Our Team

Richard B. Darke
B.Comm CIP
CEO & Managing Director

Ric is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of our firm and one of four partners. He joined Barnescraig in 1995 after spending ten years as a claims analyst, branch manager and Assistant Vice-President in a nationally based claims firm, running operations in Vancouver and Toronto. Ric is an experienced claims professional who focuses his attention on complex claims issues including professional liability, construction liability and property claims, claims consulting, third party administration and litigation management. In 1996, Ric obtained his Associateship with the Insurance Institute of Canada, graduating as the Bronze medalist. He is a Chartered Insurance Professional.

Email: rdarke@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3557

Tricia C. M. Smith
CM OBC BA LLB LLD (Hon)
Partner & Deputy Managing Director

Tricia is one of the five partners of Barnescraig and our Deputy Managing Director. She joined our firm in 1992 after practicing law for seven years. Tricia leads our personal injury practice and provides adjusting and consulting services on a broad range of liability claims, including head injury and catastrophic claims. She has completed detailed risk management studies for sport and recreation exposures. Tricia is a qualified Sport Arbitrator and a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport which oversees the International Court of Arbitration. A medallist at the Olympics, she remains active in the Olympic movement and the governance of international sport. She was recently elected to the International Olympic Committee.

Email: tcmsmith@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3550

Karl H. Herrmann
Partner

Karl is a seasoned claims analyst and adjuster with over 30 years’ experience. Karl has focused his expertise on professional liability and construction claims. Karl, a skilled and respected negotiator, is extremely effective in resolving conflicts, advancing our clients' cases, and in bringing files to conclusion in an economic and expedient manner.

Email: kherrmann@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3551

Nancy L. Bergh
LLB
Partner

Nancy has been an adjuster with Barnescraig since 2000. Before joining our firm, Nancy practiced law for several years, focusing on insurance and general litigation. Her portfolio includes a broad range of complex liability claims, including professional liability, CGL and products liability. Nancy was a key member of our adjusting team for the 2010 Games. She is currently managing a number of large cases including class action proceedings. Nancy also has extensive expertise in policy interpretation and coverage matters.

Email: nbergh@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3554

Victor M. Machado
FCIP CRM
Partner

Victor has been an associate with Barnescraig since 2007 and in 2016 became a partner. Before joining the firm, Victor was a Senior Liability Examiner with ING Insurance Company of Canada, specializing in niche claims. Prior to that Victor was a Liability Examiner with Allianz Insurance and a Claims Analyst with TD Insurance. Victor has earned his Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) and Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designations. Currently Victor handles a wide array of casualty claims while specializing in commercial host liquor liability.

Email: vmachado@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3559

Beverly L. Wilbee
CIP
Retired Partner

Bev is a founding partner of Barnescraig and has been with the firm since it was established in 1991. Bev brings energy and compassion to her work. A Chartered Insurance Professional, she has handled hundreds of liability claims in her adjusting career including professional and municipal liability, personal injury and motor vehicle claims. In 1997 Bev was the Silver medalist in the Insurance Institute of Canada's Associateship program. She was also awarded the Canadian Independent Adjusters' Association Prize for Top Graduate - Independent Adjuster.

Jennifer A. McGowan
BA (Hon) CIP CRM
Associate

Jennifer began her insurance career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Group in 2001 and moved into independent adjusting in January of 2005. Before her start at Barnescraig in 2008, she handled a balanced mix of property and general liability claims, but quickly discovered her passion for the liability side of the profession. In addition to earning a double honours degree from York University, Jennifer is a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and a Canadian Risk Manager (CRM).

Email: jmcgowan@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (778) 242-5612

Laura L. Yovanovich
Associate

Laura joined Barnescraig in April 2012 after working with SCM Claims Pro as a property adjuster and most recently with a property restoration company. We are looking forward to Laura's leadership in the property side of our business as well as working with her in our liability practice.

