Rising stars
“Due to the very nature of the industry, it’s very sociable and interactive which I think will appeal to younger people.”
Name:
Lucy Pearce
Company: Novae Job:
Class underwriter
Timeline: 2014: Class underwriter, Novae 2010: Assistant underwriter, Novae 2009: Solvency II coordinator, Novae
2008: Taught English in South America
2006: Assistant internal auditor, Novae
Describe your career so far and current role. I currently work on the US property treaty team at Novae as a class underwriter. I’ve been part of this team for four years. I joined Novae after graduating in 2006 and worked for two years in the internal audit department. I left to go to South America for 18 months where I taught English, before returning to Novae to work in 2009 on the Solvency II changes and help set up our Zurich office. After six months I moved into the US binders team and then across to the treaty team where I am now.
Why did you choose the re/insurance industry? I found myself working in this industry by chance. I graduated with a degree in economics and business and hadn’t decided on the next step. I applied for numerous financial positions available in London and ended up working in internal audit for one of the Lloyd’s syndicates (Novae). I quickly realised I’d rather be in the underwriting side and Novae encouraged me and gave me the opportunity to move over.
Do you think the industry is attractive to young
professionals? Yes I believe so as it’s quite a fast-paced industry with plenty of opportunities, while also offering the chance to travel and
network. Due to the very nature of the industry, it’s very sociable and interactive which I think will appeal to younger people. It’s also very diverse ranging from property to marine to bloodstock to aviation meaning there is almost certainly something that will take their interest.
Do you think the re/insurance industry offers good opportunities and career development to young professionals? Yes I do. From my own experience, there have been plenty of opportunities to further my career through colleague guidance to the CII exams to seminars and workshops. I’m on the U35 committee which has been set up to organise events to allow young people to meet other young professionals in the market who they may not otherwise come across. Within this we organise seminars on current topics and workshops for underwriting and law to name a few.
What are your aspirations for the future? I work with a great team within Novae and enjoy the new challenges set before me. Who knows what the future will hold?
If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? The dream would have been to be a ballerina with the Royal Academy of Dance. I trained with an affiliated school for 14 years and was in the process of taking my professional exams when I discovered a slight curve to my spine which prevented me from ever going pro. Alternatively I would work within a charity that helps to track down, secure the release and rehabilitate people who have been trafficked around the world.
May 2015 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 37
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