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“Throughout his career, Stéphane has skillfully changed the perception of risk management, demonstrating to everyone from operations managers to senior leadership that risk management can unlock the door to innovation and growth” -  Michelle Drew, ORIMS President. 

Cossette: “The Goal is Not to Run Away From Risk, But to Manage Them in Order to Take More”

Halifax (September 13, 2022) — RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS) presented the Donald M. Stuart Award to StéphaneCossette, the recently retired Director of Risk and Insurance for Quebecor Media Group. 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.   

“I have spent my career helping others see the value of risk management and its ability to open doors to new opportunities and greater rewards,” said Stéphane. “However, I am most grateful for the amazing friendships I have made with risk professionals from around the world and the opportunity to learn from their experiences. I am honoured to be recognized by my peers with this prestigious award.”

Stéphane Cossette’s remarkable 30+ year career in risk management has focused on creating greater risk awareness and empowering informed risk taking. For the last 10 years, he played an integral role, helping Quebecor Media Group identify and assess operational risks, transfer and finance risk, manage claims and make informed merger and acquisition decisions.  Prior to that, he built the risk management function at Agropur, one of the largest dairy processors in the world. He officially retired in 2021.

“Throughout his career, Stéphane has skillfully changed the perception of risk management, demonstrating to everyone from operations managers to senior leadership that risk management can unlock the door to innovation and growth,” said Michelle Drew, ORIMS President and the Manager, Corporate Insurance, Real Estate and BCM for CSA Group. “Beyond his career accomplishments, Stéphane has shown an unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for others and the RIMS Ontario Chapter could not be prouder to present him with the Donald M. Stuart Award.”

Stéphane held several Board positions for QRIMA (RIMS Québec Chapter) before serving as its president from 2014-2016.  Notably, during his tenure as President of QRIMA, he worked closely with the President of AMRAE and the Secretary General of the Club Francophone pour la Gestion des Risques et des Assurances to give risk management professionals from French-speaking countries and territories a space to connect and exchange ideas. He later went on to serve on the RIMS Canada Council, including as Treasurer in 2018. He continues to give back to the profession as an honorary member and chapter leader for QRIMA, as a speaker and educator. 

Stéphane holds a BCom. in Finance / Applied Economics from University of Montreal (HEC) and a Certificate from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in Insurance studies; he also obtained his CRM from GRMI (operated by RIMS), CIP and FCIP designations. In 2021, he was awarded the QRIMA Excellentia Award.

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 Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation. This year’s winner is Ana Lage, Marketing Broker at Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers Ltd.  

The CRM designation provides risk professionals 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 addresses the strategic initiatives of RIMS and risk management issues in Canada.

About RIMS
RIMS, the risk management society®, is a global professional association committed to advancing the practice of risk management throughout the world. We bring networking, professional development, certification, and education opportunities to our membership of 10,000 risk management professionals in over 60 countries. Founded in 1950, the Society represents more than 3,500 industrial, service, nonprofit, charitable and government entities throughout the world. To access RIMS Risk Knowledge resource library and for additional information about the Society, visit www.RIMS.org.

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