CBMU Spring Conference 2024

4.00pm - 4.30pm

CBMU Annual General Meeting 2024

Humaniti Hotel Montreal

All staff members from CBMU Voting Member companies are welcome to attend, however, please note that only one person per member company will be eligible to vote on the AGM motions. 

Documents for the AGM have been distributed with the notice sent to Voting Members.

Only members in good standing for the 2024 membership year will be able to attend and vote. 

5.30pm - 7.30pm

CBMU Welcome Reception 2024

La Grande Roue Bistro 

The CBMU welcomes you to the Spring Conference 2024 with a beautiful evening Reception on the Terrace at La Grand Roue Bistro. 

    Sponsored by: 

8:00am - 9:00am

Registration and Breakfast

9.00am - 9.15am

Opening Remarks and President's Report

A welcome to the Spring Conference and review of the past year in the Canadian marine insurance industry.

Keeley Wylie, CBMU President, Liberty Mutual Canada

Keeley Wylie is a marine insurance professional with eighteen years in the industry. She is Vice President and Marine Industry Leader at Liberty Mutual Canada where she oversees the marine insurance portfolio. She specializes in all lines of marine insurance including Hull and Protection & Indemnity, Liabilities, Cargo, and Specie.

She is President of the Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters and a member of the International Union of Marine Insurer’s Legal and Liability committee.

Keeley holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University and Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Professional and Canadian Risk Management designations.

9.15am - 10.15am

Industry Updates
The latest news and developments from our partners in the marine industries.

Mariella Dauphinee, IUMI

Mariella Dauphinee started her career in marine insurance  following an apprenticeship with her father (marine insurance specialist and author). She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia, followed by the CIP (Chartered Insurance Professional) designation, specializing in Marine Insurance from the Insurance Institute of Canada, where she later taught marine insurance courses. She also has a Certificate in Shipping and Marine Operations from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and a couple of years later undertook post graduate studies in Maritime & Logistics Management at the Australian Maritime College.  She is author of the “Manual de Seguros de Transporte Maritimo” Marine Insurance Textbook, a comprehensive textbook written in Spanish on the subject of marine insurance, shipping and transportation.  She is past President of the Marine Insurance Association of British Columbia (MIABC). She is currently Chair of the Claims and Loss Prevention Committee for CBMU, as well as a board member for CBMU.  She was Vice Chair of the Loss Prevention Committee for the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), representing Canada (The Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters). She is currently a Vice Chair of the Executive Committee at IUMI. Mariella works as Marine Claims Leader for Coast Underwriters Ltd.  out of Vancouver, where she handles various marine lines, such as cargo, hull & machinery, as well as marine liabilities. 

John Miklus, AIMU

John joined AIMU on October 1, 2013 and was named President of AIMU on January 1, 2014.  AIMU, founded in 1898, celebrated its 125th anniversary last year as a not-for-profit trade association representing and promoting the U.S. ocean marine insurance industry. John has 40 years’ experience in the ocean marine insurance and reinsurance business, having previously spent 8 years at Guy Carpenter & Co. as Senior Vice President of the Marine & Energy Specialty practice and 21 years at The Hartford, where he was Senior Vice President responsible for world-wide Marine Treaty Reinsurance at Hartford Re Company. He started his career as a marine trainee at The Hartford in Boston after graduating cum laude from Bowdoin College with a B.A. in Economics and Government.
John is an active member of many marine industry organizations including the American Bureau of Shipping, National Cargo Bureau, Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Association of Average Adjusters of the U.S. and Canada, Connecticut Maritime Association, and the Marine Society of the City of New York. John is involved with the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) as secretary of the Loss Prevention Committee and former chair of the Education Forum. He always looks forward to attending CBMU events!

Caitlin O'Boyle, Manager, Liability and Compensation | Transport Canada, Marine Policy | Government of Canada

Caitlin O’Boyle is the Manager of Marine Liability and Compensation at Transport Canada, with 15 years experience in government. She is responsible for policy, legislation and regulations related to liability, compensation, and insurance matters, including the Marine Liability Act, the Wrecked, Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act, the Marine Insurance Act, the Marine War Risk Act, as well as the implementation of international conventions in the domestic regime. She has a BA in Political Science and a MA in Public Policy and Public Administration, both from Concordia University.

 Jean-Marie Fontaine, CMLA

Jean-Marie Fontaine specializes in the field of maritime law as well as non-marine insurance regulation and compliance. He acts for high-profile clients in both contentious and non-contentious transportation matters.
 
He has expertise in the negotiation of logistics agreements, charter parties, the purchase, sale and financing of ships and marine insurance policies. He is also recognized for his expertise in the importation and registration of vessels.
Jean-Marie advises insurers, brokers and other intermediaries in the insurance market on regulatory and compliance issues and represents clients before the Autorité des marchés financiers.
Jean-Marie appears before the Superior Court of Québec, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Québec Court of Appeal, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada. He also pleads before the Canadian Transportation Agency.
 

10.15am - 10.30am

Coffee Break

10.30am - 11.30am

Tides of Change: Addressing Market Risks in Sea Logistics
This presentation explores the significant impact of the Red Sea routes on global supply chains, examining the relationship between supply, demand, volume, and capacity in the marketplace and highlighting their effects on shipping dynamics. Domenico Costantino will also discuss the critical challenges of labor and other global instabilities, affecting operational efficiency and risk management. Insights into carrier performance and operations shed light on market fluctuations and associated risks, and by understanding these factors, those in the maritime underwriting industry can better assess and mitigate risks, ensuring the smooth flow of goods through vital shipping arteries.