Email: lyovanovich@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3556

Tyler T. Chan
CIP CRM
Associate

Tyler came to Barnescraig & Associates with a background in automobile and property adjusting. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia majoring in Accounting and is currently working towards obtaining the Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional designation. Tyler manages a diverse portfolio including automobile liability, commercial general liability, course of construction, and professional liability claims. Tyler was born and raised in Vancouver and appreciates the value of preserving his culture. He is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Email: tchan@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3380

Valerie E. Weston
CIP
Associate

Valerie joined Barnescraig in 2015 after 15 years as a multi-line field adjuster and examiner, followed by 7 years in claims management with Family Insurance Solutions Inc. A Chartered Insurance Professional, Valerie brings a pragmatic and professional approach to problem solving resulting in successful claims solutions. Valerie’s experience and portfolio includes a broad range of liability claims including casualty and property, professional liability, construction liability and TPA work for syndicates of Lloyds of London.

Email: vweston@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3555

Jason Harrison
FCIP CRM
Associate

Jason Harrison joined Barnescraig in April 2016, having spent nine years working for a leading insurer dealing with personal lines automobile, property and casualty claims. Jason brings a further ten years of previous claims experience, gained in the UK outbound travel industry where he handled bodily injury claims and consumer contract dispute litigation for a multi-national tour operator’s package travel, travel agency and airline operations. Jason recently achieved the Fellowship Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designation with Honors.

Email: jharrison@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3386

Ryan O'Keeffe
Associate

Ryan joined Barnescraig & Associates in 2016 after completing BCIT’s General Insurance and Risk Management program. He is both a Canadian Risk Management (CRM) and a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) candidate. Ryan has also refereed in B.C.’s Junior “A” Hockey League for the past four years and has been selected to officiate in various International Championships.

Email: rokeeffe@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3552

Jack Ng
B.Comm.
Associate

Jack Ng joined Barnescraig in June 2017 with an analytical background in the banking and insurance industry. He discovered his passion in adjusting and leaped to a career change. Jack holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, majoring in Finance. He is currently working towards attaining the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. Jack is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Email: jng@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3387

Desiree A. Varhanik
FCIP CRM
Associate

Desiree Varhanik has been an associate with Barnescraig since late 2017. Before joining the firm, Desiree was an independent adjuster at Payne Travis & Associates for 11 years, working with property and liability claims. She has 17 years industry experience. Desiree has earned her Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) with Honors and Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designations. She also has completed a Human Resource Management Certificate from BCIT. Currently, Desiree handles a wide array of casualty claims, with a specialty in property damage liability and bodily injury.

Email: dvarhanik@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3381

Lisa J. Balcaen
BBA CIP
Associate

Lisa Balcaen joined Barnescraig in late 2017. Before joining the firm, Lisa was a multi-lines adjuster with a geographical focus on the Sea-to-Sky corridor. She attained her Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in 2009 from Capilano University. Lisa has 8 years of industry experience and has successfully achieved her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. 

Email: lbalcaen@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3384

Simon Buckley
Associate

Simon has spent the last 9 years dealing with mult-ilines adjusting in the Interior of BC and recently joined Barnescraig & Associates. He spent 19 years prior investigating structural claims in the UK. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Surveying and is focused on building defect analysis, along with property and casualty claims.

Email: sbuckley@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3383

Colm Ivers
Associate

Colm joined Barnescriag & Associates in 2019. Originally from Ireland, Colm relocate to Canada in 2012. Colm holds a B.A. in Music and English and is a current Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) candidate. Colm is continuing in his family’s tradition of loss adjusting.

Email: civers@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 441-5971

Megan Bradley
Junior Associate

Megan Bradley joined Barnescraig & Associates in late 2017 with a background in Claims Administration and a passion for the Industry. In July 2018 Megan became a junior associate; prior to which she assisted with the coordination of our London Desk. Megan majored in Criminology and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University as well as an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Camosun College. Megan is currently working towards attaining the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation.

Email: mbradley@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 689-7277

Kerry Ferreira
London Desk Coordinator

As the London Desk Coordinator, Kerry Ferreira is the firm’s liaison with intermediaries, London brokers and coverholders. She is responsible for funds management, compliance, and reporting. Kerry is looking forward to building lasting relationships in her role at Barnescraig and Associates

Email: kferreira@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3558

Denise D. Dei
Manager of Administration

Denise is the Manager of our Administration Department. She has been with Barnescraig since 1997. Through her hard work and dedication in all aspects of our administration and IT, Denise has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge which makes her an indispensable member of our management team.

Email: ddei@barnescraig.com
Direct Line: 1 (604) 806-3382