The post Go for it! appeared first on RG Magazines.

The post Kahlil’s clear vision appeared first on RG Magazines.

A few exceptional, young international business employees traverse a less travelled road.

This has certainly been the case for Micah Henschke, 24, who recently received an Association of Bermuda International Companies scholarship funded by Bermuda International Long-Term Insurers and Reinsurers, as well as the Shernelle M. Outerbridge Memorial Award from Zurich Bermuda.

Mr Henschke spent this summer as a finance intern at Athene and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Regent University.

“My journey has not been a straight line,” he said. “I initially stepped away from school to help contribute financially after my mother underwent emergency surgery. What began as a temporary pause lasted longer than I expected, for just over two years, and there was a point when I genuinely questioned whether I would ever return to school.”

During that period, Mr Henschke worked at the Hamilton Princess as a pool attendant and was quickly promoted to pool supervisor because of his work ethic, leadership qualities and communication skills, managing a team of eight staff members.

“I was working full-time and also took on evening shifts in the laundry department to earn additional income and help contribute financially at home,” he said.

“Although I was no longer in school at the time, that period taught me a lot about responsibility, leadership, work ethic and perseverance.

“It also helped me mature and eventually become much clearer about the career and future I wanted to pursue.”

Mr Henschke’s mother has made a full recovery, which is something he says he is extremely grateful for as family is extremely important to him.

“Through God’s grace, the surgery was successful and she was able to recover,” he said.

“Seeing her healthy again after everything she went through is something I am incredibly grateful for.

“Going back to education required me to rebuild my confidence and become much more intentional about the future I wanted for myself.

“Balancing work, education, finances and personal responsibilities has not always been easy, but it taught me that a pause does not have to mean the end of your journey. Those experiences have made me more resilient, disciplined and determined to build a meaningful career.”

During his career so far, he has observed how people within Bermuda’s international business community are willing to invest their time in young professionals.

“At Athene I have been given a career mentor and my supervisors regularly check in with me throughout the week,” he said.

“They do not simply assign work, they take the time to explain why the work matters, answer any questions I may have and help me to understand how my responsibilities connect to the wider business.

“Professionals in other departments have also been open to coffee chats and conversations about their roles, career paths and lessons they have learned along the way.

“Through Athene, Abic and Biltir, I have gained access to professionals who have helped me recognise possibilities for my future that I may not have seen on my own.

“Their support has strengthened my confidence and reminded me that success is rarely achieved alone. Having people who are willing to share their knowledge, provide guidance and encourage my development has been extremely valuable as I continue building my career.”

The post From hotel poolside to pooling risk appeared first on RG Magazines.

Za’Nyah Khan’s mom told her to aim for the moon and above – and she hasn’t let her down.

Ms Khan, 20, is planning for a career as an actuary, but her background in astrophysics sets her apart from the field.

With a Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies CG Alan Peacock scholarship and a Belco STEM Education Awards scholarship under her belt, she is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in astrophysics at the University of Leicester. This summer, she worked as an actuarial intern at Athene.

As a child, she wanted to be an astronaut, and she has fond memories of studying the solar system at Bermuda High School for Girls.

Thanks to the support of her parents Janice Sealey-Khan and Rakeeb Khan, Ms Khan said her path was “written in the stars” from an early age.

Her mother was her biggest role model, and one of the “coolest and strongest women” she knows.

“My mom always said that I can aim for the moon and beyond because I literally can,” she said.

“And that’s what gave me the confidence to go into such a male-dominated field without a care in the world.

“I think it’s important to allow your kids to dream because you never know how far that may take them.”

The University of Leicester was not her first choice, but after researching she found that it was the perfect school for her. The city hosts the UK’s National Space Centre, as well as Space Park Leicester, and the lecturers are all leaders in their fields.

She’s been active in university life, including sports, where she’s participated in swimming at water polo, pole fitness and pickleball. In the 2025-26 academic year, she was active in the Student Union as a representative of the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Ms Khan used that role to support Year One students and improve communication between the university and students, and was also involved in getting the Minerva Group, which supports women in physics and mathematics, brought back to the university.

She has also had the opportunity to intern with NASA at the Cooper Island tracking station, and participated in the launch of a cube satellite as part of NASA’s TROPICS (Time Related Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), designed to observe tropical cyclones with the hope of enabling researchers to better predict whether a storm is likely to strengthen from a category four to a five.

