ONE VISION. SEVEN VALUES.

ALWAYS PUTTING

PEOPLE FIRST 

At The Unisure Group, we believe that strong company values drive employee excellence and create a space in which our business can thrive.

These are the words that we live by:  

Our vision is to be a loved and trusted
global insurance provider, protecting
one million families every year.

We are a purpose-driven organisation, powered by a forward-thinking, growth mindset.

We actively seek new opportunities that cater to the evolving needs of our customers, guided by our vision to be a loved and trusted global insurance provider.

Customer obsession is in our DNA. We are obsessed with exceeding our stakeholders’ and our partners’ expectations and being there for them, especially when they need us most.

Every interaction is an opportunity to create a positive impact through compassion and kindness. We act with tenacity and urgency.

We lead by example, not by title. We give credit where it’s due, we ask for help when needed, and we offer help to others.

We take accountability for our decisions and actions. We create a culture of reliability, collaboration, radical transparency, and mutual respect.

The best ideas win, regardless of hierarchy. We encourage diverse perspectives and insights.

We harness the power of data and analytics to ensure that our decisions and strategies are contextually and empirically grounded.

We treat the company’s assets with the utmost care. We prioritise the long-term sustainability of our organisation, diligently monitoring and assessing risks to safeguard the best interests of our stakeholders.

We create a collaborative and inclusive environment where diverse talents and perspectives coalesce to achieve our shared goals.

By working together as a team, we can accomplish more than we could do individually.

“We are accountable for our values, and that shows our partners and our people that we are a company of integrity. If we want to live up to our vision to be a loved and trusted global insurer, we need be true to our word and show clients, brokers and stakeholders that our whole company operates according to these values.”

- Barry Sundelson, CEO, The Unisure Group -

Meet the passionate people behind our brand

Every day, from our offices in four continents around the world, we come together to do great things. We might go by the titles of actuaries, underwriters and executives, but really we’re dreamers, thinkers, and doers.

Meet the brilliant minds that make up The Unisure Group’s management team:

DR GRAHAM WOOLFORD

CHAIRMAN

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EXPERIENCE

  • Over 35 years’ worth of experience running multinational corporations across numerous industries
  • Founding shareholder of The Unisure Group

EDUCATION

  • Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
  • Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary
  • Completed a Doctorate at Edinburgh Business School

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“True happiness comes from helping and being kind to others – every single day. This is the true ethos of The Unisure Group.”

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Obtaining my doctorate and actuarial qualifications, and being head of The Unisure Group, the most exciting global insurer with an amazing team behind it.

Stephen Conway

Deputy Executive Chairman

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EXPERIENCE

  • Over 28 years’ experience in the international life assurance business
  • Previously Head of Sales and Marketing of Lloyds Bank Offshore
  • Previously Regional Manager for Africa at Zurich International

EDUCATION

  • Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute
  • Member of the Personal Finance Society

BRAGGING RIGHTS

  • I can fly a plane!

PROUDEST MOMENT

  • Becoming a father.

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.” – Mark Twain

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

I am really proud of the young management team we have developed at Unisure, it feels so natural that our colleagues are empowered to lead.

BARRY SUNDELSON

GROUP CEO

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EXPERIENCE

  • 19 years’ experience working for Discovery Financial Services
  • Climbed the corporate ladder to become the COO of Vitality and Discovery Card
  • Discovery Card became the biggest lifestyle credit card in South Africa, and Discovery Vitality became the biggest wellness program in the country

EDUCATION

  • Qualified Charted Accountant
  • University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg:
    • Bachelor of Accounting – with majors in Accounting and Auditing
    • Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) – with majors in Accounting and Auditing

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Be impeccable with your word. Don’t make assumptions. Don’t take things personally. Try your best every day.” – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

There are so many, but being part of growing Vitality to be ubiquitous in South Africa was very special.

Sarah Dransfield

Head of Legal and Compliance

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EXPERIENCE

  • 10 years’ regulatory supervisory experience at the FCA
  • 4 years’ post-qualification experience as an Insurance Litigation Lawyer at DAC Beachcroft
  • Previously Financial Services Lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright

EDUCATION

  • Solicitor, qualified in England and Wales

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“All I want is compliance with my wishes, after reasonable discussion.” – Winston Churchill

 

PROUDEST MOMENT

I am a trustee of Smile Train UK, the international cleft palate charity.

