I was a kid in matric, with good grades, but without the financial means to further my education.

At the time I wanted to be a Chartered Accountant, and had applied for several bursaries. But then I was approached by an insurer who offered me a bursary to study something called actuarial science.

My journey

Fast forward four years later, I graduated and was working for an actuarial consulting company that consulted broadly across the financial services industry. I was fortunate enough to participate in various excercises that allowed me to get broad experience across banking, long term insurance and short-term insurance.

At the time, I remember thinking that with the various regulatory changes on the horizon, the relative short-term nature of the risk, the relative low number of actuarial resources in the short-term industry, and the constant changes that will provide me with plenty of excitement. I believed that the impact it will have on any of the decisions I am involved in will come to bear relatively quickly, and that there will be job security.

Privilege of influence

Several years later at the stage of 29, after two and half years as part of Centriq’s actuarial team, I was given the opportunity to become part of Centriq’s Senior Management team, during which time I have had the privilege of influencing the risk appetite and strategic direction of Centriq.

Insurance has given me an opportunity to build a career. However, at the heart of it – the reason I love this industry, is because we provide a service for a customer’s fundamental need for financial security.

Insurance is there to help our customers rebuild their lives and businesses after an incident that could otherwise have financial ruined them. In spite of the tsunami of regulation we are experiencing, the ultimate goal is to provide a stronger and more sustainable industry that has the confidence of our customers. I am proud to be part of an industry that serves such a purpose.