InsureTalk54: Live longer, live smarter

InsureTalk54, in partnership with Discovery and Global Choices, took place online on Thursday, 17 July 2025. MC Christelle Colman opened the conference by introducing the theme, “Living longer, living smarter: Navigating the next age of work, wellness and risk” ahead of a full and interesting line-up.

An ageing world

Saqib Hossain introduced his topic, “Longevity in Motion: Why an ageing world demands new short-term solutions”, by acknowledging it might initially seem more relevant to long-term insurance. However, he pointed out that “leading research from Capgemini and McKinsey… is having some interesting implications for the short-term industry as a whole.”

He highlighted three major shifts: longevity and ageing, urbanisation, and changing consumer behaviour.

“By 2050, 1 in 6 people globally will be over the age of 65, up from 1 in 11 in 2019,” he said, adding that, “… in Japan, 30% of the population is already over the age of 65.”

Urbanisation, he said, is creating “an unprecedented concentration of people and wealth,” amplifying catastrophic risks.

He also emphasised falling fertility rates: “In more than half of the world, fertility rates have already fallen below replacement level.”

Discussing the implications for insurers, Saqib said, “The world we look at today is one where risks are fairly tangible. The world that is taking shape is one where risks are far more concentrated and increasingly intangible.”

He explained how shifting consumer preferences – from asset ownership to experiences – demand a move away from one-size-fits-all models.

“Consumer behaviour is shifting, the experience economy is on the rise, and older consumers may demand more flexible, usage-based, service-oriented offerings.”

He urged advisors to embrace their role as “trusted translators” in this evolving landscape: “Insurance is no longer just about covering risk. You have to support people in how they live, move, work and age.”

He encouraged advisors to “reassess coverage with older clients” and to promote resilience-focused services that enable safe ageing in place.

“Ultimately, products and advice need to adapt,” he said, “because the frameworks that underpin traditional risk models may no longer be relevant.”

Good behaviour = low risk

Dr Mosima Mabunda, Chief Clinical Officer for Discovery Vitality, opened her talk by setting the scene for why health interventions are crucial today.

“The nature of the risk that we’re facing is behavioural,” she said, highlighting how physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol abuse and inadequate screening drive most non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These “diseases of lifestyle” are responsible for 60% of deaths globally, she explained, adding, “If you exercise and eat well, you reduce your risk, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk – you still need to screen regularly.”

Mosima underscored how our perception of health is often skewed, with many people believing they’re healthy despite having chronic conditions.

She pointed out the behavioural paradox in healthcare: “People value rewards that are immediate, but the benefits of healthy habits are often only realised later.” To address this, Discovery Vitality aligns its incentives to provide immediate rewards for healthy actions, helping members build sustainable habits.

“Our core purpose is to make people healthier and enhance and protect their lives,” Mosima said. This approach creates a “shared value” where healthier members reduce claims costs, allowing Discovery to reinvest in richer rewards.

A key focus was VO₂ max (cardio fitness), now recognised as a vital sign by the American Heart Association.

“If you don’t know your VO₂ max, make it your priority to find out – it’s critical,” she said.

Mosima explained how Vitality incentivises members to improve their VO₂ max and how higher levels are linked to lower hospital costs and better health metrics like blood glucose and blood pressure. She added, “Healthy behaviours tend to cluster. People who exercise regularly also screen more often and eat healthier.”

Turning to nutrition, she detailed initiatives like the HealthyFood benefit, Healthy Dining, and the HealthyFood Studio.

“It’s not just about knowing what’s healthy,” she said. “We also need to make healthy food accessible and affordable.”

Mosima encouraged members to use tools like WhatsApp coaching for personalised support.

Hinting at what may come next, Mosima said, “If I talk to you next time, I’ll be talking about sleep. It’s important, and we’re working on incorporating it into the Vitality Programme.”

Meet iiSAbela!

iiSAbela, the adorable AI-bot (whose similarity to IISA CEO Thokozile Mahlangu was unmistakable), was introduced as “IISA’s AI-powered baby prodigy… packed with powerful capabilities” and “here to help us see the world and IISA’s services through fresh, smart and, dare I say, digital eyes.”

