Centenary Year - 2007.

The Countdown has begun......

Since becoming the 14th regional Institute admitted to the then Federation of Insurance Institutes of Great Britain and Ireland in 1907, a lot has happened to The Belfast Insurance Institute. Here are just some of the milestones which are found along the way as we journey into the 21st Century towards our 100th year.

Founded in 1907 - The same year in which the London, Liverpool and Cardiff Insurance Institutes were formed. The first President of the Belfast Insurance Institute was W J Jefferson JP of the "Royal Insurance Company".

1989 - BII President Derek Rankin persuades Council to upgrade the Diploma ceremony to successful Fellowship and Associateship by holding a "Graduation Style" format in the Great Hall in Queen's University. This gave the recipients an opportunity to have their efforts recognised in front of family and friends - a tradition which is still carried on to-day.

1991 - BII President Victor Haslett elected first National CII Vice President from Northern Ireland. Belfast hosts hugely successful National Conference, which in spite of "the Troubles" attracts in excess of 500 delegates.

1994 - Mrs Grace McCombe, FCII, "General Accident", elected as first female President.

1996 - CII Centenary Commemorative Mosaic arrives in Belfast where BII President Billy Alister inserts and signs the "Belfast Institute" piece of the jig-saw, before transferring the mosaic to Peter O'Neill, President of the Londonderry Institute.

1997 - BII President Paul McCann Hosts Family Fun Day at Carrickfergus Castle & Knight Rider Centre as part of the CII Centenary Celebrations in conjunction with "Save The Children Fund".

1999 - Three years after CII goes on the Web, Mike Burnett steers Belfast into becoming the fifth Local Institute to launch its own site.

2001 - The Belfast Insurance Institute is still thriving. This is despite the many mergers, and take overs, effecting not only the corporate national and multi-national Underwriters, but also local and national Brokers and Loss Adjusters / Assessors. The BII, after almost 100 years still remains in the "Top Twenty" of local Institutes, (currently around number 12 by size, approximately 1150 members).