CBMU Fall Conference 2025

12.30pm

Registration  

1:00pm - 1:10pm

Opening Remarks and President's Report

A welcome to the Fall 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.

1:10pm - 1:15pm

Highlights of the 2025 IUMI Conference

A review of the IUMI 2025 conference from the IUMI Bursary Recipient of 2025.

Richard Sanchez, Zurich, CBMU IUMI Bursary Recipient

Richard Sanchez is a Senior Property and Marine Claims Specialist at Zurich Canada. He manages and supervises the handling of wide array of property and marine claims, especially large and complex losses. He also conducts group and individual trainings and mentoring on marine claims handling, customer service, and file documentation amongst colleagues at Zurich Canada and Zurich US. 

His commitment to exemplary customer service has earned him the Zurich Annual Customer Rockstar Award for consecutive years. He has also received multiple recognitions, including the Zurich Impact Awards, for his outstanding management of claims and support for colleagues during periods of high claim volumes, such as overwhelming CAT events and General Average incidents. Demonstrating his passion for learning and continuous development, Richard was awarded the Zurich North America Learning Award. Most recently, he was honored with the prestigious 2025 National Leadership Award by the Insurance Institute of Canada and CIP Society.

Outside of work, Richard is actively involved in the Canadian insurance industry. He has been an active member of CBMU’s Claims and Loss Prevention Committee since 2022. He is also one of the Ambassadors of the Insurance Institute of Canada under the Career Connection program, where he promotes the insurance industry to the public through career fairs, coffee chats and mentoring programs. He is a frequent speaker and panelist on insurance and diversity/inclusion discussions. Further, he is enthusiastic about volunteering and giving back to the community such as mentoring youth/kids from low income or underprivileged families under the United Way Network Program, fundraising and supporting youth mental health under JackRide, among others. 
 

Industry Updates

Highlights, recent developments, and trends presented with perspectives across the Maritime community.

1:15pm - 1:25pm

International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI)

Global Marine Figures and other updates.

Mariella Dauphinee, IUMI Executive Committee, Marine Claims Leader, Coast Underwriters

Mariella Dauphinee started her career in marine insurance in Canada 30 years ago, 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 a member of the Executive Committee at IUMI, representing Canada (The Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters). She also chairs the CBMU Claims and Loss Prevention Committee. She is currently working at Coast Underwriters out of Vancouver, where she handles various marine lines, such as cargo, hull & machinery, as well as marine liabilities. 

1:25pm - 1:35pm

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.

1:35pm - 1:45pm

American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU)

John A. Miklus, President, AIMU

John joined AIMU on October 1, 2013 and was named President of AIMU on January 1, 2014.  AIMU, founded in 1898, recently celebrated its 125th anniversary 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!
 

1:45pm - 1:55pm

Lloyd's Canada

MaryKate Townsend, Head of Market Development, Lloyd's Canada

MaryKate Townsend is the Head of Market Development for Lloyd’s Canada, and Market Development Executive for the Americas. She supports strategic relationships with Lloyd’s stakeholders, including Coverholders, Underwriters, and Brokers, and develops access to the Lloyd’s market for insurance partners across Canada. MaryKate delivers Lloyd’s Commercial strategy, expanding its footprint and enhancing its market position through collaborative partnerships in Canada, the US and the Americas region.
For nearly a decade, MaryKate advanced her leadership skills and held the role of Vice President of Central Canada region, at a Canadian MGA. Throughout her insurance career, she has experience as CEO and Principal Broker, she earned the CAIB designation and, in the first ever graduating class, MaryKate was the recipient of the Top Graduate of the Southwestern Ontario chapter of the Insurance Institute of Canada award while earning her CMGA designation. 
MaryKate is the Past-President of CAMGA, the Canadian Association of Managing General Agents. While serving as an Executive on the CAMGA board for two years, she focused her efforts on representing the delegated authority sector in a professional manner through education and advocacy, among her peers and industry partners. She also held various roles with the London Insurance Brokers Association (LIBA) including President and Chair and has been an Ambassador for the industry with the Insurance Institute of Canada. 
Known to many as MK, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She remains closely connected to her hometown community, where she is the founder and past-chair of the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition. Additionally, she serves as a steering committee member with the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition.

1.55pm - 2.30pm

Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA)

Eric Machum, National Vice President, CMLA, Partner, Metcalf & Company Barristers & Solicitors

Eric Machum has practiced law since 2005. Prior to coming to Metcalf & Company he worked as a cadet for Atlantic Towing Limited on its coastal and harbour tugs and prior to that for four years at Clyde & Co. in Caracas (with summer apprenticeship in London).