Loura Joubert

Head of Marketing

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EXPERIENCE

  • More than 13 years’ experience in the healthcare and insurance industries (in marketing, branding and events)
  • Previously held a position as General Manager: Brand, Design and Events at a leading South African healthcare provider

EDUCATION

  • Honours degree in Graphic Design
  • BPhil honours degree in Marketing Management, through the internationally-recognised IMM Graduate School

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Everything happens for a reason.” – Anonymous

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Joining the group to start the Unisure Marketing Department in 2018 and seeing the immense successes and growth since then

Louis Hyatt

Commercial Director – EU, UK and US

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EXPERIENCE

  • Over a decade in insurance ranging from operations, reserving and reporting to underwriting and risk management
  • Worked for Lloyd’s Syndicate 44
  • Experienced performance management analyst, operations and underwriting functions
  • Strategically developing Group Life and Disability divisions’ profitably

EDUCATION

  • BSc (Hons) Maritime Business & Economics
  • Certificate in Insurance

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Unisure’s positive culture makes us stronger and more efficient, producing better results for our clients. I am proud to be part of a company where values drive results.”

 

BRAGGING RIGHTS

Cycling 129 miles from Birmingham to London Leadenhall Market for a mental health charity

Kiara Risely

Group CFO

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EXPERIENCE

  • Previously a manager in Business Restructuring Services (Corporate Finance) at PwC South Africa

EDUCATION

  • Completed an honours degree in Accounting at Stellenbosch University
  • Qualified as a Chartered Accountant while doing articles at PwC in Banking and Capital Markets

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

 

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

“To thrive on my journey through life whilst learning from my mistakes, embracing the joy and demonstrating humility, integrity and kindness in all that I do.”

Pierre Rossouw

Group Chief Risk Officer

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EXPERIENCE

  • More than 5 years’ experience working as a risk specialist with insurers and reinsurers across Africa and worldwide

EDUCATION

  • Completed an MSc in Financial Management (with distinction) at Edinburgh Business School (Herriot-Watt University)
  • Completed a BCom Mathematical Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“It’s not about being the best. It’s about being better than you were yesterday.”

 

BRAGGING RIGHTS

I have watched the Matrix trilogy in one sitting.

Cristina Meixieira

Operations Director

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EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

  • 25 years’ industry experience
  • International Emergency Response Assistance Specialist
  • Evacuation Specialist
  • Patient and Client Management Specialist

WORDS TO LIVE BY

In the end, only 3 things matter:

  • How much you loved;
  • How gently you lived;
  • And how gracefully you let go of the things not meant for you

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

  • I’m passionate about delivering ‘Healthcare with a human touch’, every day
  • Triple evacuation involving 2 air ambulances and 3 critical patients
  • Successful long-range evacuation of 3 pre-term triplet new-born babies
  • I bought my own Harley Davidson after dreaming about and saving for it for 10 years

 

Aron Sharman

Project and Partnership Implementation Director

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EXPERIENCE

  • Over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry
  • Worked for six years in audit services with Ernst and Young, followed by 3 years working as a financial adviser
  • Worked in insurance and financial products distribution in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia since 2004
  • Joined the Unisure team in late 2015 to lead the Asian distribution before being appointed Managing Director of the Individual Life division in 2019

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Fat guys are harder to kidnap.” – Anonymous

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Speaking to the widow of our first insured life to pass away. This short and simple conversation reinforced for me why we do the job we do.

CHANTELLE LAVENDER

Commercial Head of Africa

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EXPERIENCE

  • More than 25 years’ experience in sales, operations and marketing across various industry types
  • More than 10 years’ experience working in wellness and insurance
  • Previously responsible for managing Bupa Global’s Africa portfolio

EDUCATION

Currently studying towards a BA degree

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And be present!

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

To constantly strive to be the best version of myself, and to bring out the best in others.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Working for a large international organisation and being headhunted to join The Unisure Group team to head up the Sales and Distribution. It’s a true journey of growth, and allows me to focus on my passion for people and support the sales team to reach their greatest levels of success yet.

Daniel van der Merwe

IPMI Relationship Manager and Designated Officer

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EXPERIENCE

  • Spanning a career of close to 25 years, extensive experience in private healthcare financing, in South Africa and the broader African continent
  • Held various senior and executive positions, travelled and worked extensively across the African continent
  • Holds a particular interest and passion for medical insurance and making quality private healthcare accessible to the broader public

EDUCATION

  • Legally trained executive and graduate from the University of Johannesburg and University of the Witwatersrand
  • BA (Law), BA Hons (Employment Law) and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Ethics
  • Completed various regulatory and complimentary courses and studies advancing the scope of my knowledge and responsibilities

WORDS TO LIVE BY

I have always found inspiration in the words of Madiba, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

I have been fortunate to have several career highlights, but the proudest moments of my life are linked to my lovely wife, Anita and daughter, Pineki.

