CBMU Spring Conference 2025

4.00pm - 4.30pm

CBMU Annual General Meeting 2025

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

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 will be distributed with the notice sent to Voting Members. 

Only members in good standing for the 2025 membership year will be able to attend and vote. 

5.30pm - 8.30pm

CBMU Welcome Reception 2025

Harbour Cruises 

The CBMU welcomes you to the Spring Conference 2025 with a beautiful evening Reception on the MV Harbour Princess Vessel! We will be spending 2 hours dockside and finishing our evening with a one hour sail around Vancouver Harbour.

Attendance includes drinks and hors d'oeuvres. 

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
 

Danielle Jackson, CBMU President, Falvey Insurance Group.

Danielle graduated from Fanshawe College with an Advanced Marketing Diploma in 2008. That summer Danielle began her career in Marine Insurance as both a Yacht Underwriter and Broker with Pacific Marine Underwriters. After her time at PMU Danielle continued brokering in the Marine Department at Aon before moving to the underwriting side at Coast Underwriters in 2012. During her time with Coast Danielle joined the CBMU as a member of the Communications Committee and then gladly accepted the role of Communications Committee Chair in 2014. In 2017 Danielle moved to Intact as a Commercial Marine Underwriter, completed her CIP designation with a focus on Marine and took over the role of Education Committee Chair for the CBMU. Danielle moved to Falvey Insurance Group as a Vice President in 2021 and served as CBMU Vice-President from 2022 before now taking the role of President.

9:15am - 10:15am

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

Updates from Transport Canada

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.
 

Updates from the Canadian Maritime Law Association

Rui Fernandes, President, Canadian Maritime Law Association, Gardiner Roberts LLP.

Rui Fernandes is a partner at Gardiner Roberts LLP in Toronto Canada. He represents domestic and international clients involved directly and indirectly in transportation, insurance and related industries. He advises clients with respect to contract and commercial law including risk analysis and regulatory matters. He provides corporate and commercial advice to foreign clients setting up and doing business in Canada. His insurance practice includes policy drafting, coverage issues, errors and omissions claims, professional liability claims, marine and aviation, inland marine, property and casualty liability defense, products liability and subrogation. 
Rui has a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He holds certificates from the University of Windsor for its ADR Workshop and for its Advanced ADR Workshop and Pepperdine University for its STAR program (Systematic Approach to Mediation Strategies). He is a qualified arbitrator and obtained his Q. Arb. designation in 2019 and his FCIArb in 2020. Rui has conducted numerous mediations and arbitrations both as counsel and as a mediator or arbitrator.
Rui has run a number of successful businesses including vessel chartering, biotechnology, small hydroelectric and publishing.
He has appeared as senior counsel in trial and appellate courts and agencies across Canada: The Supreme Court of Canada, The Federal Court, Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Canadian Transportation Agency, Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, and the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario Discipline Committee.

Updates from the American Institute of Marine Underwriters

Brian Muphy, Director of Finance, AIMU, Senior Vice President, Berkley Offshore

Brian Murphy joined Berkley Offshore (a W.R. Berkley company) in April 2012, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President – Head of Marine.  Prior to joining Berkley Offshore, Brian worked for seventeen years in various roles of increasing responsibility with Starr Marine.  He currently chairs the Hull Committee for the American Institute of Marine Underwriters and serves on the AIMU’s Board of Directors.  Brian also serves as Vice Chairman of the Legal & Liability Committee for the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), as well as Vice Chair of Finance for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation.  Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY as well as the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Marine Insurance Management (AMIM) designations, and maintains his U.S. Coast Guard license (Third Mate – Unlimited Tonnage – Continuity Only).

Updates from the Marine Insurance Association of British Columbia

Jackie Farquharson , President, MIABC, Claims Examiner at Harlock Murray Underwriting Ltd. 

Jackie Farquharson is a Claims Examiner at Harlock Murray Underwriting Ltd.
She has spent 18 years in Marine Insurance Industry who moved roles from Underwriting to Claims focusing on Commercial Vessels, Commercial Operation and P&I / Marine Liabilities in Canada and the US.

Jackie has been an active member of the Marine Insurance Association of BC for over 8 years and has commenced her term as the President. She and her husband are loving parents to 2 beautiful daughters. She enjoys camping with her family in her spare time or exploring the outdoors taking in the beautiful West Coast.

10:15am - 10:30am

Coffee Break

Sponsored by

10:30am - 11:30am

Charting a Course: Enrolment Trends and the Future Marine Workforce

Essential insights and emerging trends in marine programs, examining how these patterns are shaping future workforce readiness and informing the development of industry-aligned training and technologies.

Steve Perry, Dean, The British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Steve Perry is the Dean of the School of Transportation at BCIT. He brings over 15 years of academic leadership across multiple transportation sector campuses, the Bachelor of Technology Management degree program, and the Trades Access programs at BCIT. Steve leads major initiatives to grow transportation education, including delivery of industry services to meet rapidly evolving workforce and technology demands while developing clean technology education pathways. He provided vision for BCIT’s newest campus at Annacis Island and established the BCIT certified industrial railway. Steve’s industry experience includes aviation and automotive sectors, which has guided many new initiatives to modernize education across these program areas.
Steve holds a Master’s Degree in Education, Post-Secondary Leadership. He also holds a Provincial Instructor’s Diploma, ISO Auditor Certification, and a Red Seal in Automotive Service Technician (AST) through BCIT.

