EXCELLENCE AWARDEE: Best Insurtech Firm

FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada

Stuart Bruce, CPA, CA

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

Stuart Bruce has spent over 20 years in the premium finance marketplace in Canada. He founded Insurance Pay Canada in 2001 (now FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada) and successfully built the finance management system, team, and broker network from startup to one of the largest premium finance companies in Canada. In 2007, after Insurance Pay was sold to an Australian-based investment bank, Stuart founded Policy Billing Services and was appointed CEO of FIRST Canada after the merger of Policy Bill and FIRST Canada in April 2014. Stuart is a CPA chartered accountant and holds an honours business administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

Stuart Bruce, CPA, CA

facebook.com/HeartlandBankAustralia

@brightenaustralia

@agile_uw

As an independent, forward-thinking girls’ school we are committed to preparing girls for a lifetime of learning, leadership and engagement in our global community. We believe in girls. At Ruyton Girls’ School we foster the individuality of each girl in a caring and safe environment, nurturing her intellectual, physical, social and emotional qualities that are essential to flourish. Powerful learning is central to the Ruyton culture, building on our strong academic reputation. We focus on advancing the learning of every girl through the engagement of intellectual curiosity, building their knowledge and skills about how to learn, and supporting them to achieve their personal best and be exemplary citizens. We believe in real-world learning beyond the classroom, collaborating with the wider community to promote growth, discovery and sustainability. We empower our girls to lead lives of purpose with courage, character and compassion. Through the development of values and action-focused learning they are inspired to pursue equity and justice for self and others. By embracing diversity and raising their voices, our girls effect positive change and make a difference.

FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada (FIRST Canada) provides the Canadian insurance market with comprehensive payment solutions. Brokers, MGAs, and carriers can partner with FIRST Canada and expand their offering to provide more value, choice, and convenience for all their clients. The combined strength of FIRST Canada’s dedicated team, evolved offering, and innovative platform positions its partners to meet the demanding future of the Canadian insurance landscape armed with market-leading solutions for success. FIRST Canada is part of Wintrust (Nasdaq: WTFC), a financial services company with more than $59 billion in assets and a part of the largest premium finance companies in North America. Follow FIRST Canada on LinkedIn and X. For more about the company, visit firstinsurancefunding.ca

David Caringi

Chief Sales Officer

David Caringi has been working in the premium finance industry for over 20 years. In his role as Chief Sales Officer, David is responsible for overseeing the overall sales strategy and building key relationships with valued partners across the country. In 2002, David joined Insurance Pay as a Business Development Manager. David was an original partner in the launch and success of the company, contributing a major role in sales and marketing. In 2010, David was a partner in the launch and growth of a specialized premium finance service company (Policy Bill), which ultimately merged with First Insurance Funding in 2014.

Chief Sales Officer

David Caringi

Jamie Ugarte, PMP

Senior Vice President, Business Solutions

Jamie Ugarte has been in the premium finance industry for over 10 years, with experience in various roles including account and project management. As the VP Business Solutions, Jamie manages a team of technical and project management specialists and oversees the development, delivery, and implementation of FIRST Canada’s technical solutions to our insurance partners. Jamie is a certified project management professional with a BA in political science from the University of Western Ontario.

Senior Vice President, Business Solutions

Jamie Ugarte, PMP

Stuart Murray has over 21 years of experience in the Australian financial services industry, specialising in credit assessment and mortgage underwriting. Prior to joining Brighten, Stuart was Head of Lending Australia and Responsible Manager at Resimac, where he was responsible for management of all aspects of Resimac’s Australian underwriting team. Prior to that, Stuart worked in mortgage credit assessment at St.George Bank and Bluestone Mortgages.

Head of Credit

Stuart Murray

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