Issue 14 - Summer 2020
Carol Donaghy examines why these staple events are still as important as ever to the industry.
It has been said that insurance is a ‘people’s business’, meaning that the quality of the relationships within the industry are imperative to the work. Insurance was built on the innate ability of those working within it, (that’s you!), to connect and support one another in order to provide customers with the best possible service. You, as an insurance professional, are the industry’s most valuable asset and your connections with your peers and the community around you are priceless. The Insurance Institute has always been conscious of the importance of this connection – in fact, it has been one of the organisation’s core ambitions since 1885 – to Educate, Inspire and Connect insurance professionals. The Institute connects members through a wide variety of activities but potentially the most significant one is through the Annual Dinners.
Each Local Institute (Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Cork and Galway) hosts an Annual Dinner once a year. For many, it’s seen as the pinnacle of the calendar year and it’s the one event that no one wants to miss and which, more than any other, highlights the importance of community.
The Annual Dinners have been in existence since those early years of the Institute, albeit in a very different format. In 1890 the Institute began hosting social events and records show the first was a ‘smoking concert’, which was basically an event where live music was played and which was predominately attended by men only. In that same year, on 13th November, the very first Annual Dinner took place in the Antient Concert Rooms on the then Great Brunswick Street, which is now Pearse Street. There were 31 members in attendance and 14 guests, with formal toasts made to the Queen, The Institute, the medical profession and the media.
Down through the years that followed the Annual Dinners in each region have evolved and changed dramatically – so too has the industry and the Dinners have always kept abreast of the external changes and in many ways can be seen as a reflection of the industry as a whole. The Annual Dinners of today have come a long way since those smoke-filled men-only events! Nowadays the Dinners exemplify and celebrate the diversity within the industry. The events are attended by everyone from apprentices to the most senior people within insurance organisations, to retired members of the Institute. They are a staple in the diaries of everyone within the industry and they create an opportunity where colleagues and peers catch up and where new connections are made. Business is discussed, but people also have a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. The Dinners are also a place where those who have excelled throughout the year are recognised and where members are reminded of the community they belong to, as well as the professionalism of the industry.
“The Annual Dinners get to the core of who we are as a professional body – they represent all that should be celebrated about this diverse and innovative industry in which we work,” says Dermot Murray, CEO of The Insurance Institute.
Dermot also says, “The Annual Dinners have evolved through the years, but their significance to our industry hasn’t wavered - and while everything from the type of attendee to the entertainment on the night has changed, the primary focus has remained the same and that’s been as a vehicle to bring our industry together and to further strengthen our sense of community.”
“In recent years we’ve been delighted with the energy and vitality of the events – once only attended by the more senior people, we now see apprentices and junior staff being invited and for us, this is wonderful to witness – the Annual Dinners are now seen as an opportunity to pass the baton onto the next generation. It’s also fantastic to see our Local Presidents attend the Northern Ireland Institute Dinner, and we always welcome our colleagues from the UK who regularly attend a number of the events.”
Now more than ever the insurance industry has become more global, technology is playing a hugely essential role in the everyday functioning of the industry and regulation continues to have an impact on the day to day workings. It has never been more important to be informed on the ever-changing landscape of insurance and the factors influencing and affecting it. Therefore expanding your professional network and having a number of people within the industry whom you can seek out for advice is essential. The Annual Dinners create a space where this can happen, and in many ways as a result of the Dinners the customer benefits.
“We work in a professional industry with an immense amount of responsibility and having people you can seek advice from is essential – both from the perspective of your own professional development but also for the benefit of our customers,” says Paula Hodson, Director of Education and Development Services, The Insurance Institute.
Paula continues, “The Annual Dinners create a space where these connections and relationships are strengthened – we have an opportunity to meet our peers outside of work, we hear about their kids, about their new house, and we learn more about the people behind the job title. This unique opportunity to connect on this level cannot be underestimated. Over the years I’ve seen people move jobs, I’ve seen new business connections formed, and I’ve seen people expand on their industry awareness– all from attending the Annual Dinners.”
The Annual Dinners are not just an opportunity for individuals working within the industry to benefit – they are also hugely important to the Local Institutes. Majella King, President of The Insurance Institute of Galway said, “Our Annual Dinner is, without doubt, the highlight of our calendar year and we see it as a wonderful opportunity for us as a Local Institute to give back to our local community. For me personally, I’ve built my career in Galway and without the support and help of my colleagues in the region, as well as the customers and businesses in the area I wouldn’t have succeeded. The Annual Dinner is something we take great pride in and we see it as a celebration and a time to reflect on the year just passed.”
2020 has seen many events and activities cancelled and postponed and this includes the Local Institute Annual Dinners. However, it would seem that in the modern world of insurance, the significance and impact of these events has never been more important and so it’s expected that when life has returned to normal the Annual Dinners will once again take their place as the pivotal insurance event of the year and this is something which the industry can look forward to.
