Ottawa (September 14, 2023) — RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS) presented the Donald M. Stuart Award to Catherine Dowdall, Director, Insurance and Loss Control at AECON Construction. The Donald M. Stuart award is widely recognized as Canada’s highest honor within the risk management field and, since 1979, has celebrated Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the profession.
“The risk community is filled with amazing business leaders who are genuinely passionate about supporting others in this wonderfully, rewarding profession,” said Catherine Dowdall. “For those just starting out, don’t be afraid to ask questions, reach out to your peers, volunteer with your local RIMS chapter, take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you. I am truly humbled to be joining previous Donald M. Stuart Award winners, many of whom I have worked alongside with and whom I deeply respect for their continued commitment to risk management excellence.”
Throughout her nearly 40-year risk management career, Catherine has delivered strategic risk management guidance at iconic Canadian corporations including AECON Construction, Tim Hortons, Canada Post, OLG, Brookfield Properties, Cadillac Fairview, as well as The Ontario Ministry of Government Services. An integral member of the AECON Insurance and Loss Control team for the last seven years, Catherine has successfully managed the procurement and negotiation of complex and standalone insurance programs that were developed for multi-billion-dollar construction projects.
“Risk management is constantly evolving, but the guiding principles behind the Donald M. Stuart Award – a commitment to building relationships, sharing experiences, thought-leadership and altruism – have remained the same,” said Valerie Fox, Vice President of ORIMS. “In addition to being a trailblazing risk leader, day-in and day-out, Catherine Dowdall graciously devotes her time to helping up-and-coming risk professionals navigate the profession and leverage opportunities to succeed. It is an honor to present Catherine with this prestigious award at RIMS Canada Conference this year.”
An active RIMS volunteer, Catherine has held multiple positions on the ORIMS Board of Directors, including serving as its president in the 1999-2000 term. Catherine continues to share her risk management experiences as a speaker, presenting at approximately 10 RIMS Canada Conferences and other industry events.
Fred H. Bossons Award
The Fred H. Bossons Award honors the risk management professional who earns the highest average mark on the three examinations required to attain the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation. This year’s winner is Mattieu Shorgan, Senior Account Executive at Wells Fargo.
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 The Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS). 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 and its 80 chapters 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 and produces RISKWORLD®️, the largest annual gathering of global risk professionals. RIMS embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes all risk professionals to connect and learn, explore the online Risk Knowledge library, tune into the RIMScast podcast series, and engage via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. To learn more, visit www.RIMS.org.