2026 CIU Awards
Underwriting Excellence Award
The CIU Underwriting Excellence Award honors members who have consistently demonstrated leadership and made meaningful contributions to the underwriting profession throughout their careers. Nominated by their peers, these individuals exemplify excellence in underwriting, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate their impact on our industry.
Qualifications:
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Nominees do not need to be an active CIU member.
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Nominees should have a documented history of contributions to the underwriting profession, including at least 10 years of industry experience. This may include mentoring others and fostering professional growth.
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Industry designations (such as FALU and FLMI) would be an asset.
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Candidates must have demonstrated impactful contributions to the field—such as research, innovation in processes, knowledge sharing, or involvement in developing new products and procedures that advance the industry.
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Current members of the CIU Executive Committee or other active CIU committees are not eligible.
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Consideration will be given to volunteer efforts that support the profession, including authoring publications, speaking at industry events, collaborating with vendors and reinsurers, and engaging with regional or local organizations.
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Personal achievements that reflect leadership and a strong commitment to the Guiding Principles for the Underwriter will be recognized.
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Only one recipient will be selected annually, with the award presented at the CIU Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Important dates:
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Nominations open December 1st. To submit a nomination, individuals must be logged into CIU website (site member). However, no active CIU membership will be required to submit a nomination. The nomination questionnaire will remain available until January 31st.
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Following a review of all submissions, official voting for the top nominees will commence on March 1st and remain open until March 31st.
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Voting is exclusive to active CIU members.
Current Nominees:
Sophie Clement
VP, Head of Client Experience & Underwriting at SCOR)
Sophie is Vice President and Head of Client Experience & Underwriting at SCOR, based in Toronto. She is an accomplished life and health insurance and reinsurance professional with over 25 years of experience spanning medical and financial underwriting, product development, and business development. During her tenure at SCOR, she has progressed through roles including Assistant Vice President and Vice President of Business Development before assuming her current leadership position. Prior to SCOR, she held senior underwriting and product management roles at RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada, as well as underwriting and consulting positions at Sun Life Financial and RBC Insurance. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University, is a Certified FALU, and is bilingual in English and French.
Karen Cutler
VP, Head of Underwriting, Chief Underwriter Individual Insurance at Manulife)
Karen Cutler is Vice President, Head of Underwriting and Claims, and Chief Underwriter for Individual Insurance at Manulife, where she oversees underwriting and claims risk management. She brings more than three decades of experience in insurance and reinsurance underwriting, with a career that includes senior leadership roles at Manulife, Swiss Re, and The Mercantile & General Reinsurance Company. At Manulife, she has led significant underwriting advancements, including accelerated underwriting and the adoption of new analytics‑driven approaches to improve decision‑making and the customer experience. Karen holds an MBA from Athabasca University, is a Certified FALU and FLMI, and is active in the broader insurance industry through speaking engagements and committee participation.
Ross Morton Award
The Ross Morton Award recognizes outstanding contributions from professionals in non-underwriting roles—such as distinguished vendors, medical professionals, actuaries, and others—who may not meet the criteria for the Underwriting Excellence Award. This honor celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service, dedication, and impact within the underwriting community, highlighting the vital role they play in advancing our industry.
Qualifications:
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Nominees do not need to be an active CIU member.
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Candidates should demonstrate thought leadership and a well-rounded presence within the industry, including a history of mentoring and supporting professional development.
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Must have documented contributions to the underwriting profession in a non-underwriting capacity, with a minimum of five years of experience in the insurance industry or a related field.
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Should exhibit tangible impact on the profession, such as through research, process innovation, knowledge sharing, or active involvement in the development of new products, procedures, or industry advancements.
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Recognition will be given for volunteer efforts that support the underwriting community, including speaking engagements, published articles, collaboration with vendors and reinsurers, and participation in regional or local industry organizations.
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Nominees should have personal achievements that reflect leadership and a commitment to industry excellence.
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Industry designations (such as FALU and FLMI) would be an asset.
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This award is intended for individuals who have primarily worked in non-underwriting roles and therefore do not qualify for the Underwriting Excellence Award.
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Current underwriters and those in underwriting leadership positions are not eligible.
Important dates:
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Nominations open December 1st. To submit a nomination, individuals must be logged into CIU website (site member). However, no active CIU membership will be required to submit a nomination. The nomination questionnaire will remain available until January 31st.
-
Following a review of all submissions, official voting for the top nominees will commence on March 1st and remain open until March 31st.
-
Voting is exclusive to active CIU members.
Past Winners:
Current Nominees:
Raj Nimkar
Past Director, Client Solutions and Sales Support at ExamOne)
Raj was Director of Client Solutions and Sales Support at ExamOne Canada, where she served as a key liaison between Canadian life insurers and ExamOne’s laboratory and paramedical operations. Over a 30‑year career with ExamOne, she held a variety of client‑facing leadership roles and was widely known for supporting medical directors, chief underwriters, agents, and operations teams across the Canadian insurance market.
She was deeply respected for her commitment to customer service, education, and relationship‑building, and she was recognized with ExamOne’s Canada Ambassador Award for her dedication to clients and the industry. Her work had a lasting impact on ExamOne Canada and on the broader life insurance underwriting community.
Dr. Bruce Empringham
Medical Consultant at Canada Life.
Dr. Bruce Empringham is a Medical Consultant at Canada Life, where he works closely with advisors, underwriters, and clients to support complex and large‑case insurance underwriting. A physician by training, he has spent more than three decades with Canada Life in senior medical underwriting and advisory roles, including many years as a company physician before transitioning into his current consultative position.
Dr. Empringham is a key resource for high‑net‑worth and ultra‑high‑net‑worth cases, providing guidance on medical risk assessment, case positioning, and communication of underwriting decisions to advisors and clients. He holds a medical degree from Queen’s University and is widely recognized for his practical, advisor‑focused approach to medical underwriting within the Canadian life insurance industry.
New FALU Award
Achieving the FALU designation represents a significant milestone in an underwriter’s professional journey. This award is intended to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication and hard work of members who have earned their FALU designation within the past year.
Qualifications:
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To qualify, the underwriter must have earned their FALU designation within the past year.
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This award is presented in collaboration with the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU). As such, recipients could be recognized in both conferences but only one award will be presented
Important dates:
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A list of newly designated FALU recipients is provided by the Academy of Life Underwriting (ALU) prior to the upcoming CIU Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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Confirmed FALU recipients attending Day 1 of the AGM will receive a waiver for admission fees as part of their recognition (Day 1 admission only).
Grant Award
To support and strengthen our underwriting community, we are pleased to offer an award that will provide complimentary access to the full two-day AGM for up to three selected winners from our active member list for the upcoming CIU year.
Qualifications:
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The recipient must be an active CIU member as of the first day of the CIU Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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Individuals in leadership or management roles are not eligible. Only members holding positions up to the level of Senior Underwriting Consultant will be considered.
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The grant applies exclusively to attendance at the next CIU AGM and is non-transferable. It cannot be deferred to a future AGM or assigned to another individual.
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The grant covers the full admission fees of the AGM (2 days) only; any other costs associated with attending the conference, such as meals, transportation, and accommodations, are not covered by the CIU.
Important dates:
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A list of eligible active members is compiled prior to the CIU Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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Winners are selected at random during the award segment of the Day 1 on-stage presentation at the AGM.