Robert West (ChemE 8T1) has had a distinguished career in the insurance and risk management industry, marked by significant roles across several prominent organizations. While earning his degree in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto, he began his professional journey as a Loss Prevention Specialist at Factory Mutual Engineering Association from August 1976 to August 1980.
He then advanced to the role of Deputy Regional Engineer & Underwriter at Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada, where he worked from August 1981 to May 1986. Following this, Robert held a position as an Underwriter with Protection Mutual Insurance Company from May 1986 to August 1989.
Robert’s career reached a notable peak during his tenure as National Vice President, Property & Select at Travelers Canada from September 2010 to June 2018. In this role, he was instrumental in implementing and managing underwriting practices and processes across the country. He played a key role in shaping the underwriting standards and strategic process related to property insurance, driving profitability, growth, and renewal retention in alignment with the company’s business objectives.
Robert West retired in January 2023 from his final role as an Underwriting Specialist at Sovereign General Insurance, leaving behind a legacy of expertise in underwriting and risk management.
Can you tell us about your role and company? Feel free to talk about big projects you have worked on, career milestones and achievements, etc.
My last role was as an Underwriting Specialist with Sovereign General Insurance on their National Risk Consulting Services team. Sovereign General Insurance is a well-established insurance provider specializing in property and casualty coverage.
My position involved providing crucial technical guidance and support for developing and updating Property and Casualty insurance products. This included assisting with the formulation and maintenance of policy wordings, underwriting guidelines, and online resources. I also contributed to the creation of corporate underwriting standards and philosophies, ensuring they aligned with strategic goals.
Additionally, I participated in underwriting audits, gathered and analyzed industry intelligence, and shared relevant insights with our teams across the country. I was also responsible for managing and organizing forms, files, and records to maintain efficiency and accuracy in underwriting processes.
What motivated you to pursue a career in your current field/industry, and how has your experience been working in this field/industry so far?
Providing risk management advice and counsel for many different industries, including chemical processing and power generation facilities, had great appeal to me due to the variety of industries and their associated exposures to perils.
What skills or qualifications do you believe are crucial for success as a chemical engineer in your industry, and how did your education at ChemE contribute to your development in these areas?
Project management and risk analysis in any industry required a breadth of knowledge that came from the varied, and comprehensive, chemical engineering education at ChemE.
Can you share some insights into the industry or field your company operates in and the opportunities it offers to potential candidates?
There are enormous opportunities for potential candidates in the Canadian (and US) risk management and insurance fields for commercial, i.e. Industrial applications
How do you stay connected with the ChemE community as an alum, and are there any opportunities for current students or recent graduates to engage with your company?
I was a classmate of Grant Allen (ChemE 8T1) and have liaised with Grant and his colleagues off and on ever since. I have also been indirectly connected with all those ChemE students who found the time and the wherewithal to participate in Skule Nite, the annual Engineering Musical Comedy Revue. I have been an alumni advisor for that show since 1984, having directed the show myself in 1983.
I can point any student in a direction to many risk management/insurance/reinsurance companies that would find great value in a freshly minted ChemE graduate.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates who are starting their careers?
Explore the expansive field of risk and project management and risk mitigation and their associated industries in insurance and reinsurance. Every single commercial entity under the sun needs, and indeed, is obligated to have, such financial and engineering support to ensure that it is adequately protected against the realities of a world fraught with peril, man-made or otherwise.