With her lively tone and playful delivery, iiSAbela gave a comprehensive update on the upcoming African Insurance Exchange (AIE) 2025.

“We are 10 days away from the African Insurance Exchange 2025,” she announced, adding, “We are already over 1 100 in-person delegates registered for Sun City.” She highlighted the presidential changeover from Collin Molepe to Zimkhitha Saungweme, which will take place during the AGM on 28 July and continue at the gala dinner. “This is an event you do not want to miss,” she said.

iiSAbela also reflected on IISA’s commitment to social impact.

“We adopted two schools in the Northwest last year… and this year, bursary recipients from those schools will be joining us to showcase that what we commit to, we actually deliver.”

She invited delegates to participate in the CSI event on 30 July, saying, “Join us to transform your knowledge, transform your network and become a better version of you.”

Delegates were also reminded of the IISA Golf Day, which takes place on 30 October 2025 at Royal Johannesburg.

TIA hits the small screen

Rianet Whitehead, co-owner and editor of FA News, delivered her monthly general media update with her usual energy and insight. She began by promising to give a sense of what’s happening in the industry and ending with “something very close to my heart.” She was, of course, referring to the launch of The Insurance Apprentice season 11 on national television. “It’s our first time on TV, and we couldn’t be more excited,” she said.

She started with a story that “broke all records at FA News,” their most-read newsletter ever: Policyholder vs Broker: Who’s Responsible? This vehicle theft claim – worth over R680 000 – was rejected because a second tracking device had not been installed. The broker claimed they sent a policy update to an old email address linked to the client’s ex-spouse, but “the ombud found the broker negligent not just for poor administration but for failing in their duty of care.”

The case sparked a wider industry conversation.

“Are all brokers doing enough to verify and update clients’ details regularly?” Rianet asked. “These days, brokers are being held to professional standards equivalent to lawyers and accountants.”

Linking the case to broader trends, she highlighted the growing focus on Treating Customers Fairly and the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI). “This ruling is a case study for COFI… every business – insurer, broker, UMA, DFM – will need to show proof of conduct and not just intent,” she said.

Rianet stressed the importance of improving communication processes, adding, “It’s not about finger pointing, it’s about fixing broken processes across the value chain.”

Rounding off with palpable excitement, Rianet celebrated The Insurance Apprentice: “The format is fresh, the personalities are bold, and the content is real. Yes, it’s competitive, but it’s also deeply human.”

She thanked sponsors, with a “very hard and intentional high five to Sasria,” the headline sponsor, and encouraged viewers to tune in to SABC3.

Applications for season 12 are open, and she urged younger professionals to apply: “This platform has changed careers, opened doors, and built confidence for so many.” She concluded with her trademark rallying cry: “Let’s keep raising the bar for our clients, our industry, for ourselves.”

Next up was the traditional entertainment slot. Christelle introduced Chad Nolan as “a dynamic pop recording artist from Cape Town” whose “captivating vocals and heartfelt lyrics” feature on his latest album Wild Card, produced by Jonathan Hector. She also acknowledged Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) for sponsoring the segment, saying their support “bridges the gap between commerce and culture, enriching both sectors for the greater good.”

Surviving a house fire

After a rousing musical session Sandra Snowball shared an emotional and deeply personal account of her experience transitioning “from advocate to consumer” after a devastating house fire.

“This is quite a personal story,” she began, warning that images of fire damage might be triggering for some.

Sandra, a long-time insurance industry professional and head of membership at the FIA, recounted the terrifying morning in November 2023 when she woke to find her home engulfed in flames.

“It’s your worst fear to be confronted by two massive columns of flames leaping up the wall,” she said.

As the crisis unfolded, Sandra’s industry knowledge and connections came into play. She raved about the critical role her brokers played, saying: “At 5am, my first WhatsApp was to my broker to say there’s been a fire. Nobody is injured and I need help. What do I do now?”

Her broker quickly arranged assessors, interim payments and even trauma counselling, which Sandra admitted her family didn’t take up but recognised as vital.

She praised their empathy and professionalism: “Every person we dealt with understood we needed to be handled with kid gloves. Their clear knowledge settled us into a state of ‘okay – that’s something we don’t have to worry about’.”