“Hearing the T-10 countdown in person made me feel like I was in a movie,” she said.

She noted that, coming from BHS, she wasn’t used to being the only woman in the room, an experience that, while intimidating, made her more confident and driven to succeed.

She has interned at Athene, a life reinsurance company, as well as Willis Towers Watson, a property and casualty insurance consulting company.

Her plan is to become an actuary, where she can use her skill sets in astrophysics and coding.

There are many similarities between the world of physics and reinsurance, she said.

Although the theory and type of math is different, the same baseline skills are needed, and her coding skills have proved useful in her internships.

After completing her degree, she plans to complete a master’s in astrophysics before returning to Bermuda to take her actuarial exams.

“I love all things numbers, including math and coding, and the actuarial pathways allow me to do those as a job, while living in Bermuda, so it’s perfect.

“After interning at WTW, my love for actuarial science was cemented. Everything just seemed to click, and I love the corporate atmosphere. I think I fit in well.

“A part of it was also, when growing up, I never envisioned myself in that type of role. It was always something I associated a man doing, not a woman of colour like me.

“I was pleasantly surprised, though, when I started interning at these companies and I saw just how diverse the industry had become, and I wish I knew that when I was younger.

“There are so many impressive women that I now look up to and it motivates me.”

The post Reach for the stars appeared first on RG Magazines.

RG sat down with Paul Simons, CEO of Convex Re Limited, to find out.

Mentorship is vital

I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who helped shape not only my understanding of the industry, but also how to navigate challenges and lead through difficult situations.

They helped me with guidance on how to develop both the expertise and the softer skills that are critical to succeeding as a leader.

Early in your career, success is all about demonstrating competence. As you move into management and leadership roles, the demands and expectations are just as pronounced, but how to drive results, particularly as it relates to people, becomes far more nuanced.

It helps to have people who believe in you, invest in your success, and advocate for your growth. Those relationships can make a real difference in helping you reach your full potential.

That’s where mentorship becomes especially valuable. Today I still have individuals that I tap into for advice because they have seen and done it.

Qualities of people you work with

Integrity is extremely important. You have to be able to trust the people you surround yourself

with professionally and feel confident they genuinely want to see you succeed.

The best professional relationships are ones where people support each other and collectively help raise the standard.

It’s important to surround yourself with talented people. Early in my career, a CEO I worked for used to say, ‘Surround yourself with people who are better than you.’ That always stuck with me.

To do that well, you have to be secure in your own abilities. Strong leaders aren’t afraid to work

with highly capable people — in fact they embrace it.

Like in sports, over time there’s always someone who will come along who’s faster and better, and I believe in embracing these individuals. As a good leader you can’t be insecure about this.

Time management

There are constant demands on your time, and one of the most important decisions I make each day is what you choose to focus on. I have a lot of requests for my time, and it’s not easy saying no to

people, but I’ve learned that saying no to something or someone means I can say yes to another, as there are only so many hours in the day.

One belief you’ve changed your mind about

The importance of simplicity. Our industry is incredibly complex and early on I approached challenges with trepidation as the complexities can often overwhelm, and you can lose site of the forest for the trees. But one of my mentors was instrumental in showing me that not overcomplicating things is within itself a strategic benefit that I now try to live by.

Over time, I’ve learned the value of slowing down, really understanding the underlying issues,

and breaking complex problems down into their core components before trying to solve them.

I’ve also learned how important listening is. Earlier in my career, I think I was more focused on

reacting quickly and driving toward action. With experience, I’ve come to realise that taking the

time to truly listen and fully understand what people are telling you is often just as important as

the action itself.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

Professionally, I want the organisation to continue to be a place where people can thrive and grow, and where that success is sustained over time.

Personally, I’d like to know that I’ve made a tangible difference in helping others progress, particularly people who may see aspects of themselves reflected in my journey. In Bermuda

especially, there are still not enough people in senior roles who reflect the diversity of the

community.

Interview by Stuart Roberts

The post Reaching the top appeared first on RG Magazines.

What’s past is prologue…

Like many Bermudians born before 1980, my reference for hurricanes was largely shaped by the experience of Hurricane Emily in 1987, when I was eight years old.

While I have experienced many storms since, up until 2003 Emily remained my primary reference.

That changed in 2003. It was my first year of the Regiment, having been conscripted like many Bermudian men before me.

