as employee benefits and life and financial services, with over 100 offices across Canada and more than 4,000 employees. CBN provides independent, employee-owned brokerages a unique way to grow and innovate their businesses by leveraging its collective wisdom, experience and connections and helping members gain the scale and benefits needed to run a top performing brokerage. Maturing out of a forum dating back to 2002 originally designed to exchange best practices, today CBN’s guiding principles of innovation, collaboration and commitment to success ensures members can deliver the best possible value to clients, employees and insurer partners.  

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