Kellee Irwin
Vice President, Orion Travel Insurance | CAA Club Group
Thornhill, ON, CANADA
Executive leader driving transformational change to enhance the customer experience.
Spotlight
Biography
Highly motivated and strategically-focused leader with proven strengths in spearheading transformational change, strategic project delivery and top results, combined with over 25 years of experience in financial services, including 13 years of executive leadership.
Recognized for successfully implementing creative approaches to significantly enhance the customer experience, achieving positive financial results. Provided inspiration and mentoring to unlock individual talent and develop a high performing and cohesive team to its full potential in order to drive change.
• Strategically led challenging and complex situations through innovative and cost effective solutions
• Proven track record gaining internal and external stakeholder support necessary to drive transformational change aligned to strategic outcomes
• Built a consistent culture of continuous improvement and increased efficiency as business sponsor utilizing Six and Lean Sigma Methodology
• First Canadian to receive the honour of “Women in Insurance Leadership Awards, Notable Achiever”, and held numerous board and chair positions
Industry Expertise (3)
Insurance
Retail
Consumer Services
Areas of Expertise (5)
Travel Insurance
Customer Engagement & Retention
Customer Experience
Property and Casualty Insurance
Insurance
Education (2)
Ryerson University: B.B.M., Marketing
Insurance Institute of Canada: Fellow, Chartered Insurance Professional, Insurance and Risk Management 1996
Media Appearances (6)
Changing The Way Travellers Access Insurance Online
Travel Press online
2022-07-25
“The traditional way of building an online quoting system just wasn’t sufficient,” said Kellee Irwin, VP, Orion Travel Insurance Company. “We didn’t feel that the online experience was putting the needs of the traveller first, so we turned it on its head and approached things differently. We are confident that this new approach to accessing travel insurance and information about travel insurance online is going to be an industry game-changer.” Traditionally, online quoting systems for travel insurance have been designed with business needs at the forefront, rather than designed to reflect what customers need to confidently purchase the appropriate protection. “As a company founded to deliver the protection that our members deserve, this antiquated way of doing things wasn’t good enough. Our mission was to create an online buying experience that was inspired by what it’s like when a traveller engages with a CAA Associate at a store,” added Irwin. The end result of this in-depth work is the launch of a reinvented online travel quote and purchase system that makes learning about and buying travel insurance an easy and seamless experience for travellers. “Our research told us that travellers want to feel like ‘their own best expert’. This new online experience enables travellers to explore and learn about the different types of travel insurance and compare the cost of various levels of protection all at their fingertips,” said Irwin.
Here’s what residents of Brampton, Mississauga, and Canada need to know about current travel regulations
Insauga online
2021-07-05
“Entry requirements can vary by destination whether it be a different province, state or country. Travellers need to monitor those requirements closely and be prepared to carry additional documentation like proof of vaccination, and proof of valid COVID travel insurance,” Kellee Irwin, vice president of Orion Travel Insurance, said in a news release. “Many Canadians are excited to resume travelling, however a government advisory to avoid non-essential travel remains in place, and Canadians need to take the necessary precautions to ensure they protect themselves before embarking on their vacation,” she continued.
Orion Travel Insurance offers virtual medical assistance service
Insurance Business Magazine online
2020-06-09
“We felt it was important to add Virtual Emergency Medical Assistance to in-province travel, to help travellers preserve as much of their vacation as possible if faced with a medical emergency,” said Orion Travel Insurance vice-president Kellee Irwin. Irwin added that as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, Orion is anticipating more people staying close to home, choosing travel options within their home province. Extending the virtual care service to in-province travellers will give them additional peace of mind, the vice-president said. “Travellers have benefited from Virtual Emergency Medical Assistance while travelling abroad and between provinces for many years, but this same convenience has not been available for in-province travel,” Irwin stated. “Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted this gap that has been previously overlooked by travel insurers. We are happy to respond and give travellers this added protection.”
New insurance coverage for shared travel accommodations
Canadian Underwriter online
2019-03-21
“Travel behaviours are shifting quickly and we are seeing an increased reliance on shared accommodations when it comes to travel bookings,” said Kellee Irwin, vice president of Orion Travel Insurance. “This was a gap that we saw needed to be filled to ensure that our insureds would be covered.”
Kellee Irwin speaks to CTV about motorcycle safety
CTV News Channel tv
2016-09-07
As Chair of the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada, Kellee Irwin speaks to CTV News about motorcycle safety.
ICBC VP lives motorcycles
Motorcygal online
2011-12-09
Motorcycles have been in Irwin’s blood since she was five years old growing up in Cornwall, Ontario.
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