Last week we were delighted to host our second Academy Graduation Ceremony alongside the annual Richard Livingston Award & new for 2025, the Rising Star Award.
The event was held at Ulster Rugby Stadium, Belfast celebrating our employees’ successes, hard work, dedication and marking excellence in Professional Development across the Group.
Hosted by Group Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance Justin Hillen and People Director Wendy Close, the event was attended by special guest speaker Tim Graham, President of the Insurance Institute NI, Academy mentors, Better Together programme members and graduates, applicants and nominees for the Richard Livingston & Rising Star Awards along with those who nominated a colleague.
The Academy Programme has been designed to encourage and support staff to undertake professional qualifications relevant to their role and to assist in the achievement of their educational and personal development goals. We were delighted to have 19 staff from across the Group graduate from our Academy Programme, having successfully completed their qualification as part of Class of 2022 , 2023 and 2024.
Graduates from The Academy Programme included:
- Gordon Wotherspoon – Group Training, Certificate in CII
- Louise Kirkpatrick – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Kyla Burch – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Ashleigh White – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Andrea Lavery – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Kathy McConaghy – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Sharon McStravog – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Eamonn Glenholmes – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in CII
- Patrick Duffy – Prestige Underwriting Claims, Diploma in CII
- Michelle Hughes – AbbeyAutoline, Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA)
- James Taylor – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Jack McIntyre – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Enda McVey – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Gemma Laird – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Chris Millar – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Jack Gourley – Covernet, Foundational C# with Microsoft
- Patrick Burns – Pricing, Fellow of the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries (FIA C.Act)
- Suzanne Miller – People Team, Post Graduate Certificate in Employment Law & Practice
- Jill Jenkins – People Team, Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace
The graduates received a bespoke Graduation certificate and trophy to mark their achievement.
Now in its fourth year, the Richard Livingston Award and the newly introduced Rising Star Award proceedings followed the Graduation ceremony. A total of 12 applicants were nominated for this prestigious award.
Nominees for the Richard Livingston Award included:
- Andrea Lavery – AbbeyAutoline
- Angela McLarnon – AbbeyAutoline
- Ashleigh White – AbbeyAutoline
- Eamonn Glenholmes – AbbeyAutoline
- Kathy McConaghy – AbbeyAutoline
- Kyla Burch – AbbeyAutoline
- Louise Kirkpatrick – AbbeyAutoline
- Michelle Donaldson – Prestige Underwriting
- Michelle Hughes – AbbeyAutoline
- Patrick Burns – Prestige Underwriting Pricing
- Patrick Duffy – Prestige Underwriting Claims
- Sharon McStravog – AbbeyAutoline
Nominees for Rising Star Award included:
- Nathan Martin – Prestige Underwriting
- Piaras Dunbar – AbbeyAutoline
We were delighted to announce the winner of the Richard Livingston Award was Patrick Burns, Head of the Pricing Team Pricing at Prestige Underwriting. Patrick was presented with his award by Justin Hillen. The judging panel noted Patrick was a very worthy winner, having been appointed a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), earning the accreditation FIA C.Act.
The duration of the qualification process demonstrates Patrick's commitment not only to his educational achievement but also highlights why the professional Actuarial qualification is so highly recognised throughout the Insurance and wider Financial Services industries.
We were delighted to announce the winner of the Rising Star Award was Piaras Dunbar, an Apprentice Sales Advisor in AbbeyAutoline. Piaras was awarded “Providing Financial Services – Insurance Apprentice of the Year” from Belfast Met. Piaras successfully passed his IF1 exam on his first attempt in December 2024.
Congratulations once again to Patrick and Piaras on their fantastic achievements and well done to our Academy Graduates and the nominated applicants for the Richard Livingston & Rising Star Awards.
We would also like to congratulate Patrick Duffy in Prestige Underwriting, Claims on receiving the ‘Highly commended’ Award , which was awarded by the judges on an exceptional basis recognising Patricks achievement in completing his Diploma in Insurance and re his contribution as a mentor to the Academy and for being an exceptional role model to Trainee’s and students within the Academy.
We look forward to celebrating more success in coming months across the Group.