Executive Corner

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about how and why we grow. When I look back on my career, I can pinpoint definitive transformational moments of growth, and each of these have something in common: They required me to reach beyond myself, to see things differently, or to change my mindset. Growth can feel uncomfortable, but I am fortunate to have a supportive network of friends, family, colleagues and mentors – all of whom provide diverse perspectives. But in the quiet moments of thought and introspection, I find myself reaching for a book for guidance and insight.

At Équité Association, we are on a journey to defend against insurance crime and fraud and to reduce, significantly, its impacts on Canadians within the next decade. It is an ambitious goal and one that we do not take lightly. I believe Équité is primed to succeed and we are all passionate about our purpose.

Recently, I was thinking about how the pandemic brought issues into focus that had each of us take stock of what is most important. For me, the pandemic underscored the value of relationships, both personal and professional. Here at Équité Association, our relationships and partnerships are the foundation of everything that we do.

One of the key issues facing the insurance industry – and the Canadian business landscape – is the unequal gender balance at executive level. In this episode, IB Talk dives into what barriers still persist within the industry to getting more women around P&C executive board tables, how to overcome these challenges, and actionable steps towards a more inclusive future.

At Équité Association, we strive to make the world a more equitable place. Relationships are more than whether people feel good about our organization because of our marketing and public relations efforts. The way we treat and retain our employees, how we work with our members and within our communities are the true priorities.

Terri O'Brien is President & CEO of Équité Association, which recently merged the operations of an analytics company and the investigative services division of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Modelled after the UK's Insurance Fraud Bureau and the National Insurance Crime Bureau in the US, Équité's stated goal is to eradicate insurance fraud in Canada by 2030.

Insurance fraud is a serious crime that impacts many people and its consequences are real. March being Fraud Month, it is a good time to discuss why we should all care. Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime – it is time we eradicate it from the Canadian economy and the insurance industry, and tip the scales back to supporting Canadians.

Collaboration is the not-so-secret secret ingredient for successful businesses and projects. When it comes to defending Canadians against insurance fraud and crime, collaboration is in all that we do at Équité Association.

From SUVs to pickup trucks, the Équité Québec Investigative Services team, together with the Montreal Police Services Department and Canada Border Services, opened containers and lined up stolen vehicle after stolen vehicle. Our team inspected each vehicle for theft and, once determined to be a stolen vehicle, each was set aside to be returned later to the lawful owner(s).

On November 15, 2021, our President & CEO, Terri O’Brien, presented an overview of Équité Association to an international audience. More than 45 speakers and 30 countries came together to share updates on challenges, trends, best practices and regulatory insights specifically related to insurance fraud. The conference targeted industry organizations that support insurers, law enforcement, regulatory bodies, data and analytics providers for industry, and other international organizations such as coalitions against insurance fraud.