His practice is directed to marine, transportation, insurance and corporate-commercial law. Eric regularly advises ship owners, freight forwarders, marine service providers, exporters and their insurers on technical, regulatory and commercial/contractual matters including charter and sales documents. He holds a Master´s degree (LLM) in Marine Law and Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Dalhousie University Law School. He also teaches part-time at the Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law and has given intensive training courses on maritime law in Latin America. Authored numerous articles on maritime law matters and continues to be published on a regular basis.
 

Coffee Break

2:45pm - 3:30pm

Education Sessions

Misdeclared Cargo / Proper Shipments of Haz Mats (DGs)

This presentation highlights the serious risks posed by misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods (DG) in maritime shipping, drawing on notable incidents and industry data. It examines root causes such as insufficient training and deliberate rule evasion, and notes the challenge of detection in today’s fast-paced logistics environment. The discussion points to technology solutions and stresses the need for industry-wide commitment to safety and innovation as shipping volumes continue to grow. 

Capt. Eric Rounds, VP and Chief Surveyor, National Cargo Bureau

Eric Rounds serves as the Vice President and Chief Surveyor at the National Cargo Bureau (NCB) Headquarters in New York City.  NCB is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the safety of life and cargo at sea.  NCB maintains offices in all major U.S. seaports and in the UK, where it’s software division, NCB Hazcheck, is based.
Eric graduated from New York Maritime College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He began his career at sea, serving on various vessels and ultimately obtaining his Unlimited Chief Mates License.   In 1999, he joined NCB as a Marine Surveyor at their New Orleans office.  Over his 26-year tenure, he has held several key positions, including Senior Surveyor at the Philadelphia and Newark port offices, and Deputy Chief Surveyor for the North Atlantic and Great Lakes Ports.  In 2020, Eric was promoted to Chief Surveyor, overseeing surveying activities at NCB’s port offices.  In 2023 he earned his Executive MBA from Drexel University.

3:30pm - 4:15pm

Enhancing Cargo Risk Management with Emerging Supply Chain Technology and Standards

Data and technology is changing how cargo is managed in the supply chain, and the insurance industry has an opportunity to capture and use that data to underwrite risks in ways that were not possible in the past.   However, to use data it is necessary to capture data, and that means assessing how we work with our clients, as while cargo insurance is important, it is not always a cargo owner’s first priority.

Matthew Yeshin, FCIP, Managing Director, Global Digital Cargo Leader, Marsh 

Matthew is an insurance specialist with extensive experience in the marine, logistics, and transportation sectors. He has been with Marsh since 1992, gaining practical insurance knowledge in both the North American and UK markets. His expertise lies in developing insurance solutions that cater to the evolving supply chain landscape, driven by factors such as changing customer expectations, aggressive competition, technology advancements, and industry disruptors. In conjunction with Marsh’s wider global digital initiatives, digital cargo focuses on cargo centric solutions that provide clients with efficient and tailored insurance options and helps them make better data driven risk management decisions. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Matthew has supported a variety of logistics, transportation, mining, and manufacturing companies worldwide.

4:15pm - 5:00pm

Cascading Failures: Small Shifts and the Unforeseen Consequences

In this cautionary presentation, Risk Engineer, Naval Architect, and Marine Warranty Surveyor James Vavasour examines how unforeseen consequences continue to drive preventable losses in marine operations. Drawing from two real-world case studies involving a drill barge dry transport on the Mississippi River and a floating production unit transported from Singapore to Texas, he illustrates how small oversights, ignored warning signs, and misplaced confidence can escalate into multimillion-dollar failures. Representing insurers in both cases, Vavasour highlights the technical, operational, marine, cargo, and liability consequences that followed. The presentation reinforces the importance of independent perspective, sound judgment, and open discussion of lessons learned in an industry that often keeps its mistakes to itself.

James Vavasour, Business Stream Director - MWS, Global Maritime

James Vavasour is the Business Stream Director for Marine Warranty Survey (MWS) at Global Maritime, overseeing global MWS activities across offshore marine and energy installations, including oil and gas, renewables, MODUs, heavy-lift transports, and wet tows. Since joining in September 2023, James has led international operations with technical precision. A graduate Naval Architect and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, he is a founding member and former Chair of SOMWS and a recognized thought leader in risk prevention services in the energy insurance sector.

5.00pm - 10.00pm

Reception and Gala Dinner

To be held in the Grand Banking Hall.

$435.00^_+Tax

$485.00^_+Tax

$195.00^_+Tax

$245.00^_+Tax

$295.00^_+Tax

$345.00^_+Tax