2024 Underwriters of the Year | Angela Brooks, Senior Commercial Underwriter, Intact Insurance

Angela Brooks’ love for the P&C insurance industry began on Valentine’s Day in 2000, when she joined Belairdirect, an Intact Insurance subsidiary, as a sales representative.

Her educational background in social services from Canadore College provided her with a unique perspective on client relationships and service, which she brought to the different roles she has held over the last 24 years: first in personal lines direct sales, then in personal lines underwriting, and, since 2012, in commercial lines underwriting.

Brooks’ deep expertise and decades-long experience have seen her becoming a respected professional dedicated to service excellence. Outside of work, she loves spending time at her cottage and giving back to the community. She has donated blood over 30 times — “and counting,” she says.

Brooks says she feels “very grateful and honoured to be recognized for my hard work” by The Insurance Market, a broker member of the Canadian Broker Network.

Q: What makes a great underwriter-broker working relationship?

“Understanding brokers, open communication, and knowing their goals and expectations are all key. It takes time to build relationships, but it’s well worth the wait. Working together to solve issues and find ways to help a broker, along with providing great service, makes for great teamwork.”

Q: Why did you become an underwriter, and what do you love most about your role?

“Having had the opportunity to work in different roles within personal and commercial underwriting, I made insurance my career after doing other types of jobs. I love the unique and ever-evolving nature of P&C risks, which allow us to write many types of business.” 

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for underwriters in P&C currently, and one thing they can do to overcome it? “The talent crunch certainly poses one of the biggest challenges. The current shortage of skilled professionals is something we all need to address, and work together to provide solutions to overcome it.”

Q: Given the current talent shortage, what would you say to encourage people to join the industry?

“There are numerous wonderful opportunities our industry can provide with on-the-job training and continuing education courses, in a variety of positions, to help grow your career. Take advantage of the many supportive growth opportunities and guidance that a company can offer, which will help enhance your education and develop your experience.” 

Q: What’s one opportunity you think underwriters should focus more on in today’s marketplace?

“There’s a need to further our knowledge on the AI front and the upcoming types of products and services that go along with the development of AI. The industry has evolved significantly since I joined, and embracing AI can lead to more innovative solutions.”

Q: How do you see technology, including AI, impacting the role of underwriters in the coming years?

“Technology is rapidly changing how we operate, and embracing these changes will be crucial for our future success. With the advancement of AI, there’s a significant need to learn how to apply it in our industry.”

 

The Canadian Broker Network Underwriter of the Year awards is a flagship program that CBN has been running on behalf of its members since 2017. The program is exclusive to CBN in partnership with Canadian Underwriter magazine. The categories allow for each of our member firms, at their option, to select one commercial lines underwriter winner as well as one personal lines underwriter winner from a primary market. The program evolved in 2021 to also allow for one commercial lines underwriter from an MGA in addition to the other two categories. The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to CBN members; writing business that satisfies clients’ needs while creating a win-win for the broker and the insurer; a positive, helpful attitude; and investing time to develop trusting relationships with brokers.

Full list of 2024 Underwriters of the Year Award