ALI FAREED LUTFI

Head of Payer Regulation, Dubai Health Authority

Ali is an experienced insurance professional serving as the Head of Payer Regulation for Dubai Health Authority where he regulates the medical insurance companies, third party administrators and intermediaries. He has an established track record of streamlining processes and enhancing operational efficiency in areas such as licensing, ensuring compliance, and regulation as a whole for the medical insurance market in Dubai. Ali utilizes his increasing technical, operational, organisational, communication, negotiating and marketing skills to accomplish objectives and resolve issues with his unique blend of being a highly motivated Emirati individual. He combines his talents and accompanying international, regional, and national experience to facilitate the medical insurance industry as it interfaces with government regulation.

Ali’s previous employments include several years as Business Development Manager at Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, Sales Manager at Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC and Assistant Vice President at Gateway Insurance Brokers. Overseas in the US, Ali has worked as Managing General Agent for American Income Life Insurance Company and Director Middle East Operations for Sinclair Investment.

With over 10 years of experience in many aspects of the insurance industry, Ali continues to work diligently to assist the market interaction with government and regulations.

 

KEVIN WILLIS

Senior Associate, PGD Strategy Consultants, United Kingdom

Ex-Director - Financial Institution Rating Services, MENA Region, Standard and Poor’s

Kevin is an insurance sector-specialist, with over 35 years of global insurance experience as Group Financial Controller of the international insurance broker Minet Holdings Group PLC (now part of Aon), and Director at Standard & Poor’s Credit Rating Agency (now S&P Global Ratings) in London and MENA for over 23 years.

Kevin was instrumental in developing the criteria and process for analysing the performance and continuity of insurance syndicates trading in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, which eventually led to the market itself being credit rated for the first time. He also developed criteria for the rating assessment of trade credit insurers, and the Islamic insurance (Takaful) business sector. Communication of S&P criteria and rating methodologies became increasingly important and he developed a key training discipline within S&P to explain, and particularly discuss, these aspects of S&P activities both with insurance companies and the wider market.

In 2010, Kevin established a resident insurance analytical team for S&P in Dubai, based in the DIFC to cover the MENA market. His contribution to the region is widely recognized through the many presentations at conferences and informative articles driving credit strengths and weakness of insurers. Kevin is now a senior associate with PGD Strategy, a consultancy firm based in the City of London.

Kevin is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), having qualified in 1978, and holds a post graduate diploma in Business Management from Durham University.

 

ANDREW SMITH

CEO, RAK Insurance, United Arab Emirates

Andrew is an experienced head of business and certified board director, with significant experience in conventional and Islamic insurance across the UK and Middle East. An insightful strategic thinker with a proven track record of executing business plans and building sustainable businesses across the Middle East.

Andrew has developed, maintained and enhanced long term business relationships with Board level and regional regulatory bodies as well as a proven implementer of strategic business plans. Demonstrated extensive experience in corporate governance and has chaired and managed a number of executive governance committees that led to improvements internally and recognition of the company by local regulators.

His experience spans across all areas of an organization ranging from fiscal management, market development, technical development, emerging markets and creating shareholder value. Holding a master Degree (MSc) from the University of Leicester, a Post Graduate Diploma in Islamic Banking and Insurance from the UK and Financial Planning Certificates from the Chartered insurance Institute. Gained significant knowhow on establishing new insurance and re-engineering insurance entities in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait.

 

SHIVASH BHAGALOO

Consulting Actuary, Lux Actuaries & Consultants (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and KSA)

Shivash is a Fellow of both the Institute of Actuaries (UK) and the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA). Shivash started his career working in the Health insurance market with Alexander Forbes Financial Services. Working under the guidance of experienced Health Actuaries he gained valuable insight into the claims reserving, monitoring and pricing functions that form an integral part of this developed and mature insurance market.

Shivash supplements his Health knowledge with Life Insurance experience gained by working at QED Actuaries and Consultants, one of the largest Actuarial and Consulting Companies operating in Africa and also a division of the Aon Group. With experience working on Life Product Development, Pricing and Reserving he has knowledge of the specific technical differences between Life and General Insurance.

As a Consulting Actuary and Partner at Lux, Shivash has experience working in the General and Health insurance markets. These include the KSA, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar. He leads the Health Actuarial services team and consults to many companies in the Gulf, providing key technical underwriting support backed by experience consulting in the Health Insurance environment. Shivash also consults on the Motor insurance side to insurers looking to understand their claims experience in greater detail.

Shivash has led the expansion of the Lux Group into the UAE. With a growing breath of expertise and experience, Shivash seeks to provide actuarial support to the strong Lux client base located across in the region. Shivash acts as Appointed Actuary to several companies in the UAE and Oman.

 

MARK GREENWOOD

International Director, The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII.co.uk)

Mark Greenwood joined the Chartered Insurance Institute in 2005. From the office in Bahrain, Mark was responsible for all CII operations throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

In July 2011, he set up the regional office in Kuala Lumpur to oversee the CII's growing role in Asia. 

In 2016, Mark became the International Director for the CII. He is based in Hong Kong, and continues to drive the institute’s international proposition, with the emphasis on markets in Africa, the Middle East, India and Asia.

He has extensive overseas experience, having previously worked at senior management level throughout the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East in the wealth management and private banking sector.