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Broker Profile
Can you describe your pathway into the insurance
broking business?
Like many people I know I ended up in the insurance
industry by accident. I had a friend who was working with
insurance company Dominion of Canada. She convinced
me to meet with the branch manager. The rest is history.
I’ve worked in the insurance industry since 1989. I started
with various roles at insurance companies including
being a branch personal lines manager with Economical
Insurance Group and then in their head office working
on strategic projects. In 2003 I was looking for a new
challenge that would incorporate my personal interests
into my professional life. My personal passions are sports
and volunteering in the community. I joined Pearson
Dunn as an account manager in what was then called
our Special Lines Unit.
What are your particular areas of interest or
specialty in the insurance business?
I work in two areas: sports and the not-for-profit social
sector. I am the manager of our Sports and Recreation
Unit. We have a specialised teamwhich provides insurance
to groups ranging from small local teams up to provincial
and national sports organisations. We provide liability,
accident, property and other coverage. Much of the work
we do with our sports clients is around safety within the
sports environment. The more we can do to keep people
safe when they are playing sports the better.
I also work with clients in our Corporate Unit. Some of
my clients are hospitals, school boards, long-term-care
facilities, and social service providers. Besides providing
insurance to these clients, Pearson Dunn also encourages
all staff to volunteer in the community. Each staff member
has one volunteer day a year where they can volunteer
in the community for any charity. Of course, many of
us spend many hours/days volunteering during the year,
especially for our clients.
What are the professional accomplishments
you are most proud of in the last few years?
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Canada won 18 medals.
We insured 11 of the 18 medalists!
What are the best aspects of your current job?
The people. I work with a wonderful group of people and
we have the best clients in the world. We know that we
are able to make a difference in the sectors in which we
focus.
Nancy Au,
Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc.
What do you feel are
important
challenges
for the industry at the
moment?
Finding markets for our
higher risk sports clients.
What are your tips for
success in the insurance
industry?
Education is the key to
success. So many things change in this industry that you
need to continually educate yourself on what is happening.
What have you enjoyed most about working with
Sutton Sportscover?
Sportscover is a great sports insurance market. We have
been able to successfully place business with them since
they started dealing in Canada. I enjoy being able to stay
on top of the international sports perspective by talking with
their underwriters in other parts of the world.
Working in the sports insurance industry, do you find
time to participate in sport yourself?
On a regular basis I curl with my husband in a league. I golf,
swim every day in the summer, run, skate, and play baseball.
I LOVE to dragonboat. For five years Pearson Dunn had its
own team. What a great team sport! Sports have been a
big part of my life since I was a kid. I expect I will always
play sports. I also follow my kids’ sports. They each play
soccer in a league in the summer. In winter Lucas (7) plays
hockey and Megan (8) figure skates. I also follow the sport
organisations that we insure. Recently I attended the
Canadian Championships for gymnastics. What incredible
athletes!
What are some of your personal accomplishments
that you are most proud of in the last few years?
I completed a half-marathon in May 2008. Running is
great. Life is hectic with a career, husband, two kids and
volunteering. Running gives me the stress release and time
to myself that I need.
What do you regard as your personal strengths?
I am always willing to try something new! Relationships
with my team at work and with clients.
SPORTSCOVER BROKER
PROFILE
Nancy Au is the Corporate Sales Manager, Sports and
Recreation at Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc. in Hamilton.
In addition to her significant business accomplishments and
volunteer work, Nancy has two young children, participates
in a curling league with her husband and recently completed
a half marathon, proving herself a genuine super woman.
Nancy paused for a moment to share her thoughts with
Touchline.
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