Managing Partners
Paul Mendham, CIP (Marine)
President
Phone: 604-558-7919
Cell: 778-870-9412
Email: paul@navismarine.ca
Bio
Paul Mendham started in the insurance industry in 1991 as a marine claims adjuster for Coast Underwriters Ltd. During his nine years with the company, he moved through the various positions and eventually landed at Marine Underwriter specializing in insurance for commercial vessels and cargo.
In 1999, Paul took an opportunity to serve as manager of garage and fleet underwriting for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia while he worked towards completing his designation as a chartered insurance professional through the Marine Specialist Program. In 2001 Paul achieved this designation and was awarded the Insurance Institute of British Columbia Bronze Metal for graduating third in his class.
Shortly thereafter, Paul realized he was a marine specialist and joined HUB International, a national insurance brokerage and the second-largest brokerage in Canada. Initially serving as marine manager, he ultimately went on to serve as senior vice-president marine and branch manager of the North Vancouver office. During his ten-year tenure at HUB, Paul managed a substantial portfolio of marine and commercial business – including, marinas, yachts and yacht clubs, commercial vessels, shipyards, boat dealers and brokers, marine repairers and manufacturers, and specialized marine-associated risks.
In March 2011, Paul started Navis Marine Insurance Brokers where he serves today as president. Navis is a specialized insurance brokerage dedicated to providing insurance for the unique needs of marine-related clientele.
Paul’s passion for the marine industry extends beyond his professional life. He has spent time working on commercial tugs, acted as coxswain in the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and served as commodore on the board of directors of a major yacht club. He has given his experience to several non-profits, including serving on the board of directors of Boating BC and BC Sailing. He enjoys racing sailboats, managing regattas and simply cruising with his family on his own boat. This unique background allows Paul to bring passion and a depth of marine experience to every client he serves.
Kris Johnson
Vice President, Sales and Operations
Phone: 604-558-7918
Cell: 778-871-5012
Email: kris@navismarine.ca
Bio
Kris Johnson began his career in the insurance industry in 2003. Since then he has honed his skills by working with some of the most prominent insurance names and companies in the business including ING Insurance Company of Canada and The Co-operators.
In 2008, after attaining his Level 2 Insurance Licence, Kris set sail and began working at HUB International. While there, he managed over two million dollars in renewal business in addition to putting his marketing degree to use by heading up a large part of the company’s new business development efforts.
Kris’s unique combination of insurance industry knowledge, educational background, passion for the marine industry and personal drive make him one of the most sought-after crew members in the marine insurance industry. This combination is what anchored him in 2011 to join Navis as a marine insurance consultant and broker.
For the last 11 years, Kris has been a member of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club as well as an active crew member in local and international sailing regattas. Since 2003, Kris has sat on the board for the Cues for Kids Foundation, one of B.C. Children’s Hospital’s renowned charities. Kris’s passion for Cues for Kids Foundation, one of B.C. Children’s Hospital’s renowned charities. Kris’s passion for people combined with his love of the marine industry allow him to offer his clients outstanding customer service.
Yacht Brokering Team
Faith-Hannah Dale, CAIB
Senior Account Manager, Yacht
Phone: 604-262-0770
Email: faith@navismarine.ca
Commercial Team
James McDonald, BBA
Account Executive, Commercial Marine
Phone: 604-558-7926
Cell: 604-789-9958
Email: james@navismarine.ca
James began his career as an insurance broker in 2013 and has steadily increased his industry knowledge, focused on marine related risks. A level 2 broker, James also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration.
James began competitively racing sailboats at age nine and continues to race his own boat “COHO” a 34’ Spencer. A member of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club since 1992, he served as the club’s Sailing Director from 2006 through 2013. He currently sits on the RVYC Executive where he continues to be directly involved in club business. In addition to racing, James is also a highly skilled and sought-after Race Officer in the Vancouver area. In addition to running regattas at RVYC, he is also the Principal Race Officer of the Deep Cove YC’s largest annual regatta.
Upon graduating from Prince of Wales Secondary School, James pursued a career in the Merchant Navy through BCIT’s Deck Officer Cadet program. While ultimately deciding this was not for him, he did complete practical experience onboard a 160,000 DWT bulk carrier and has a strong interest in all things maritime.
The combination of this practical experience with immersive insurance learning since joining Navis puts him ahead of veteran marine brokers.
Chris Goulder
Account Executive, Commercial Marine
Phone: 604-558-7927
Cell: 604-329-2278
Email: chris@navismarine.ca
Chris is a marine industry veteran in Canada. He spent over 30 years with Volvo Penta, the last 12 of which as president of Volvo Penta Canada.
In his career at Volvo Penta, Chris focused on building professional relationships with boat builders, dealers, brokers and marine engine repairers across Canada. He managed a well-respected team who under his leadership significantly increased their market share in both the leisure and commercial marine segments in Canada. Chris enjoys a reputation as a ‘can do’ individual and has been described as being patiently tenacious – both good qualities for the insurance industry.
Chris served on the board of the British Columbia Marine Trades Association for 26 years and served as its president for two terms. During his time on the BCMTA board, Chris was instrumental in implementing the decision for BCMTA to purchase the Vancouver International Boat Show. Chris was also a director of the National Marine Manufacturers Association of Canada for 16 years, again serving as chairman for two terms. He was the recipient of the BCMTA Industry Leadership Award in 2008 and he was inducted into the NMMA Canada Hall of Fame in 2013.
Chris has now been a fully licensed insurance broker since January 2014 and has used his marine industry knowledge and network to build a significant client base in both the leisure and commercial marine sectors.
Underwriting Team
Lauralei Thomas
Yacht Underwriting Supervisor
Phone: 604-558-7924
Email: lauralei@navismarine.ca
Lauralei started her insurance career in the fall of 2001 as a mobile road agent with Hub Barton in Kamloops. In 2006, she started working in marine insurance with Hub International TOS in North Vancouver and has been working on developing and expanding her knowledge of the marine industry ever since. In September 2013, she obtained her Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker certification and took a position as a marine underwriter with Premier Marine that same year.
In 2015, she changed roles at Premier Marine and became a marine claims examiner where she adjusted small hull and machinery claims. This opportunity enabled her to work with surveyors and adjustors in helping resolve claims, while expanding her coverage knowledge, which she found very rewarding.
Lauralei joined the Navis team in January 2017 and uses her underwriting, claims and overall insurance knowledge to assist with the placement of yacht and boat insurance for her clients.
Accounting Department
Caroline Drummond, CPA, CGA
Controller
Phone: 604-558-7922
Email: caroline@navismarine.ca
Having joined Navis in May of 2018, Caroline brings her over 20 years of financial management experience to the Navis team. She can trace her start in the financial sector to her first role at a large marina in Richmond, B.C.
Prior to joining Navis, she worked with a multinational Canadian-owned brokerage firm making her way up from a member of the accounting team to the role of Assistant Controller.
Once the decision was made to captain her own accounting department, working at Navis was a natural move, as returning to the marine industry meant following in the footsteps of her grandfather and great-grandfather – both well-known local tugboat captains.