Women in Reinsurance (WiRe), the professional organization for women working in Bermuda’s reinsurance sector, hosted its inaugural Women’s Day Gala and Lifetime Achievement Award March 3rd. It was a sold-out event attended by 200 industry representatives, including 17 corporate groups. There was strong representation from Bermudian women, starting with a keynote by Bermudian author of Begin Boldly, Christie Hunter Arscott. Performances from local artists included Olivia Hamilton, Tino Martinez and Suave Salsa. WiRe Chairwoman, Peta White, closed the formal line up with a celebratory champagne toast sponsored by Conduit Re.
The Women’s Day Gala was developed to mark the WiRe’s 15th Anniversary and highlight the significant contributions of women in Bermuda’s world class reinsurance industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to well-known industry leader Kathleen Faires.
Faires, currently CEO of Artex Capital Solutions, boasts a successful career spanning more than 35 years.
In her acceptance speech, Faries said she was filled with gratitude at receiving the honor.
"I fell into the industry, but wow, what an amazing industry for women to be in," Faries said. "There are so many opportunities and challenges."
"First of all, I was just grateful to have found this industry, and then found my way to Bermuda, which is the most fabulous place in the world. In thinking what is so fulfilling about the industry in the last 25 years — it really is the people. Thank you all for letting me be a part of your journey, for you being a part of my journey, for all of the amazing things we have done together."
Faries contributions include early career experience in captive development at Marsh Management and business development for the start-up brokerage Crump International. At Tokio Millennium Re AG, she drove growth through product innovation and third-party capital solutions, eventually becoming the CEO of Tokio Solution Management (TSM), and later Head of the Bermuda Branch of Tokio Millennium Re AG. Faries has served as advisor to several start up organizations and won multiple industry awards.
At Tokyo Marine Millenium Re AG, she drove growth through product innovation and third-party capital solutions, eventually becoming the CEO of Tokyo Marine Solutions and later Head of Bermuda Branch at Tokyo Millenium Re AG. Faries has served as advisor to several start up organizations and won multiple industry awards.
Faires has contributed extensively to organizations that support the industry and the careers of women professionals. She was a founding member and Chairperson of ILS Bermuda, host of the ILS conference Convergence. She served on the board of WiRe from 2011 to 2017 and, in 2018, Faries cofounded WeSpeak Bermuda, an organization that trains women to enhance leadership abilities through public speaking of all forms. She is also known to personally support and mentor professionals on their career journey. WiRe congratulates Kathleen Faires and thanks her for her dedication to promoting the success of women in the Bermuda reinsurance industry.
2008 by a group of senior professional women in the reinsurance industry to encourage the development and promotion of women within the marketplace. Our membership includes women from almost every reinsurance and brokerage firm in Bermuda as well as from local regulatory bodies, associations, and service providers.