Sandra highlighted key lessons from her ordeal for both consumers and intermediaries. These included maintaining up-to-date insurance values to avoid underinsurance, storing important documents digitally, knowing your neighbourhood watch, and having fire extinguishers on hand.

“Multiplugs should not be hot,” she cautioned. “That’s where the fire in my house started.”

She also underscored the importance of empathy in client relationships: “Empathy and the human factor are absolutely crucial in this process.”

Concluding, Sandra reflected on how the insurance industry she has long championed truly delivered when she needed it most. “Insurance did exactly what it was meant to do – it gave my family back our home and our sanctuary,” she said.

She thanked Global Choices for sponsoring her session and left the audience with a reminder: “There is no saving on a premium when it comes to the claim. The cost of being underinsured is one no family should have to pay.”

The Diamond Success Formula

Dr Diane Boorman delivered a dynamic and inspiring keynote on The Diamond Success Formula, encouraging business leaders to reimagine growth with clarity and purpose.

“The only way for your business to stay ahead is for you to take the time to focus on your business,” she said. As the founder of The Diamond Academy™, she shared her global experiences and personal journey of resilience, including the loss of her husband in 2023, saying, “Helping people is hard work, but it’s also deeply rewarding.”

She structured her talk around the five Cs of diamonds – carat, colour, clarity, cut and certification – as a metaphor for building a resilient and impactful business.

“What is your impact? Do your clients really know your voice?” she asked, urging leaders to assess their uniqueness and confidence.

On clarity, she noted, “95% of business owners and leaders I work with have zero confidence… without clarity and confidence, growth is impossible.”

She stressed the importance of detail and authority in business, saying, “People are watching. Make sure you’re being seen as the authority you truly are.”

Diane illustrated her points with stories from her life and career, from meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu to walking Nelson Mandela into the marquee at Thabo Mbeki’s inauguration.

“Those extraordinary moments remind us to dream bigger and bolder,” she said.

She also shared case studies of clients who had doubled or even 10x’d their businesses by applying her formula, proving its practical impact.

Closing with a challenge, she asked, “Which of the five Cs are you lacking right now? What one thing can you change today to add positivity and growth to your business?” She encouraged attendees to dream big and take purposeful action, leaving them with the reminder: “When we’re not dreaming big, we’re not achieving.”

Preserve your retirement

Yasheen Modi, Head of Marketing for Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits, delivered a thought-provoking talk on A new world of work, blending practical insights with a future-focused perspective.

“I’m sure we’re all feeling this sense of angst in terms of how work has changed and continues to change in the advent of AI,” he began.

He set the stage by revisiting retirement basics, showing how small behavioural changes – like increasing contributions by just half a percent – can dramatically improve retirement outcomes.

“Early withdrawal can have a really devastating impact on your retirement,” he warned, reinforcing the value of long-term thinking.

Moving into the future of work, Yasheen highlighted seismic shifts shaping workplaces: “We’re multi-generational, hybrid, ageing, globally mobile and increasingly influenced by AI.”

He noted that 75% of the global workforce are now millennials, while Gen Z is growing fast, and baby boomers are delaying retirement due to financial constraints.

“Five generations are sharing the workplace, with younger employees seeking organisations with strong values and direction,” he said.

Hybrid work and constant connectivity, he added, have heightened mental health pressures, while AI is expected to “displace almost 100 million jobs globally in the next five years.”

To meet these challenges, Yasheen argued for a reimagined benefits landscape.

“We need our benefits and products to be more accessible, personalised, and rewarding – more than just lines on a payslip,” he said.

He shared data showing the power of wellness: Discovery members with higher Vitality engagement had significantly lower claims and higher salary growth. “Better health isn’t just good for individuals – it translates into better productivity, less absenteeism, and even improved earning potential,” Yasheen said.

Closing with a short AI-generated video, Yasheen left the audience with a vision for simpler, smarter retirement solutions and a call to embrace innovation.

Christelle closed the session by encouraging guests to attend the African Insurance Exchange and watch The Insurance Apprentice – if not live, then on one of the many online channels through which it is broadcast.

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