Headquarters:
330 Bay Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON
Year founded:
2021
Number of employees:
112
Phone:
604 941 1009
Email:
info@insureline.com
Website:
tokiomarinecanada.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/tokio-marine-canada-ltd
“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”
Brett Bastow, IQumulate Premium FundinG
Aly Kanji
CEO
Kelly Walker
President
Kristy Kayat
CFO and Co-Founding Partner
Leadership
Award-winning visionary Aly Kanji is founder and CEO of InsureLine Brokers, the franchise model empowering entrepreneurial brokers to launch their own brokerages. Since 2015, he has grown InsureLine into more than 50 locations across five provinces.
A lawyer and a CAIB holder, Kanji leads with integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence. A past chair of the Insurance Brokers Association of B.C., CSIO board member, and passionate champion of diversity, Kanji was named Salute BC’s 2026 Insurance Person of the Year, recognizing a leader redefining what’s possible in Canadian insurance.
CEO
Aly Kanji
Kelly Walker builds companies that outgrow expectations. In 2006, he founded 604media, a software firm serving not-for-profit, government, and financial clients, and led it to acquisition by Dominion Lending Centres. As vice president of technology, Walker drove acquisitions and digital transformations that reshaped the experience for brokers and clients. As president and CEO of publicly traded Uniserve Communications (2019–2024), he set a bold new strategy and launched new service lines. Today, as co-founding partner and president of InsureLine Brokers, Walker equips independent brokerages with technology and support to thrive, setting new productivity standards across Canada’s leading insurance brokerage franchise.
President
Kelly Walker
Kristy Kayat is the CFO and co-founding partner of InsureLine, where she leads financial strategy, reporting, and the head office accounting team. With extensive expertise in real estate, finance, and entrepreneurship, including co-founding Dominion Lending Centres, Kayat has played a pivotal role in InsureLine’s growth and success. She developed a comprehensive training system to onboard new franchisees, ensuring seamless integration and timely compensation. Her commitment to excellence, collaborative spirit, and team development continue to drive InsureLine’s financial strength and organizational growth.
CFO and Co-Founding Partner
Kristy Kayat
Seema Kanji
Co-Founder and General Counsel
Seema Kanji is co-founder and general counsel of InsureLine, where she has overseen legal affairs since 2017. Kanji advises franchisees on employment, producer and book of business purchase agreements, counsels on employment and workers’ compensation law, and advocates for insureds whose claims have been denied. She previously practised as an insurance defence litigator, representing insurers in professional liability, construction, product liability and personal injury matters, and authoring coverage opinions for Aviva, Lloyd’s of London and Intact. Kanji has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Provincial Court and administrative tribunals. Her pragmatic counsel helps franchisees focus on growing their businesses.
Co-Founder and General Counsel
Seema Kanji
Mike Davies
Chief Marketing Officer
Mike Davies is chief marketing officer at InsureLine, where he leads national brand strategy, advertising, and marketing innovation that keeps the company ahead of the competition. Davies oversees media planning and buying, television and digital campaigns, and a talented design team that empowers franchises and producers to grow locally. Previously, he was founding partner and vice president of marketing at Dominion Lending Centres, Canada’s largest mortgage brokerage network, where he helped build its award-winning marketing division, contributing to national honours for Best Brand and Best Advertising. Davies pairs strategic vision with creative excellence, delivering results for InsureLine and its franchisees.
Chief Marketing Officer
Mike Davies
Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues.
In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has:
• experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year
• improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40%
• significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience
• expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group
Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers.
The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”
Wayne Tower,
IQumulate Premium Funding
Christopher Gonzales
VP, Cyber and Professional Lines
Jeff Robinson
VP, Programs
Paul Meinschenk
President, Underwriting Operations
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Christopher Gonzales is vice president of cyber and professional liability lead at Arch Insurance Canada. He brings nearly two decades of experience in cyber, technology E&O, and professional liability underwriting, with a strong track record of building and leading high-performing underwriting teams. Prior to joining Arch in 2025, Gonzales held senior cyber underwriting roles at AXIS Capital and previously worked with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Chubb, and Zurich. He holds a degree in economics from York University and maintains multiple industry designations, including FCIP, CIP, and CRM, reflecting his deep technical expertise and leadership in the Canadian insurance market.
VP, Cyber and Professional Lines
Christopher Gonzales
Jeff Robinson is vice president of programs at Arch Insurance Canada, responsible for the strategic leadership and growth of the programs portfolio. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial insurance, including senior leadership roles at Aviva Canada and Economical Insurance, Robinson brings extensive expertise in portfolio management, underwriting strategy, and broker distribution. He is known for building profitable specialty businesses and fostering strong market relationships across Canada. Robinson holds a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation
VP, Programs
Jeff Robinson
Laura Martin puts people at the heart of her leadership, helping to embed a positive, supportive culture within her own team and across the wider business. She invests time in mentoring and developing others, creating safe spaces where colleagues feel able to speak openly, ask for support and be themselves. Martin leads with kindness and emotional intelligence, taking time to understand each individual behind the role. Her supportive and collaborative approach helps people feel valued, builds confidence and encourages colleagues to grow and thrive.
