Quebec City (October 19, 2026) — RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS) presented the Donald M. Stuart Award to April Savchuk, Director, Global Insurance and Risk at Centerra Gold Inc. The Donald M. Stuart award is widely recognized as Canada’s highest honour within the risk management field and, since 1979, has celebrated Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. The annual award was presented at RIMS Canada Conference 2026 in Quebec City.
“I truly believe that we work in the most amazing industry filled with opportunities for unlimited learning and a large – yet close – global community that is always generous with its time,” said April Savchuk. “It has been my greatest sense of honor to give back, and to provide our next generation the tools to pave their own future success. This award has always represented the standard of achievement and leadership within the Canadian Risk Management community. To be selected to join such an esteemed group leaves me feeling quite overwhelmed.”
“April Savchuk exemplifies professionalism, deep risk management expertise, and strategic acumen that has successfully guided organizations through extremely complex and volatile challenges,” said ORIMS President Debbie Carpenter. “Perhaps what is most impressive about her career is, while she has accomplished so much professionally, she has always found time to mentor and support others. April is incredibly deserving of Canada’s highest risk management honour and we are grateful for all that she has done for this professional community.”
About April Savchuk
April Savchuk is a seasoned risk management leader with a deep-rooted commitment to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risk across complex, global organizations. However, her commitment to advancing risk management in Canada and mentoring future generations of Canadian risk leaders is equally as impressive.
April is the Director, Global Insurance and Risk at Centerra Gold Inc. where she oversees global insurance, enterprise risk management, crisis coordination, and reclamation surety strategies.
Throughout her career, she has helped organizations explore and implement alternative risk financing and captive insurance strategies, navigate M&A insurance and risk management programs, strengthened supply chain operations, while leading enterprise-wide risk and insurance functions. Her career spans mining, insurance company, retail, and real estate sectors, beginning career at Aon Reed Stenhouse’s Anistics Group moving into risk management leadership roles at, Hudson’s Bay Company, Catlin Canada, Crawford Canada, and Yamana Gold.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, for the last 15 years, April has held leadership roles with the William H. McGannon Foundation and is now the Foundation’s co-president. Named after one of Canada’s pioneering corporate risk managers, under her leadership the Foundation continues to provide critical resources in the form of scholarships, research grants and student involvement to advance risk management by way of education, research, mentorship and work experience programs.
April has also given back to the risk community through her volunteer service with RIMS. Starting with the leadership roles she held with ORIMS from 2000 to 2013 – including president in 2005 and 2011 – she later went on to co-chair the RIMS Canada Conference’s National Conference Committee from 2011 to 2017 and served on the RIMS Canada Council’s Nominating Committee from 2014 to 2017.
Fred H. Bossons Award
The Fred H. Bossons Award honours the risk management professional who earns the highest average mark on the three examinations required to attain the CRM designation. This year’s winner is Evelyn (Yiyan) Huang.
The CRM designation provides risk professionals with a foundation of knowledge and skills needed to identify, assess, monitor and limit risks. The award is recognized by RIMS and awarded by GRMI.
About RIMS Canada Council
The RIMS Canada Council (RCC) is a standing committee of RIMS, the risk management society®. The RCC mission is to enhance the activities of RIMS and the practice of risk management in Canada, while representing the interests of Canadian members and their chapters.
About RIMS
RIMS, the risk management society®️, empowers risk professionals to make the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Through networking, professional development, certification, advocacy, and research, RIMS serves more than 200,000 risk practitioners and business leaders from over 75 countries. Founded in 1950, the Society publishes the award-winning Risk Management Magazine, RIMScast podcast series, and produces RISKWORLD®️, the largest annual gathering of global risk professionals. RIMS welcomes all risk professionals to explore the online Risk Knowledge library, earn the RIMS-CRMP certification, and connect with the global risk community via the RIMS Engage online forum. Follow RIMSorg on X, Facebook, Instagram, and RIMS on LinkedIn. To support the future of the risk management profession, visit RIMS, The Foundation for Risk Management®. To learn more or to join, visit www.RIMS.org.