Six professionals from across Canada’s property and casualty insurance sector have been named recipients of the 2025 CIP Society National Leadership Awards, which recognize emerging leaders for their commitment, innovation, and influence within the industry.
The honourees - Dylan Pinter-Findlater (Intact Insurance), Jason Court (Travelers Canada), Neal Jardine (BOXX Insurance), Richard Sanchez (Zurich Canada), Thomas Wright (Avail Risk Management & Consulting), and Tomas Stryncl (Aon Canada) - were selected for their leadership in areas ranging from digital underwriting strategy to cyber intelligence and marine risk management. Recipients will be formally inducted into the CIP Society’s Leadership Circle at convocations held across the country between November 2025 and March 2026.
The awards, administered by the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) and the CIP Society, come at a time when the industry is grappling with significant demographic and technological change. According to IIC’s 2023 demographic research, half of the Canadian insurance workforce will be eligible to retire by 2028, with turnover rates rising from 9% to nearly 16% between 2017 and 2022. This has prompted a renewed focus on structured mentorship, career pathing, and upskilling, as well as flexible contracts to retain retirees and bridge capacity gaps.
Meanwhile, the sector is experiencing a surge in digital transformation. In 2025, insurers are ramping up investment in generative AI, predictive underwriting, and embedded insurance solutions to streamline workflows, improve risk assessment, and meet rising customer expectations. The IIC has responded by expanding its professional development offerings, with increased emphasis on leadership, ethics, decision-making, and analytics - skills that are now seen as critical for navigating a market shaped by climate volatility, regulatory change, and digital acceleration.
The 2025 National Leadership Award recipients reflect these trends, with nearly 70% of winners already in mid-to-senior leadership roles and 80% having less than 10 years in the industry. Their achievements include piloting new programs, mentoring junior colleagues, modernizing internal systems, and leading tech adoption and innovation from the front lines.
Selection for the awards is conducted by a committee of CIP Society members representing regions across Canada. The awards aim to highlight the contributions of professionals who are advancing industry standards, fostering trust, and mentoring the next generation of insurance leaders.
Nominations for the 2026 National Leadership Awards will open in January 2026.
