About the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ)

Karen Bhoorasingh is the President of Guardian General Insurance Jamaica Limited, and Chief Technical Officer of the Property & Casualty Division within the Guardian Group.  Karen has over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry covering the areas of management, claims, risk management, marketing, underwriting, planning and administration. She has managed major catastrophe claims and overseen the company’s reinsurance placements for over two decades.

Karen has served as Past President of the Insurance Association of Jamaica and has been instrumental in industry negotiations and reforms.

A graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, Karen was called to the bar in 2009. She studied at the University of London, where she received her Bachelor of Laws; she is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Insurers (ACII) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of the West Indies.

Karen serves on the Boards of Guardian General Insurance Jamaica Limited and Guardian General Insurance (OECS), She is also a member of various internal Committees within the Guardian Group’s P&C Division. She continues to serve the industry in both the capacity as a board member of the Insurance Association of Jamaica and as a member of the General Insurance Subcommittee.

Beyond her industry roles, she actively contributes to community initiatives such as Crime Stop and is a Trustee of the Kirby Foundation.

Peter is a chartered insurance professional with over 40 years in Jamaica’s general insurance industry and has served as Chairman of the Board of EduFocal Limited since 2012.

In 2013, Peter was appointed Vice-President of the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ), and chaired the Association’s General Insurance Committee. From 2018 to 2020, he was the President of IAJ and continues to serve on its Board of Directors.

A beloved leader, Peter is the Managing Director of Jamaica’s #1 General Insurance Company, the British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC). He combines strong technical skills with a commitment to always delivering outstanding value to BCIC’s customers. He has been deeply involved in creating many innovative, customer-centric products, such as Diamond Max for drivers over 55 and the Minimax collision benefit for third-party policies. His transformational management style has significantly contributed to the growth and empowerment of his team, and has led to BCIC being the most profitable general insurance company in Jamaica in 2017 and 2019.

Under his leadership. BCIC has sustained enviable growth in both revenue and profit and has continued to innovate. BCIC refunded 50 million dollars to customers when the pandemic limited their driving, the only company in its markets to do so. In 2022, BCIC was assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) by international credit rating agency AM Best.

Peter is the leader of BCIC’s digital transformation initiatives, as he continues to make BCIC a disruptive industry leader that is agile and adaptable to the constantly changing insur

Dave Morrison is the Chief Executive Officer of Advantage General Insurance Company Ltd. (AGIC), bringing over 30 years of experience in financial management, corporate strategy, and operational leadership. Appointed as CEO in December 2024, Morrison is a visionary executive known for transforming organizations, driving profitability, and building high-performance teams.

His leadership at AGIC is defined by a commitment to efficiency, digital innovation, and delivering exceptional service to clients across Jamaica.

Willard is currently the Chief Executive Officer with direct responsibility for insurance operations of Sagicor Life Jamaica (SLJ) Limited and Latin America, and has over thirty years of experience in the insurance and pensions industries.

Willard is a Director of Employee Benefits Administrator, Sagicor Insurance Brokers, Sagicor Pooled Investment Funds, Sagicor Panama and Sagicor Costa Rica.

He has a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Systems (Upper Second Class Honours) from The University of the West Indies and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

Willard is married to Paulette and has three (3) children.

Oliver Tomlinson is the Chief Executive Officer of Canopy Insurance Limited and currently serves as Vice President-Life of the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ). He has spent more than 25 years in the financial services industry, building extensive leadership experience across remittances, foreign exchange trading, and life insurance. Before entering the private sector, Oliver began his career in education, specializing in Mathematics and Deaf Education.

Before joining Canopy, Oliver established an impressive track record in senior executive roles across several major financial institutions. He has served as Group Executive at the Jamaica National Group, General Manager at JN Life Insurance, and Sales Manager at NCB Insurance positions that collectively reflect his significant impact on the industry. His distinguished leadership earned him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Cornerstone Christian University in 2018, recognizing his contributions to service and leadership.

He is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL) at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), where he continues to shape future leaders.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Government from the University of the West Indies, and a Teaching Diploma in Special Education from Mico University College. A proud Munro College alumnus, Oliver is guided by his belief in the power of positive thinking and is often inspired by the Napoleon Hill quote: “Your life will flow in the direction of your most dominant thought.”

Hugh Reid is currently Managing Director, JN Life Insurance Company Limited, having joined the Jamaica National Group in 2018. He is an experienced financial services executive and entrepreneur, with a track record of success in Jamaica and the United States. Hugh has also served in several senior management roles with ScotiaBank, Victoria Mutual Building Society, and the National Housing Trust.

Hugh has an MSc in Accounting and a BSc in Economics from the University of the West Indies and is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in the UK and a Fellow of the Life Management Institute in the US. He has served on several boards and currently serves on the boards of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, the Insurance Association of Jamaica, the Kingston College Development Trust Fund, St Hugh’s Preparatory School and Perishables Limited (he serves as Board Chairman on the last two organizations).

Hugh has been an active Kiwanian for over 35 years, was a past Director of the Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica and is a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor for the Kiwanis Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District, Division 23 Central. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Jamaica Chapter, Chair of the Association of Certified Accountants, Atlanta Chapter and is a Past President of the Insurance Association of Jamaica.

Hugh is married with two adult sons. He is an avid follower of all sports, loves reading, and enjoys good music.

The Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Everton McFarlane as its new Executive Director, effective March 11, 2025.

Mr McFarlane brings an impressive portfolio of experience and knowledge in economic modelling, policy development, strategic planning and regulatory analysis, particularly within the financial sector.

Throughout his career, Mr McFarlane has led and contributed to transformative national initiatives, including the Growth Inducement Strategy and related economic structural reform agenda (PIOJ), Tax Reform (MOFPS) and the Introduction of Risk-Based Supervision (FSC).  His ability to align public policy with private sector development has been a hallmark of his leadership.

The IAJ looks forward to Mr McFarlane’s leadership in strengthening the Association’s role as the Voice of the Insurance Industry and deepening its engagement with members, stakeholders and the wider public.

We also extend heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Orville Johnson, our former Executive Director, for nearly two decades of dedicated service to the Association. Mr. Johnson continues to serve as a valued advisor and leader with the IAJ secretariat.