My time in the Regiment coincided with several major storms, and I served in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes in Cayman and Grenada.

But it was Fabian that devastated Bermuda.

I volunteered to serve as part of the Regiment’s rapid response force, along with others from the Corporals Cadre. This meant arriving at Warwick Camp the day before the storm, and spending the long night of the storm in barracks, prepared to deploy even in the midst of the storm, but otherwise with the intention of heading out at first light to begin clearing roads to facilitate both emergency transport and for the rest of the Regiment to muster and deploy.

Many former soldiers will be familiar with the term ‘hurry up and wait’, and that was basically my night during the storm. Some of us played cards. I believe someone had dominoes.

Periodically there would be a crash or a bang outside that would snap us back into the reality of the storm. I almost always have a book with me to kill time, and for Fabian I had brought to camp a paperback version of The Tempest by Shakespeare. It seemed fitting. Throughout the storm and its aftermath – which for me was weeks as a soldier – I read the play over and over.

Destruction

At first light, my team was dispatched towards the hospital, to ensure access was secure. The focus is on ensuring a single lane to the hospital. Clearing two lanes comes later – single lanes ensure emergency access. You have to be careful to look for downed wires first: before you act, you must observe to ensure you yourself do not become the emergency.

Other teams were sent east and west along the main roads – those are the priority after the storm.

Shortly after reaching the hospital and seeing it was clear, my team was dispatched instead to the Deputy Governor’s house. The Governor was off-island, so the Deputy was acting as Commander-in-Chief. Our focus was on clearing his driveway so he could more readily get from A to B. It was there that the radio crackled. We were the closest Regiment team to the Causeway at that time. And we were needed. None of us knew at that moment what the situation was, or why it was urgent to drop what we were doing and head there. Myself, I was just hoping to do something more important than clear a driveway.

On the way we began to speculate what we would find and what we would be doing. Was the Causeway destroyed? Was it blocked? We didn’t know, but we watched the destruction on our way and made mental notes of where we may be needed next.

We sped off to the Causeway, only stopping as needed to clear a path to get there. What greeted us shocked us to the core. It is difficult to express the sight: the Causeway was shattered. We knew there was a search and rescue operation underway.

I walked as far as I could to the halfway point of the shattered Causeway, fractured like one sees of earthquakes in the movies. We couldn’t get beyond the midpoint, at least not safely.

Having surveyed the scene, we returned to Grotto Bay, pushed back onlookers as far as Swizzle Inn and set up a security cordon. Only emergency vehicles allowed.

Tragedy

It is said that during war there is a fog, in the sense that one doesn’t fully grasp the whole of what is going on at the time, and only afterwards is one able to sort of piece things together. The same applied after Fabian. We knew that marine police were searching the waters but we didn’t really grasp the severity of the situation, though of course we wondered. Were they looking for something? Someone? Just checking the structural damage? We only learned later, in the barracks, that there had been deaths. It cast a shadow over the barracks as we digested the news with our rations. At that time, our job was to prevent curious onlookers trying to get past us to see the Causeway.

The next few days kept us busy. My unit was mostly clearing roads. I mostly remember the stretch from Watch Hill Park through to Collectors Hill, and then some sites out in the West End, clearing school campuses. We didn’t really have time to reflect on things. It was wake up, eat food, head out, work, back to Warwick Camp, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat. It was only on the anniversary of Fabian, and every hurricane since in the years after that, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on that day.

There is a certain beauty in the aftermath of storms. The air is fresher. The stars are brighter due to the blackouts. The tree-frogs are louder. There is the hum of generators. I associate the aftermath of hurricanes with the scent of jasmine. I’m not sure why. They can give one a greater appreciation of life, how precious and fragile it is. I spent the next few weeks working hard, clearing debris, sleeping when I could. Appreciating life in the aftermath of the tragedy at the Causeway. My frame of reference for hurricanes was no longer Emily, but Fabian and Shakespeare’s Tempest.

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs, that delight and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices

That, if I then waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,

The clouds methought would open, and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, that when I awaked,

I cried to dream again!

The post Serving in the shadow of tragedy appeared first on RG Magazines.

For more than three decades, Bermuda has played a huge role in helping the world cope with the unpredictable devastation wreaked by hurricanes.

In turn, this has helped Bermuda build a crucial pillar to its economy by establishing itself as the world’s risk capital.

