President's Message

I’m Dawn Lowery and I am privileged to represent our Local Institute and its members in the role of President, for the coming year. Our Institute has decided to trial a two year term of office, which is something many other Institutes already do, and so this is the start of my second term of office.

I have worked in the industry for most of my working life, starting in the accounts department at Norwich Union, now Aviva in Newcastle in 1981 and moving across various underwriting and claims areas until 2007 when the Newcastle office was closed.

I then took a position with Northumbria Police where I became Crime Prevention Officer for Gateshead, a role I really enjoyed, and only left due to being enticed back into the  world of insurance, and I joined Tesco Underwriting, where I have worked since 2010,firstly leading teams in both FNOL and Personal Injury and I am currently a Customer Satisfaction Officer.

I have been on Council for 7 years, holding the position of secretary, and then also dinner secretary for some of 2021

I am proud of the fact that our Council offer members such a fantastic range of CPD events covering both GI and PFS topics, revision courses and soft skills, and we look forward to continuing this going forward.

As well as CPD events, we try to arrange social and networking events, and during 2022 2023 there were golf days, our annual dinner, and our annual quiz, as well as some Young Professional Group networking events. During 2023 -2024 our popular 5 aside tournament will be held as well other events which are regular features within our calendar.

Engagement will continue to be my theme for the coming year,  and I hope to encourage as many of our members as possible to get involved with events arranged by your local institute.

There are many employers who don’t currently engage with us, and I am trying hard to get contacts within these businesses to raise awareness with them, of what we are about and what we can offer over the coming months and years. If you’re reading this, and know of a business who doesn’t currently engage with us, please spread the word!

I intend to work closely with Ian Stockley our Education Secretary and Harriet Allen, our Careers Officer, in relation to CPD and careers, and with Vicki and her Young Professionals Group team to encourage our younger members to engage in more than just learning and furthering their careers, but to get involved in more social and networking events too.

I am looking forward to organising our annual dinner for 2023. We’ve changed the date and venue this year and hope to offer a great night in one of the City’s best attended venues. Watch out for information coming soon.

Key to all of this will be communication so I will look to keep our website up to date and to ensure that we publicise events as much as we can, as well as being more visible to our members.

My chosen Charity for 2023 will be F.A.C.T – Fighting All Cancers Together. It’s a local charity based in Gateshead which provides support to cancers sufferers and their families, friends and carers.

I’m really looking forward to representing our members and working hard to help the Local Institute of Newcastle upon Tyne  continue to thrive and grow over the next 12 months.

I am always happy to listen to any ideas you may have which we can put into place, and my contact details are in the “about us” section of the website.

Dawn