Domenico Costantino, Regional Vice President - Eastern Canada, Kuehne + Nagel Ltd.

Domenico Costantino holds a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science with a major in Economics from Concordia University. He is CIFFA certified and has accumulated extensive experience in the Freight Forwarding industry since 2004, working with both local and multinational organizations. Currently, Domenico serves as a participating board member with Cargo-M and holds the title of Regional Vice President for Eastern Canada at Kuehne+Nagel, stationed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

11.30am - 1.00pm

Conference Luncheon

1.00pm - 4.30pm

Battening Down the Hatches: How to Weather the Changing Regulatory Tides on Marine Decarbonization
The single biggest challenge that the shipping industry must face in the coming years is the speed at which environmental regulations are changing, and how an industry that is known for its “slow and steady” approach must adapt. This session will serve to explore the decarbonization regulations being implemented internationally and in Canada, and what new technologies and approaches are being considered to meet never-before-seen standards – as well as the risks associated with their development.

Guillaum Dubreuil, Director, External Affairs and Government Relations, Canada Steamship Lines.

An expert in government and international relations, Guillaum Dubreuil represents the CSL Group and the priorities of the Canadian bulk shipping sector to all levels of government, both in Canada and abroad. Prior to his joining CSL, Guillaum spent four years at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as Senior Director of Public Affairs. In this role, he was heavily involved in efforts to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), contributed to putting in place the Canada-Europe Trade Agreement (CETA) and acted as Sherpa in hosting the B7, the summit of business groups of G7 countries. He also acted as spokesperson for the organization, defending the issues most important to the business community in a variety of media outlets. Much of Guillaum’s international experience was acquired working for Languages Canada, where he was responsible for setting up educational exchange agreements with foreign governments. During his time there, Canada rose from third to second most attractive international study destination. Prior to that, he worked for Universities Canada and operated his own public affairs firm. 

Guillaum is the current chair of Armateurs du Saint-Laurent, the Québec Shipowners Association, as well as chair of the FCCQ Transportation Committee. He is also a board member for Cargo M and the Société de développement économique du Saint-Laurent. Guillaum strongly believes in supporting youth and entrepreneurship programs and sits on the Advisory Council for this year’s cohort of Action Canada fellows. He is also the past chair of the board of the Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec and a former member of the board of Women in Communications and Technology – Ottawa Chapter, as well as of the Québec Drama Federation. Guillaum was also named Top 30 Under 30 by Infopresse Magazine in 2016.  
 

The Perils of Moving Cargo by Rail and Minimizing Losses 

This presentation will highlight the distinctions in cargo packing methods for rail and sea transportation, focusing on strategies to mitigate losses. It will offer practical insights into the unique challenges and considerations for each mode of transportation, emphasizing cost-effective approaches to minimize damage and maximize efficiency. Presenter Capt. Philip Vardon’s training and experience on different vessels, as well as his expertise as marine surveyor, provides actionable perspective into understanding how to develop a comprehensive approach for marine insurance professionals.

Capt. Philip Vardon, Master Mariner, CIP, Manager, Marine Services (Canada), Regional Reporting Inc. 

Philip Vardon founded True North Marine Surveyors & Adjusters Inc. in 2011.  He has over 15 years of experience as a deep-sea mariner with international companies like Denholm Ship Management and     V. Ships.  On moving to Canada in 1993 he requalified as a Master Mariner in Canada and subsequently worked as a deck officer and relief Captain on the local harbor boats before taking up employment with North American adjusting companies as a marine surveyor.

Philip has been an instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver, where he instructed mariners on Cargo work, Meteorology and the use of Radar, GMDSS and ECDIS.  Philip is a richly experienced Surveyor/Adjuster who has worked with Mclarens Canada, Claimspro, CSL Global (Canada) and Regional Reporting Inc. He is well known in the insurance industry and has used his excellent communication skills and his many years of experience to investigate losses, assess loss and liability, oversee loading and stowage arrangements and conduct ship inspections. 

Navigating the Waters:  The 5Ws of Maritime Pilotage

This presentation delves into the essential aspects of pilotage, exploring its purpose, methods, and significance, providing a comprehensive understanding of who employs pilots, what their role entails, where pilotage is practiced, when it's required, and why it's indispensable for safe navigation.

Anaïs de Lausnay, Laurentian Pilotage Authority, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary 

Anaïs de Lausnay has been an integral part of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) since July 2019 as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In that capacity she is a member of executive management and attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees as secretary. Responsible for the organization's legal services, she is in charge, among other things, of managing all legal files, including governance, contract management and negotiation, access to information and privacy. 

A member of the Quebec Bar since 2009, Anaïs has worked as a lawyer and in-house legal counsel for organizations in a variety of fields, including Belron Canada, the Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance and Groupe Robert. This wide-ranging experience acquired in different areas of law such as employment and labor law, administrative and commercial law, transport law and mergers and acquisitions serves her daily in her strategic role at the LPA.

6.00pm - 10.00pm

Conference Gala Dinner

$595.00+Tax

$685.00+Tax

$345.00+Tax

$420.00+Tax 

$365.00+Tax

$395.00+Tax