The historical roots of our global (re)insurance market stem from Hurricane Andrew, which hit South Florida as a catastrophic category 5 hurricane in August 1992.

In Andrew’s aftermath, eight highly capitalised property catastrophe reinsurers were established in Bermuda, offering much needed capacity, particularly in a Florida insurance market where prices were rising sharply.

These include RenaissanceRe, which has since grown to become the world’s fourth largest reinsurer, and Partner Re, which likewise continues to be an important global participant.

As a global leader, Bermuda’s reinsurance market consistently grew over time, enhancing its relevance and helping to close protection gaps for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. For example, following the devastating hurricanes of Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, the market grew substantially.

Today, Bermuda consistently holds about one-third of global reinsurance capacity, and is a premier hub for catastrophe reinsurance, Insurance-Linked Securities and most recently, InsurTech companies. According to the latest figures, the island’s internationally respected, independent and integrated financial services regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority supervises more than 1,200 (re)insurance companies managing $1.9 trillion in assets.

Someone who experienced much of this exciting period of growth firsthand was Stephen Weinstein, the founder and CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance, whose career began at Wall Street in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.

In between those roles, Mr Weinstein has two decades experience as a senior executive and

was an executive committee member at RenaissanceRe.

Mr Weinstein is also a past chair of the Bermuda Business Development Agency, where he guided important strategic initiatives to support Bermuda’s position as a premier international financial hub.

“Over my career I have seen Bermuda build decades of strength in natural catastrophe risk management,” Mr Weinstein said.

“As a market, Bermuda has invested in a superior understanding of climate-driven perils like tropical windstorms.

“Consistently following disruptive natural catastrophes, the Bermuda market has responded quickly. No one understands the risks of hurricanes and other extreme weather events better than the experts in the Bermuda reinsurance market, and no one has a better track record of honouring their claims promises than the companies here. The historical default rate in Bermuda’s third-party market is literally zero.”

Helping vulnerable communities rebuild

“Bermuda is the best place in the world to capitalise, operate and domicile global business-to-business technical strategies,” Mr Weinstein said.

“As a global leader in property insurance and reinsurance, Bermuda plays a vital role in helping to close the protection gap for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.”

As former chair of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Mr Weinstein knows about the importance of protecting the natural environment.

“Bermuda has been leading on climate for 400 years and had the first-ever piece of legislation passed in the western world to protect an endangered species, for sea turtles in the early 1600s,” he said.

“Today, part of what BIOS does is share the results of its research with the Bermuda’s (re)insurance market as a public good but also to enhance the market’s understanding of hurricanes.”

BIOS’ chief operating officer, Dr Mark Guishard, expounded further upon on the important partnership between Bermuda’s scientific community and its global (re)insurance market.

“BIOS has been engaging with the local risk market for over 30 years, since Hurricane Andrew’s devastating impact led to questions about storms and climate,” Dr Guishard said.

“Through our science/business partnership, the Risk Prediction Initiative, we’ve focused attention on trends and variability of hurricanes, severe weather and winter storms.

“This has led to meaningful breakthroughs that have resulted in adjustments of views of risk, and updates to catastrophe modelling methods.”

The Bermuda/Florida Trading Partnership

This is one of the most important trading relationships in the world and is estimated to be valued at

approximately $60 to $65 billion annually.

Mr Weinstein said: “I have no doubt the post-Andrew Florida homeowners’ market would not exist without Bermuda. But I think the reverse is true, in that Bermuda’s market leadership begins with

its unique access to the world’s peak risk, which is Florida Property.”

In 2025, Mr Weinstein became founder and CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance Company.

“We launched Mangrove in part to reflect a partnership ethos with reinsurers, particularly Bermuda-based reinsurers,” he said.

“We reflect in our very name that we put down roots in both of my homes. Mangroves are resilient, adaptable, and essential to the protection of vulnerable coastlines.

“These unique trees thrive in challenging conditions, saltwater, shifting tides and low-oxygen

environments yet they grow strong, stabilise the shoreline, and create safe havens for life to flourish.”

“It’s part of our core identity and competitive advantage that our leadership team has unique strong relationships with some of the world’s leading reinsurers, who are disproportionately resident in

Bermuda,” Mr Weinstein said.

“The part of my strategy that I have the most conviction in is, I know our partners in the reinsurance

community will support us.

“In our inaugural year, we bought more reinsurance than any Florida start-up ever, and we believe we bought deeper in the tail with real protection than any Florida home-owners carrier.

