Gillett: people will respect you if you step up and volunteer

Roger Gillett was honoured with the Bermuda Insurance Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

He offered three challenges to the audience regarding volunteerism, the BII, and self-fulfilling prophecy.  Mr Gillett said this about volunteerism: “There are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen, and people who say, ‘What Happened’.  In the world of volunteerism there is a need for people in the first category. 

“So if my thoughts have resonated with you in any way, step forward and volunteer, particularly our young people, and become part of something which makes things happen. And to the employers, please encourage and recognize this positive behaviour. Your people will respect you for it and they will grow.”

With regard to the second challenge, he told the audience: “Many of you will know that I was on the BII Council through most of the eighties and into the nineties, and I rejoined the Council about four years ago. As I compare the budget from the earlier period to our budget today and see that, taking into account inflation, it has not materially changed. 

“The market meanwhile, by any measure has grown by multiples. We are, within the restrictions of our budget, introducing new programmes, like our Wharton Leadership programme, the Bermuda Insurance Underwriting Conference, and the Captive Education Summit for which we are being commended. But, we still live hand to mouth. This sounds provocative but I have to say it. This is unacceptable and regressive. As  the leading captive domicile in the world, a leading insurance  center, and a leading reinsurance center, we must have a World Class Insurance and Risk Management Education Facility. I ask you to ponder on this, and hopefully embrace the idea. I believe that a relatively modest amount of funding and effort would result in something that we can point to with pride, to our clients and indeed the world.”

The final challenge offered to the audience focused on self-fulfilling prophecy.  

Mr. Gillett recounted a quote from Winston Churchill: “Pessimists see difficulty in every opportunity. Optimists see opportunity in every difficulty.” “Over the past few years we have become a nation of pessimists by habit,” Mr. Gillett said.  “The Sky Is Not Falling. The time for public self flagellation must end.  Having in the past used the power of self fulfilling prophecy to good effect, I have feared through this period that this power was operating in reverse, that is if something negative is repeated enough times , we will all begin to believe it and act accordingly.  It is time for us to rise above the negative rhetoric and start talking well about ourselves. We have built something quite unique in Bermuda. At every opportunity let’s celebrate our successes. Let’s challenge the naysayers.” 

Chris Estwanik, the Young Industry leader of the Year Award recipient, had five messages that persons could apply to their lives.  He told everyone that adversity makes you stronger. 

Mr. Estwanik also warned that overconfidence leads  to disappointing others. He said: “We’re going to mess up, disappoint those that rely on us, but it is what you do afterwards that matters more and can set the tone for your future.”  

Stephen Catlin, the Industry Leader of the Year Award recipient, was unable to attend in person.

Gillian Cross of Catlin Bermuda accepted the award on Mr. Catlin’s behalf.

Alison Hill, CEO of the Argus Group, accepted the first ever Corporate Social Responsibility Award on behalf of her company.  

Ms. Hill highlighted Argus’ theme of Prevention and said: “Our theme of prevention means that the charities we support are wide-ranging and include The Reading Clinic, Bermuda Diabetes Association, The Family Centre, Crime Stoppers Bermuda and Bermuda Heart Foundation, to name just a few. And, we tackle all sorts of areas with pre-emptive measures targeting issues like obesity, illiteracy and anti-social behaviour.”  

There was also a tribute to BII council member and a past president Laurie Orchard for her years of service to the BII and her organization of the awards event.