BU Education Scholarship Awarded to Shelley Schad, AXA XL

We are pleased to announce that Shelley Schad, Head of Pricing, VP – Political Risk, Trade Credit, and Bond, at AXA XL has been selected as winner of the first Berne Union Educational Scholarship.

She will join the October intake of Offenburg University’s Post Graduate Certificate in ‘Finance, Risk and Insurance’, delivered via distance learning.

Shelley was awarded the scholarship on the basis of her submission to an essay competition, open to applicants from employees of all Berne Union members. Her essay explores the future of the export credit insurance industry and what may emerge as the dominant themes in the course of the next decade.

The Scholarship Award Committee – comprised of the President, Secretary General and representatives of each Berne Union Committee, as well as Offenburg University – summarised her entry:

“Shelley demonstrates a very good understanding of topical issues, challenges and opportunities in the credit insurance industry. Her key focus, on the opportunities offered by new technologies shows evidence of analytical skills and target orientation. Her arguments are strong, well presented and well structured; her essay is written with clarity and coherence and is mature in content and perspective.”

Shelley herself comments that:

“I would like to extend a thank you to the Berne Union for this excellent opportunity to further my education in export credit insurance at Offenburg University.  I am truly honored and excited to start this program which will enhance my experience in this very interesting specialization.  Additionally, thank you to the fantastic Political Risk, Credit and Bond team at AXA XL for all the support.“

The runner-up entry, submitted by Burak Alp Arslan of Turk Eximbank, was also highly commended by the Award Committee, as “well structured, creative and covering a wide range of relevant themes”.

Both essays will be published in forthcoming edition of the BUlletin digital newsletter.

The Berne Union is grateful to Offenburg University for providing the scholarship and delighted to contribute to the professional development of our members in this way.

Further details on the Finance Risk and Insurance course are available via the Offenburg University website. Current employees of Berne Union members registering for the course can avail of a 10% discount upon enquiry to bu-sec@berneunion.org.