CBMU Spring Conference 2026

4.00pm - 4.30pm

CBMU Annual General Meeting 2026

Delta St. John's Hotel

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 2026 membership year will be able to attend and vote. 

5.30pm - 8.30pm

CBMU Welcome Reception 2026

The Rooms

9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John's NL

The CBMU welcomes you to the Spring Conference 2026 with a wonderful evening at The Rooms! This unique venue that offers a stunning view of the Narrows and St. John’s Harbour.

Attendance includes drinks and hors d'oeuvres. A coach will be available from the Delta St John's, leaving at 5pm.

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 - 10:00am

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

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.

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!
 

Marine Insurance Association of British Columbia (MIABC)

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.

Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA)

Deborah Hutchings, K.C., Eastern Vice President, CMLA, Partner at MacNab Fagan & Murphy.

Deborah Hutchings, K.C., is a Partner at MacNab Fagan & Murphy.

10:00am - 11:00am

Risk Management and Insurance for a Responsible Ship Recycling Operation

Don Sinclair, CRM, RJ MacIsaac Construction Ltd.

Don Sinclair began his career as a Claims Adjuster with Travelers Canada (1979–1984) before serving as President of D.C. Sinclair Insurance Agency from 1984 to 1988. He went on to spend over three decades as a Commercial Insurance Broker with Fraser & Hoyt Insurance, later Gallagher Canada (1988–2020), where he specialized in the mid-market construction, marine, and entertainment sectors.

Since retiring from brokerage in 2020, Don has established a risk management consulting practice focused on serving clients in the marine industry. He brings deep industry knowledge and a practical perspective to risk assessment and mitigation within the marine sector.
 

11:00am - 11:30am

Coffee Break

11:30am - 1:30pm

Tour of the Centre for Marine Simulation, Marine Institute, Memorial University

We are thrilled that the Centre for Marine Simulation has granted the CBMU a tour as part of the Spring Conference program, with special thanks to Capt. Chris Hearn. 

"The Centre for Marine Simulation is located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and the forefront of Canada's ocean technology industry. The city boasts one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive concentrations of ocean technology organizations anywhere in Canada."

CBMU Spring Conference delegates will be transported to the Centre for Marine Simulation by coach, leaving at 11:30am. The visit includes a tour of the Centre, and updates on projects at the Marine Institute. A return coach will transport delegates back to the Delta hotel for the Conference Lunch.

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Conference Luncheon

2:30pm - 3:15pm

US Port Tariffs

Christopher Lazarz, Algoma Central Corporation

Christopher Lazarz is the Chief Financial Officer of Algoma Central Corporation, effective January 1, 2025. He has been with Algoma since 2011, holding various finance positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to his appointment as CFO, he served as Vice-President of Corporate Finance.

Mr. Lazarz oversees the company’s comprehensive financial and business information systems strategies and operations. He monitors the financial performance of the company, its partnerships, and its investments. Additionally, he is responsible for financial reporting and compliance, managing the capital structure, investor relations, risk management, corporate taxation, and treasury management. Mr. Lazarz also provides financial oversight for Algoma’s growth and expansion initiatives.

Christopher is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) degree from Brock University. Before joining Algoma, he worked in audit, accounting, and advisory roles at Deloitte LLP.

3:15pm - 4:00pm

How Do Artificial Intelligence and Tariffs Affect International Trade and Interprovincial Trade in Atlantic Canada?

Dr. Tony Fang, Full Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Economic and Cultural Transformation, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Tony Fang is the Stephen Jarislowsky Chair and Professor of Economics at   Memorial University of Newfoundland and an adjunct Professor with University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University. He also holds J. Robert Beyster Faculty Fellowship at Rutgers University and a Research Fellowship at IZA - Institute for the Study of Labor. He was a visiting professor at Harvard University, NBER, and Wharton School of Business. His areas of research interest encompass issues of international immigration and international trade, pension, retirement policy and the ageing workforce, minimum wages and youth employment, pay equity and employment equity. He has received 16 awards from SSHRC and 5 research grants from HRSDC, totaling $10 million. He was invited by the Government of Canada for the Expert Consultation on Private Pensions in Canada, and for the Review of Employment Equity Act. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in 2017 and won the Morley Gunderson Prize from the University of Toronto in 2025.

4:00pm - 4:15pm

Coffee Break

4:15pm - 5:00pm

Educational Presentation

Matthew Hynes, Oceanex

Matthew began his career in the marine transportation industry with Canship Limited, gaining early experience in the management of RoRo container vessel operations. In 2008, he joined Oceanex as Manager of Special Projects, quickly advancing through roles including Sales Manager for Newfoundland and Labrador and Pricing Manager. His strategic insights and leadership led to his promotion to Vice President, Corporate Development in 2013, and later to Executive Vice President in 2015.

As Executive Vice President, Matthew oversees Oceanex’s day to day activities, drives the development of new business opportunities aligned with the company’s long-term strategy, and ensures continuous improvement of business practices. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Memorial University.

5:00pm - 6:00pm

Unscheduled free time

6:00pm - 10:00pm

Conference Gala Dinner

Join us in the Harbourview Ballroom for the Conference Gala Dinner.

Includes Reception drinks from 6:00pm and three-course Dinner from 7:00pm. 

$595.00+Tax

$695.00+Tax

$375.00+Tax

$425.00+Tax

$395.00+Tax

$445.00+Tax