JAMIE FITZSIMMONS

Commercial Head Asia and Individual Life

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EXPERIENCE

  • Over 22 years of experience working in the life insurance industry in underwriting, product design, pricing, claims, terms and conditions wording, account management and dealing with customers, brokers and reinsurers
  • Worked for a Lloyd’s of London Life Coverholder, Lutine, in Birmingham
  • Moved to Cassidy Davis Life Syndicate 779, and later to Sagicor Life Syndicate 44
  • Joined Unisure in 2023 as Head of Asia and Individual Life

EDUCATION

  • I am qualified to Underwrite within the Lloyd’s building.

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you.  If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it” – Michael Jordan

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Taking a distressed book of business that was burning at almost 300% loss ratio, to a profitable book that burnt at less than 60% in less than 12 months.

Niel Liebenberg

Head of Health Operations

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EXPERIENCE

  • More than 15 years’ experience in health operations and analytics
  • More than 10 years’ serving on various industry bodies

EDUCATION

  • MBA in Health Operations
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Technology
  • Currently enrolled for a Doctorate in health analytics

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Don’t burn the day away.” – Dave Matthews

 

10 SECONDS OF FAME

I am releasing my first studio album and have my very own YouTube channel.

 

BRAGGING RIGHTS

I am an Excel wizard (I think).

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Joining the Unisure team and knowing that I have the ability, and more so, the opportunity, to affect positive change.

Amanda White 

Head of HR

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EXPERIENCE

  • Having several years’ experience in Human Resources, I thrive on my passion of a people-centric approach to create a better business, a better world, and a better ‘you’. That innovation happens by attracting, developing, and retaining the best talent; as well as developing outside partnerships to empower such initiatives. My key purpose is to invigorate everyone at The Unisure Group to bring their purpose to life through the work that they do, all the while taking the company to greater heights.

EDUCATION

  • BCom in Human Resources

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Joining the Unisure Group and being able to position HR as a business partner leader for excellence and passion amongst our incredible people and partners.

WORDS TO LIVE BY

A famous Henry Ford quote, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” I love that it emphasises how much attitude determines success or failure.

 

DAVID GARDINER

HEAD OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING & DATA

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EXPERIENCE

  • 20 years+ experience in web development and custom app creation
  • Strong background in cyber security and data protection
  • Full stack development skills, including various programming languages and server setups
  • Good knowledge of the insurance business and bridging the gap between insurance industry needs and IT solutions

WORDS TO LIVE BY

“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

Is this really the best way we can be doing this?

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

I’ve had many things I’ve enjoyed doing, over many years of working on contracts to help companies get set up with their special projects, but the highlight definitely came when I first started working with some of the people in Unisure and was given the opportunity to build something from scratch. It’s been a great journey seeing the growth of a company from the early beginnings to what it is now, and I look forward to seeing where it goes in the future.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

When I was at school, I earned my first pay cheques creating weekly cartoons for the teenager’s section in our regional newspaper. (They weren’t very good though!)


The Unisure Group is a proud supporter

of the Rhino Protection Project

Our Support

Wildlife conservation is close to our hearts, which is why we’re delighted to announce our corporate support of the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust’s Rhino Protection Project.

 

Rhino Protection

Today, there are fewer than 24 500 rhinos surviving in the wild. Rhino protection is a critical cause and has become the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust’s primary conservation project.

Fundraising

The Rhino Protection Project relies heavily on fundraising and donations to keep rhino poaching at bay, through equipping and training field rangers, for example, and running a dedicated K9 unit.

 

Find out more

To learn more about the work that the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust does, to help raise awareness about this critical cause, and/or to make a donation click the icon below

 

Giving back to the planet

by planting one tree at a time

At The Unisure Group, we’re passionate about conservation and sustainability. We’re always looking for ways in which we can give back as a business, which is how our partnership with Tree-Nation was born.

Tree-Nation is a non-profit organisation on a mission to reforest the world. Because planting trees is one of the most efficient solutions to fight climate change, their focus is to helps individuals and companies to plant trees all around the world and offset their CO2 emissions.

Our pledge

For every 10 new Unisure members we sign up, we pledge to plant 1 tree.

The impact

For every 1 acre of trees that we plant, we’re providing the planet with the oxygen requirements to sustain 12 people for an entire year. Just imagine what we can contribute when we’ve planted enough trees to form a Unisure forest.

Sharing the love

We’ll keep our employees and members up to date on our progress and educate them around the positive benefits of our company contributing towards both reforestation and offsetting carbon emissions around the world.