“The New Landscape”
Social Business, Mobile, Analytics, Modern Technology
10th Annual Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference
Sheraton Centre Hotel (Toronto) - Monday, March 5th, 2012
The 10th annual ICTC was held Monday, March 5th, 2012. Planning is underway for a two-day ICTC 2013, to be held March 18-19, 2013. Further information will be posted as it becomes available.
Conference Topics and Speakers - Details by Time
8:30am - Strategy Sessions
| Functions: |
 Claims |
 Distribution |
 Information Technology |
 Policy Management |
 General |
| Technology: |
 Analytics |
 Mobile |
 Modern Technology |
 Social |
 General |
“Turning Information into Insight”
- Neil Isford, VP - Business Analytics & Optimization, IBM North America
“Challenges And Opportunities For Broker Distribution”
panellists:
- Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO, SGI Canada
- Rick Orr, President, IBAO
- Greg Purdy, Managing Partner, Pathway Partners Ltd.
moderator:
- Doug Grant, Consultant, Insurance-Canada.ca
Topic Descriptions
“Turning Information into Insight”
- Neil Isford, VP - Business Analytics & Optimization, IBM North America
In our Smarter Planet the explosion of information is creating both challenges and opportunities for organizations. Early adopters are gaining a competitive advantage by expanding their use of business analytics to predict future outcomes with greater confidence. This presentation will focus on how insurance companies are using business analytics to strengthen customer care & insight, risk/finance optimization and claims processing. Neil will also talk about how emerging technologies such as Big Data, social media analytics, and IBM's Watson, can help you make informed decisions with greater confidence.
Neil Isford, VP - Business Analytics & Optimization, IBM North America
In January 2011, Neil was appointed IBM's VP of Business Analytics & Optimization (BAO) for North America. In this role he is responsible for leading one of IBM's major growth initiatives. Neil's focus is on delivering market leadership and client value through business analytics solutions representing all IBM brands (services, software and hardware).
Neal was personally involved in IBM's successful acquisition of Cognos. Cognos was not only IBM's largest purchase to date, but established IBM as the Industry leader in Business Analytics.
Neil has extensive industry and IBM experience, spending two years as the VP of worldwide sales for software products which are part of IBM's Information Management, Business Analytics, and Enterprise Content Management portfolios. In this global role, he built a team of industry consultants who help clients create an Information Agenda for their organizations by leveraging IBM thought leadership and resources.
From 2006 to 2007 Neil managed IBM's software business for Asia Pacific and Japan. He was responsible for sales, marketing, channels - including ISV/Developer Relations and business development. In 2005 Neil led Business Partner Software Sales for IBM globally and developed the industry leading Software Value Incentive program.
Neil has over 9 years of experience in various Professional Services roles, including the CEO of Plural (a Wall Street based private consulting company that developed software solutions for the Financial Services industry), and the leader of IBM's e-business Services practice.
Neil is Canadian. He was born and raised in Toronto, went to business school at Wilfrid Laurier University and spent his first 13 years of his IBM career in Edmonton, Vancouver, Southwestern Ontario, and Toronto before moving to the United States in 1994.
“Challenges And Opportunities For Broker Distribution”
panellists:
- Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO, SGI Canada
- Rick Orr, President, IBAO
- Greg Purdy, Managing Partner, Pathway Partners Ltd.
moderator:
- Doug Grant, Consultant, Insurance-Canada.ca
Markets and products evolve; employees move on; new tools appear, AND the customer is changing.
Many of our grandparents watched in awe as new inventions arrived frequently; some struggled to cope while others thrived. Yet if we were to visit those times in the early to mid-twentieth century, we would probably be bored by the slow pace of change, relative to our experiences in 2012.
Today we have a different economy than any of us have previously faced. New technologies seem to arrive daily, along with a promise to do things better, and faster. Employees have expectations that differ from those of twenty years ago, and lo and behold, some of them even bring their own technology – and networks – to work. And my gosh, with all the different ways our customers communicate today, how can we possibly keep in touch, let along impress them with our message, or develop a relationship.
Such are the challenges that we as small and medium business people face on a daily basis. And yet we will move on. Join the panel to hear different perspectives on the challenges, and the opportunities as the stage is set for those of the day's sessions which are specifically about broker distribution.
Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO, SGI Canada
Andrew Cartmell was appointed President and CEO of Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) on August 4, 2009.
Chosen following an extensive national search, Andrew brings a wealth of insurance experience, leadership and innovative thinking to SGI. One of the main factors that contributed to his successful career was learning the insurance business from the ground up. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, he has worked for a number of Canadian property and casualty insurance companies in a variety of roles, including underwriting, actuarial, product management, and regional/branch operations. Andrew is also a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, a Chartered Insurance Professional, a graduate of the Queen’s Executive Development Program and a LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow from The Wharton School.
Cartmell is very active in the industry. He has lent his expertise to various high-profile actuarial, insurance and government committees and boards. He is a proponent of ongoing learning and continuing education as the cornerstone of individual and corporate success.
Doug Grant, MBA, CIP, Consultant, Insurance-Canada.ca
A keen analyst of computer and networking evolution for more than 30 years, Doug is cognizant of the changes that are occurring in the Internet insurance world and their impact on the industry. As a frequent industry speaker, columnist and consultant, as well as a principal in the Insurance-Canada.ca Web site, he brings a unique perspective to the session. Read a more extensive biography here.
Rick Orr, President, IBAO
Rick joined Orr Insurance Brokers in 1992. Along with his brother Jeff they are fourth-generation owners of Orr Insurance Brokers Inc. in Stratford.
Rick is active in both the industry and the community. He is President of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, a board member of CSIO and a member of the IBAC Technology Committee. He also sits on a number of local boards including the Hospital and the Parks Board.
He believes that technology is critical to the future success of the independent insurance brokerage distribution system. Rick believes that companies cannot compete based on their ability to transmit data with their brokers. We all need to work together to achieve a meaningful solution.
Greg Purdy, Managing Partner, Pathway Partners Ltd.
With more than 25 years of experience in the insurance technology marketplace, Greg brings a unique perspective on how to build a successful company. In 17 years as C.E.O. of Applied Systems Canada Greg oversaw the growth in the Canadian marketplace from 200 brokers to over 1200. In 1992 Greg added the responsibility for international development and successfully established the UK operations with The Agency Manager UK.
In 2008, Greg formed Pathway Partners Ltd. with Michelle Cole-Kennedy to advise brokers on a wide range of operational and strategic topics with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.
In 2011 Greg played a key role in the launch of getClarity Inc, a business intelligence company that focuses on bringing sophisticated demographic and statistical analysis to businesses of all sizes. With over 1.7 million records of new data on a monthly basis getClarity identifies timely market opportunities and as a result maximizes the return on investment.
Greg is also the founder of the Canadian Insurance Strategy Group which can be found on Linkedin.
