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RIMS Ontario Chapter Honours Bombardier's Daniel Desjardins with the 2025 Donald M. Stuart Award
Calgary (September 16, 2025) — RIMS Ontario Chapter (ORIMS) presented the Donald M. Stuart Award to Daniel Desjardins, Senior Director, Global Risk Management & Insurance at Bombardier Inc. The Donald M. Stuart award is widely recognized as Canada’s highest honour within the risk management field and, since 1979, has celebrated Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. The award was presented annually at RIMS Canada Conference 2025 in Calgary.
“Whether it is tackling a challenging project together, exploring new strategies to address complex risks, or a casual conversation about a colleague’s career, I've always felt supported by my peers and compelled to give that same energy back,” said Daniel. “I never expected to be recognized for my professional accomplishments or the joy I get from collaborating with others through my RIMS involvement. I am incredibly humbled and honoured to be named this year’s Donald M. Stuart award winner.”
“Daniel Desjardins is the epitome of a risk management leader,” said President of ORIMS Gloria Dang. “His contributions have shaped risk strategies nationwide and left a lasting impact on the lives and careers of countless individuals through his work as a mentor and educator. ORIMS is proud to present Daniel with Donald M. Stuart Award for his altruism and unwavering commitment to advancing the profession.”
About Daniel Desjardins
At Bombardier, Daniel Desjardin’s risk management endeavors account for the safety and well-being of the organization’s 18,000-plus employees, the integrity of over 5,100 aircrafts, and the resilience of properties in over six countries. Throughout his 44-year risk management career – 35 of which were spent at Bombardier – his vast contributions to the risk management profession have demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to supporting future risk leaders achieve their professional goals.
Daniel is recognized as a pioneer in the realm of captive insurance and is credited for implementing the first Employee Benefits Captive in Canada in the early 2000’s. He currently serves as the President of Bombardier’s wholly owned captive and The Bombardier Quebec Pension Committees that oversees seven pension plans and more than $7 Billion in pension assets.
Daniel has been a member of the RIMS Quebec Chapter (QRIMA) for 40 years and served on its Board of Directors for 15. During that service, he held positions as Chapter President, Society Director, and chaired numerous chapter committees. Daniel also served on the national RIMS Canada Council and as chair of RIMS Canada Council’s National Conference Committee. Daniel is also a guest lecturer at McGill University where he presents to students who are pursuing the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation.
In 2011, Daniel was presented with the Excellentia Award by the Association des Gestionnaires de Risques et d’Assurances du Quebec (AGRAQ), as well as being inducted onto Business Insurance’s Risk Management Honor Roll. He holds a CRM designation.
Fred H. Bossons Award
The Fred H. Bossons Award honours the risk management professional who earns the highest average mark on the three examinations required to attain the CRM designation. This year’s winner is Aleksei Kurdakov, Underwriting Associate at Ecclesiastical Insurance.
The CRM designation provides risk professionals with a foundation of knowledge and skills needed to identify, assess, monitor and limit risks. The award is recognized by RIMS and awarded by GRMI.
About RIMS Canada Council
The RIMS Canada Council (RCC) is a standing committee of RIMS, the risk management society®. The RCC mission is to enhance the activities of RIMS and the practice of risk management in Canada, while representing the interests of Canadian members and their chapters.
About RIMS
RIMS, the risk management society®️, empowers risk professionals to make the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Through networking, professional development, certification, advocacy, and research, RIMS and its 80 chapters serves more than 200,000 risk practitioners and business leaders from over 75 countries. Founded in 1950, the Society publishes the award-winning Risk Management Magazine and produces RISKWORLD®️, the largest annual gathering of global risk professionals. RIMS embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes all risk professionals to connect and explore the online Risk Knowledge library, tune into the RIMScast podcast series, and engage via social media. To learn more, visit www.RIMS.org.
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