“We are trying to reflect both the expertise of the Mangrove team but also the information we glean in partnership with our reinsurers.

“When Mangrove rebuilds a home in Florida, we want to build-back better. Our white labelled Grove Repair Solution is structured to reflect both excellent claim service as well as the insights that we glean in part from our partnership with reinsurers including Bermuda reinsurers.”

Mangrove Insurance has been approved by Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation to provide property and casualty insurance to Florida homeowners.

To learn more, visit www.mangrove-fl.com.

The post Helping vulnerable communities recover appeared first on RG Magazines.

International Business is often described as the bedrock upon which Bermuda’s economy is built. The Association of Bermuda International Companies also believes IB impacts the community in other important ways.

Wayne Smith, executive director of Abic, said: “The multiplier effect says it all. Each new job creates 1.33 additional new jobs in Bermuda. We work to make Bermuda a domicile where international companies come and choose to stay, because they will have qualified talent, a community that welcomes their presence here, a business environment that is internationally competitive and evolves with changing times.”

But why would an expatriate worker want to live, work and play in Bermuda?

“It’s a great opportunity to work in a thriving business environment,” Mr Smith said.

“We are in international business, but we are really in the lifestyle business. Bermuda provides an excellent quality of life.”

From corporate sponsorship of important community events, to volunteering for local charities, IB helps the community in a myriad of ways.

“There are lots of community initiatives in which international companies and their staff participate,” Mr Smith said.

“Some employees volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. They also provide mentorship for scholarship awardees in the Abic education awards initiative. Last year, Abic gave out $800,000 in scholarships to almost 30 students so they can get into university. We do it every year and

over the last nearly 50 years we have given out about $20 million in scholarships to 830 people. You cannot overstate the value of that.”

Environmental stewardship is another important way that IB impacts the local community.

“We have an initiative with Keep Bermuda Beautiful where Abic member companies and their employees clean up sections of the Railway Trail,” Mr Smith said.

“In addition to KBB, other local sustainability projects in which IB is greatly involved includes the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Project.

“The Bermuda Government is working with the private sector and the Waitt Institute, and of course, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. They, in conjunction with BOPP, are working earnestly to preserve our magnificent oceans. International companies also invest heavily in the Bermuda Zoological Society Aquarium Museum and Zoo.”

Some 70 per cent of the Zoological Society’s annual support comes from international companies

and their staff.

If you’re a guest worker about to experience Bermuda Day for the first time, top tips include having a good night’s sleep and a full breakfast.

“The first thing a guest worker should do when they come to work in Bermuda is to learn about Bermuda’s history and why it is the way it is,” Mr Smith said.

“Once a person understands Bermuda’s cultural heritage, I would encourage them to get a good night’s rest, get up early and take in the Bermuda Day Half Marathon.”

Many countries have sporting events where people line up on the side of the road to cheer on the competitors.

But Mr Smith noted the Bermudian iteration of this is unique.

“It is special because you have food stations and families camped out along the race and parade routes, cheering for runners, cyclists and parade participants,” he said.

“It’s a unique experience unlike anything you would find anywhere else in the world.”

He added: “Also, have a good breakfast because Bermudians love to entertain and the local cocktails are abundant. I encourage all visitors and guest workers to take it all in, all of it.

“Take in the parade, the floats, the music and the food, and have yourself an amazing Bermuda day.

“Bermudians really are some of the most friendly, hospitable people in the world.”

The post Giving Back appeared first on RG Magazines.

Image: supplied of Wantley, a planned Urban Development Authority project at Princess Street, Hamilton

Bermuda’s construction sector stands at a pivotal moment.

With the Government’s stated goal of increasing the working population by more than 8,000 people, the island faces an urgent need to expand its residential capacity.

Yet, while the demand is clear, rising development costs and borrowing constraints have slowed progress.

The Approved Residential Scheme framework — strengthened further by the new ARS Kickstart Programme — seeks to address exactly that challenge, offering a structured path to growth for both the construction industry and the wider economy.

Established in June 2022, the ARS initiative was designed to spur development within Bermuda’s four Economic Empowerment Zones: North East Hamilton, South East Hamilton, Somerset and St George’s.

These areas hold deep historical, cultural, and economic significance, but have long faced socio‑economic disparities, underinvestment and aging physical infrastructure.