President, Underwriting Operations
Paul Meinschenk
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view.
IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance.
“We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.
Read on
Award Winner
Tokio Marine Canada
SPECIAL REPORT
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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future?
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur.
“Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, with the potential to allow IQumulate to capture a larger market share, whilst continuing to deliver service excellence to clients.”
“As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead.
“We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
Ivan Verescuk
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Shaun O’Brien
Head of Underwriting
Emily Walker
Head of Strata and Development
Rex Oakman
Head of Operations and Risk
Sandy Newton
Head of Underwriting
Andrew Mitchell
Manager – NSW
Michael Prokopis
Manager – Southern Region
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Jeffrey Valdivia
Manager – Commercial Strata
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
An insurer built to take care of its own
Tokio Marine Canada has built out a benefits and rewards program well beyond what’s typical for a five-year-old insurer, helping it earn a spot among IBC’s Top Insurance Employers for 2026. Established in 2021, the company underwrites niche commercial and specialty insurance within the global Tokio Marine Group, backed by the group’s A++ A.M. Best rating.
That independence runs through the culture. Tokio Marine Canada says its identity rests on a noble purpose built around supporting Canadian businesses that take calculated risks, and four core values it calls C.A.R.E.: collaborative, aspirational, responsive, and ethical.
Employees helped build the company’s original five-year strategic plan and will do so again for its next phase of growth. CEO Mike George meets personally with every new hire, a practice the company says keeps staff connected to leadership from day one.
Rewards built for tenure
Compensation combines merit-based salary reviews and performance bonuses with a long-term incentive cash plan for designated employees. Health and dental coverage starts from an employee’s first day, backed by health and wellness accounts, an employee assistance program with six hours of paid counselling a year, and RRSP matching of up to 6 percent of salary.
Time off builds with tenure, including paid sabbaticals at service milestones, seven flexible personal days, a birthday day off, two paid volunteer days, and a 12-week parental leave top-up.
Development from day one
Tokio Marine Canada treats development as a day-one priority. New hires go through structured onboarding paired with a buddy from outside their team, and employees pursuing insurance careers across Canada can draw on up to $4,000 a year in education reimbursement, mentorship, and thousands of courses through Tokio Marine University. Managers receive training on feedback and inclusion, while high performers can join the group’s global development programs.
Representation built in
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are treated as part of that culture, not a separate initiative. According to Tokio Marine Canada, as of August 2026, women made up 58 percent of its workforce, including 45 percent of senior leadership roles, while 53 percent of employees identified as BIPOC, 3 percent as having a disability, and 4 percent as LGBTQIA+. An employee-led DEIB Council runs programming, and a Respectful Workplace Policy holds staff accountable for inclusive behaviour.
Retention through flexibility
Retention gets the same deliberate treatment. A Right to Disconnect policy, hybrid work model, and summer Friday hours support work-life balance, while an annual Culture and Values survey administered by Willis Towers Watson gave the company a self-reported employee engagement score of 90 percent.
Tokio Marine Canada has launched a formal recognition program and is introducing an Annual Excellence Award. As it approaches its five-year anniversary in 2027, it plans an Employer Value Proposition campaign, its careers site already positioning the company among Canada’s top insurance employers, alongside a move to a new office and a Tokio Marine Group-wide commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030.
As Orion180 introduces new coverage options and deepens product offerings, it is upskilling employees to become experts in the next generation of property protection. Retention is a cornerstone of its service standards, supported by regular feedback loops, tracked engagement, and clear internal career paths that give top talent room to advance. With a rapidly growing national presence, Orion180 offers flexible and standard home insurance solutions, including FLEX and HO-3 coverage, as well as DP Landlord, flood and jewelry protection across AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MS, NC, OH, SC, and TX. Its proprietary MY180 platform serves as essential, high-impact technology for agents and insureds alike, further enhanced by smart tech innovations like the AWTOS water damage mitigation system and the PRYZMIQ home self-inspection tool. Orion180 proudly collaborates with more than 10,000 partner agents to serve 500,000 customers, safeguarding more than $150 billion in assets. Its unwavering commitment to operational excellence and exceptional agent and customer service is demonstrated by an impressive track record: 17-day average claims resolution and 5,000 five-star Google reviews. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TruthSocial, and YouTube, or visit www.Orion180.com to learn more.
