Pat Merriman was a remarkable actuary and businesswoman, who inspired the formation of what has developed to become the BWCI Group.
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She never wanted to take up a typical “ladies’ profession” such as teaching, but had heard of the actuarial profession while at school. She applied to Bacon & Woodrow in London and once Pat joined and qualified in 1951, she became only the tenth lady to qualify as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.
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She progressed rapidly within Bacon & Woodrow and in 1959 became the first ever female partner in a firm of consulting actuaries in the UK.
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One of Pat’s strengths was her ability to generate new ideas to develop the business – and undoubtedly one of her best ideas was to establish a Guernsey Office in 1979. As the Guernsey Office developed and evolved into BWCI, Pat spent more and more of her time here. She played a key role in the business life of the Island, being part of the Guernsey International Business Association committee for many years. She also inspired the creation of the Channel Islands Actuarial Society and the Guernsey Association of Pension Funds.
One of Pat’s strengths was her ability to generate new ideas to develop the business – and undoubtedly one of her best ideas was to establish a Guernsey Office in 1979. As the Guernsey Office developed and evolved into BWCI, Pat spent more and more of her time here. She played a key role in the business life of the Island, being part of the Guernsey International Business Association committee for many years. She also inspired the creation of the Channel Islands Actuarial Society and the Guernsey Association of Pension Funds.
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In 1991 Pat reached retirement age but continued with the firm as a consultant partner, retaining some of her long-standing clients. Pat could still be found in the offices occasionally to share her latest ideas right up until the year when she passed away. We think Pat truly was an inspiring woman.
In 1991 Pat reached retirement age but continued with the firm as a consultant partner, retaining some of her long-standing clients. Pat could still be found in the offices occasionally to share her latest ideas right up until the year when she passed away. We think Pat truly was an inspiring woman.
