Insurance Business Review: Specials Magazine

1. Can you give us a short bio of yours and how the experiences you've gained have equipped you to be in the current role? I am currently leading the Business Transformation function for Dai-ichi Life Asia Pacific’s business, spanning projects across the digital and operations space. My career over the past decade has allowed me the privilege to experience life in other global insurers, taken me to many regional markets as a strategy and management consultant, and also provided me with front-row seats to the highs and lows of building ventures from scratch. In a global MNC like Dai-ichi, most of my projects tend to be multi-market engagements/implementations, so the project management experience from my past stints has proven to be invaluable in this aspect. Furthermore, being in a transformation function, the ability to think ahead of the pack, plan, and execute business roadmaps has been a real value-add to my key responsibilities. 2. In your view, what are the biggest challenges faced in the insurance industry and how are you addressing them? I believe the biggest challenge that the insurance industry faces is a two-tiered one, primarily one that is inherently trend-led, and a more deep-rooted people-driven challenge that exacerbates the former. Before you get into an uproar, hear me out! We have good people, brilliant ones. But insurance, at its core, tends to be a pretty conservative industry that looks at historical data and has some tight governance. That limits the way our people get to innovate on new topics, stay ahead of the curve, and come up with forward-thinking propositions. It is also probably the main edge that the snazzy tech companies out there have over us, being nimble and agile, so really how may we do better or risk getting disrupted completely? At Dai-ichi, we have a setup that tries to address this industry-wide problem statement; investing in people by exposing them to cross-functional roles through (global and) internal mobilit ... Read More

GSI Professional Services Pty Ltd (GSI) helps insurance intermediaries and distributors strengthen their operations and stay fully compliant across Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Its advisory work spans business, management and regulatory needs within the general insurance sector, giving firms a clearer structure and more dependable processes. In an environment where expectations are rising and enforcement is tightening, GSI encourages clients to see compliance not as an obligation but as an operating discipline. The team guides each organization through a structured journey, beginning with a clear understanding of how the business functions and continuing through review, corrective action, training and long-term improvement. The focus is on building confidence, consistency and clarity rather than producing reports that sit on a shelf. “We embed compliance into clients’ processes and systems and make our customers’ compliance journey as easy as possible,” says David Mills, managing director. This emphasis on practical, embedded compliance is reinforced by a team with genuine, hands-on insurance experience. GSI’s consultants come from broking, underwriting, claims and operational roles, giving them a realistic view of the timing pressures and client expectations that influence day-to-day decisions. Mills’ background as a coverholder, senior insurance leader and member of global broking networks adds further insight into how workflow habits shape compliance outcomes. First established as Gold Seal in 1995, the firm has grown into a respected provider of compliance expertise and industry training. Over the years, it developed and built a comprehensive training program and earned a strong reputation for Lloyd’s delegated authority reviews—milestones that reflect its longstanding contribution to the sector. ... Read More

Effortless claim settlement and readily available support can often be the difference between a seamless healthcare experience and a fragmented one. Delivering that efficiency takes a partner that brings people and technology together to make every interaction clear and responsive. Asuransi MAG is demonstrating what can be achieved when insurance services are designed for speed, clarity and complete peace of mind. It turns protection into a strategic advantage by designing personalized insurance solutions that fit....