Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
Kathleen Alicks is chief underwriting officer at Seneca Insurance. She has achieved success by being technically sharp, relentlessly hardworking, deeply invested in people, and having unwavering advocacy for women and the next generation of talent.
Recruited out of college into an underwriting trainee program, insurance offered her a place to apply her quantitative skills and business training. She says, “I have approached every step of my career with integrity, grit, strength, and determination to continuously learn.”
In her current role, the biggest challenge is time: ensuring there is enough of it to go around for the people, issues, and strategic priorities that demand her attention. Yet how she chooses to spend that time is precisely what distinguishes her.
Alicks considers her single greatest career achievement to be the development and implementation of a robust training program for both new-to-industry and veteran underwriting teams – one marked by high retention and measurable growth. Watching almost 50 underwriters move through that program and evolve into disciplined, high-performing professionals is an enduring source of pride.
“Helping and seeing people grow into outstanding underwriters who are disciplined yet know how to have a lot of fun is incredibly rewarding,” she says.
By actively seeking input from others, she leads with empathy and accountability, understanding that high-performing underwriting teams are built as much on trust and psychological safety as they are on technical skills. This balance has been critical not only to her own development but also to the growth of the many individuals she leads.
Over a 30-year career, Alicks has also witnessed and navigated profound structural change for women in insurance. Early on, she confronted a visible “boys’ club” culture and the assumption that senior roles were reserved for men; she was once told that a “man” was needed for a role, though her input on which man was welcome. Those experiences deepened her resolve to advocate for women and to help reshape the landscape she entered.
Being named as one of IBA’s Elite Women 2026 reinforces a responsibility she already lives. Alicks honors the women who came before her and actively encourages younger professionals to seek out their stories and guidance.
She adds, “What may make me stand out is that I advocate for women consistently and choose to spend my time uplifting women. I was raised by a strong, brave, brilliant, and civil rights activist who taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to and to remember to bring other women along with me.”
She is also a vocal supporter of organizations such as the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW), championing networks that have grown from small circles of women into thousands-strong communities with powerful corporate backing.
Alicks’ legacy is already visible in the underwriters she has trained, the women she has championed, and the culture of solutions-focused, inclusive leadership she continues to build within insurance.
199 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 10038
973 490 6968
kalicks@senecainsurance.com
linkedin.com/in/kathleen-alicks-35631335
senecainsurance.com
Kathleen Alicks
Chief Underwriting Officer Seneca Insurance
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Bio
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
2016
2019
2021
Present
Present
Created and developed the Home Office Underwriting Group of Product Line Management at Seneca Insurance
2016
Developed several training and mentoring programs for Seneca Insurance
2019
Honored by the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW) as an Extraordinary Woman in an Extraordinary Year
2021
Serving on the Board of Trustees for Birth Haven in Newton, NJ, since 2020
Serving as Communications Officer for the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW) since 2022
Present
HSE Manager, Industrial Contractors at Green Infrastructure Partners since 2025
Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
A significant part of his focus today is staying ahead of regulatory change while maintaining a seamless client experience. He tracks updates from regulators and lenders closely and works with his teams to adjust systems as needed.
“My approach to my role and my career has always been rooted in passion, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he says. “I’ve never been driven solely by profit or business metrics. I believe in hiring great talent, trusting them, and pushing boundaries because innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe.”
His experience isn’t limited to Canada. Ibrahim has worked in the US and UAE, which shaped his global perspective and comfort with adapting to different markets. He thrives on risk, viewing setbacks as stepping stones to progress.
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made,” he adds.
That outlook continues to guide his work and reflects his broader goal of helping move the industry forward. Through his brokerage, lending company, and legal services, Ibrahim is focused on creating long-term value for his clients, his teams, and others working in the field.