Russell Oye, Interim Associate Dean, The British Columbia Institute of Technology. 

Russell is the Interim Associate Dean of the BCIT Marine Campus. He is a National Council member of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE), CIMarE representative to the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation and Chair of the Vancouver Mari Tech 2023 Conference. Russell has a master's degree in education, diploma in leadership and development, and a certificate in post-secondary administrative justice. Within BCIT Russell has taught, trained and mentored students at the Marine Campus, in the Marine Engineering Cadet diploma program, Motive Power Center of Excellence and has performed applied research at the Emission Reduction and Research Test Hub. Russel has been with BCIT for over 25 Years.

11:30am - 1:00pm

Conference Luncheon

Sponsored by

1:00pm - 4:30pm

The New Roadmap for Canada’s West Coast

A timely look at the shifting supply chain landscape including port operations, drayage logistics, and critical insights into the post-flooding infrastructure recovery.

Dave Earle, President & CEO, BC Trucking Association. 

Dave Earle is the President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association (BCTA), a role he has held since 2018. With over two decades of experience in policy development, advocacy, and industry leadership, Dave ensures that BCTA is a recognized voice for British Columbia’s trucking and commercial transportation sectors.

Under his leadership, BCTA has advanced initiatives that promote sustainability, road safety, and economic growth, while also addressing key challenges such as work development, regulatory modernization, and industry innovation. Dave collaborates closely with government, industry stakeholders, and association members to support and communicate the trucking industry’s vital role in BC’s economy. 
 

BC Ferries: Navigating Complex Risks and Strategic Investments

BC Ferries is a geographically diverse and asset-intensive organization dedicated to providing safe and reliable service across 1,600 kilometers of British Columbia's west coast. This presentation will offer a comprehensive overview of BC Ferries' operations and provide insights into the sophisticated tools and methodologies employed to manage the complex and varied risks encountered daily.
As we embark on an exciting period of fleet modernization, significant capital investments will be made over the coming years with the addition of new vessels. These advancements bring substantial challenges and risks, particularly in areas such as energy sources and operational changes, which require careful consideration and assessment.
The presentation will highlight several key challenges and risks associated with these changes and investments, and will summarize our strategic approach and decision-making processes to address them effectively.
 

Tom Phipps, Director Risk & Insurance, BC Ferries. 

Tom is a seasoned risk management expert with a robust background in accounting, internal audit, and insurance. With a strong dedication to enhancing corporate governance and risk strategies, Tom has consistently sought out challenging opportunities to refine his expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks across various business functions, from operational to strategic. Throughout his career, Tom has embraced diverse roles, including risk consulting, auditing, insurance, claims, investigations, enterprise risk management, business continuity, and treasury. This breadth of experience has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of risk management and its critical role in organizational success.
Tom joined BC Ferries almost 7 years ago as Director Risk & Insurance, and thoroughly enjoys working in the marine industry and all the complexities of a company that operates 37 vessels across 47 terminals serving over 22 million passenger a year.

International Impacts: Tariffs, Trade and Economic Uncertainty

An examination of the current economic landscape, focusing on tariffs, cross-border trade, regulatory developments, and their global implications for the maritime industry.

Dino Rossi, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Dionysios is the Regional Group Manager for Specialized Disputes in the Vancouver office of BLG, and practices primarily in the areas of transportation & shipping law, environmental law, and energy law. He is widely recognized as a leading advocate in these fields. Dionysios has acted as counsel before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, all levels of court in British Columbia and before a number of administrative tribunals. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia, he served as a judicial law clerk to several justices of the British Columbia Supreme Court.

Dionysios frequently speaks and publishes on a wide variety of legal subjects. He has been interviewed by national media outlets such as Global News, and his work has appeared in general interest publications (including the Vancouver Sun and Business in Vancouver), trade publications, and legal publications (including the Irwin Law Canadian Maritime Law reference work, The Transportation Lawyer, The Lawyers Weekly, The Verdict, and various Continuing Legal Education Society of BC works).

Braeden Stang, Associate, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Braeden maintains a broad litigation and advisory practice, with a focus on environmental, transportation, and energy related disputes and projects. He assists and represents clients across various industries with a variety of environmental, energy, commercial, insurance, regulatory and administrative matters. Braeden also advises clients on a wide range of marine and transportation matters including cargo claims, vessel arrests, allisions and marine casualty incidents.

Braeden has experience assisting clients in all levels of court in British Columbia, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, and various administrative bodies. In addition to his disputes practice, he regularly advises clients on various environmental, transportation and energy related contractual and regulatory matters, including project development, permitting, and transactional due diligence.

6:00pm - 10:00pm

Conference Gala Dinner

$595.00+Tax

$695.00+Tax

$375.00+Tax

$425.00+Tax

$395.00+Tax

$445.00+Tax