Erik Johnson

Your Story:

Erik’s day job is as the Active Underwriter for MIC Global Syndicate Lloyd’s Syndicate 5183 and being an ExCo member of MIC Global, an insuretech focused on digitally distributed micro-insurance. He is currently the only out gay man working in this role in the Lloyd’s insurance market. Erik is an avid volunteer and passionate advocate for all things Canada, insurance, and inclusion and diversity.

He was a founding Co-Chair of Link (LGBT Insurance Network), the Insurance Institute of London’s first Diversity Champion, a founding Steering Committee member of iCAN (Insurance Cultural Awareness Network),and was part of the group that founded Inclusion@Lloyd’s and leads its Partner Network Initiative. Erik also sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Calgary’s Risk & Insurance faculty’s Advisory Board.

His previous life was as a professional ballet dancer, having trained with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Following an injury that cut short his career, Erik returned home to Calgary to study his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a joint major in Insurance, Risk Management & Finance.

Erik started his insurance career at Marsh in Canada and moved to London in 2004 to study his MSc Insurance & Risk Management at Cass Business School. Upon graduation, Erik joined Deloitte’s Corporate Finance Insurance Practice working as an Assistant Director on M&A due diligence and strategy projects across the insurance industry. He joined the London insurance market in 2011 working in strategy, corporate development, and syndicate management roles.

In 2017 Erik was recognised as a ‘Market Inclusion & Diversity Champion’ by LM Forums; in 2019 as the Chartered Insurance Institute’s ‘Unsung Hero’ and ‘Special Recognition Award’ at the Dive In Awards; in 2020 the ‘Distinguished Alumni Award’ by the University of Calgary’s faculty of Risk Management & Insurance; and in 2023 was awarded ‘Diversity Champion of the Year (Small Firm)’ at the Financial Times’ Advisor Awards. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and Court Assistant with the Worshipful Company of Insurers.

Your Impact:

During my nearly 20 years in London, I have:
- Co-Founded and been the Co-Chair of the Link, the LGBT Insurance Network who won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and has chapters in the UK, Canada, US, and Bermuda where I still serve as International Ambassador
- Co-Founded and sit on the Board of Inclusion@Lloyd’s, a group of insurance executives who work to drive inclusion in the insurance industry and are behind the global Dive In Festival
- Co-Founded and sat on the Steering Committee of iCAN, the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network
- Co-Founded and sat on the Steering Committee of iDAWN, the Insurance Disability, Ability, & Wellbeing Network
- Was the Chartered Insurance Institute’s first D&I Champion for the London region
- Currently sit on the Board of iWIN, the Insurance Women’s Inclusivity Network
- Regularly speak and write articles in support of making insurance more inclusive
- Recently selected to have a portrait taken and hung in the Old Library of Lloyd’s of London highlighting my pioneering work around LGBT inclusion in the Lloyd’s market

Your Advice:

Be yourself at work, be out from day one, don’t be shy at turning down a job or leaving one where you can’t be yourself, and get involved in trade associations / networks around your sector of fintech to drive positive and inclusive change in your sector.