The ARS framework provides a mechanism to reverse this trend by creating opportunities for high‑quality residential development that supports local businesses, enhances community life and broadens access to housing.

The recently introduced ARS Kickstart Programme adds a crucial missing piece: financial feasibility. By providing a $50 million sovereign guarantee to participating banks, the Government enables reduced borrowing rates for qualifying construction projects, effectively lowering one of the largest barriers to development.

The guarantee remains active for six years beyond construction completion, giving developers confidence and breathing room to deliver large‑scale residential or mixed‑use complexes within the EEZs.

In return, banks commit to discounted interest rates, while maintaining their underwriting independence and first claim on collateral.

This is more than a financing tool; it is a catalyst for transformation. With EEZs already identified as zones with cultural vibrancy but structural under‑resourcing, ARS developments can meaningfully uplift communities, provided they are planned with sensitivity. The guidelines emphasise affordability, stakeholder engagement, prevention of displacement and long‑term socioeconomic benefit.

These requirements reinforce a holistic approach to development, one that values not just buildings but the people and histories they anchor.

Urban Development Authority

As these initiatives take root, the Urban Development Authority is positioned to play a central role in shaping the built environment with intention and equity.

The UDA’s mission is to promote sustainable, community‑focused urban revitalisation through coordinated planning, strategic investment and inclusive development practices.

Its vision is to create vibrant, resilient and economically diverse urban districts where residents, businesses and investors can thrive together.

By aligning with the ARS framework, the UDA helps ensure that new residential projects contribute to coherent neighbourhood planning, quality design standards and equitable economic growth. Its commitment to community‑first development mirrors the ARS objective of strengthening local economies without triggering the displacement or gentrification pressures that too often accompany regeneration efforts.

Turning point for the industry

For Bermuda’s construction professionals —developers, architects, engineers, contractors — the ARS and the ARS Kickstart Programme represent both opportunity and responsibility.

Opportunity, because financing barriers are easing and demand for new residential units is growing. Responsibility, because the outcomes of this moment will shape community landscapes for generations.

If executed with foresight and collaboration, this initiative could spark a new era of construction activity, economic vitality and housing stability within Bermuda’s most historic and culturally rich neighbourhoods.

More importantly, it can help ensure that growth is shared, sustainable and rooted firmly in community empowerment.

The post Addressing the housing gap appeared first on RG Magazines.

Aegon, the Dutch international financial services holding company, launched the awards in 2025 as part of its “Live Your Best Life” programme that aims to bolster the local community.

The scholarship, available for up to five outstanding students pursuing education in Canada and the United States, is worth up to $30,000 per year and is renewable for up to three years.

It is open to any student with Bermudian status and aims to help close educational gaps for those who require financial support to pursue their studies

Aegon explained it is keen to support students interested in careers in healthcare, shaping our built environment, the trades and the technology sectors; it is particularly keen to reward people who are committed to returning to Bermuda after graduation to live and work.

The company – which stepped up its presence in Bermuda in 2023 – has a philosophy that they are members of the community themselves, and it is in their interest to help other community members live their best lives.

Aegon said it recognises education as a crucial element for people to achieve their full potential. By doing so Aegon aims to contribute to the prosperity of the entire country.

Tibor Leeuwenburgh, Aegon’s country executive in Bermuda, said: “With our Live Your Best Life community investment programme – with the great support of the Bermuda Foundation – we want to contribute to the growth and wellbeing of Bermuda’s vibrant community.

“We are excited to work together with partners that offer financial and social opportunities to help more people live their best lives. Moreover, we’re inspired by the ambition and resilience of these students and proud to support them in their journey.”

The Live Your Best Life programme is centred around education, financial and social empowerment, and has also included $60,000 grants, through the Bermuda Foundation, to Age Concern Bermuda, Connectech Coding and the Family Centre.

Aegon has connections to Bermuda as far back as the 1970s and established a presence here in 2005 through its subsidiary Transamerica Life Bermuda.

This relationship has been deepened since, when Aegon’s legal seat switched to Bermuda in September 2023.

Aegon says it has a long history of community involvement in the places where it operates and wanted to continue that tradition here with the legal seat change.

This scholarship was awarded in 2025 to Anijahe dos Santos Martin, Paulo Aguiar, Kylie Butterfield, Keiazia Burchall-Busby and Milahn Powell.

The post Building community relationships appeared first on RG Magazines.