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#TIA2019… cast your vote for the top 20

04 October 2018 Myra Knoesen

It began with 159 applications, 59 went through to the elimination rounds, and now the top 20 candidates will battle it out for a spot in the final eight, and the chance to become the 2019 Insurance Apprentice.

Rehash of elimination rounds

Some interesting activities took place at this year’s elimination rounds as Price Forbes set the bar high with central themes set on creativity, collaboration and business principles.

The elimination rounds were once again held in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg to give all contestants an equal and fair chance and to try and suss out the best of the best. There was a massive variety of contestants, all different, and all up for the challenge. As the last of the three rounds came to an end, it became apparent that the judges had a truly difficult task ahead of them in selecting the top 20.

We would like to thank Norton Rose Fulbright (in Durban and Cape Town) and Auto & General (Johannesburg) for hosting the Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg elimination rounds respectively. We would also like to thank Price Forbes for being title sponsor of the elimination rounds, and for sending their CEO, Warren Bolttler, in conjunction with colleague Greg Dillon, to oversee the elimination rounds.

We would also like to thank the panel members who assisted us in the elimination rounds for their support, participation and commitment; Alicia Narainsamy (Auto & General), Charmaine Koch (Consultant), Gay-Lynn Rheeders (My Career in Insurance), Greg Dillon (Price Forbes), Heidi Dias (Constantia Insurance), Jacques de Villiers (Aon South Africa), Kurt Stanley (Commrisk), Lisa Foster (Discovery), Morne   Smit (Thatch Risk Acceptances), Noxolo Dlamini (#TIA2018 Winner), Pierre Roux (Santam), Sagie Pillay (Santam), Stewart Barret (Navan Consulting) and Warren Bolttler (Price Forbes).

We would also like to thank AIG for sponsoring three people to attend the IRMSA (Institute of Risk Management South Africa) Conference taking place on 3 and 4 October 2018. IRMSA has been very lenient with the rate as they are super keen to support #TIA2019, and we would therefore also like to thank IRMSA for accommodating us. 

We need your help!

The top 20 candidates, who are all in the running to mark their spot in the final eight of The Insurance Apprentice 2019, have uploaded a one-minute video in which they share their message to the industry and to people outside the industry about why they would be suitable ambassadors for/and within the insurance industry. 

Your vote counts #Insearchofthefinal8

We need you to watch, spot and vote for your pick of the final eight. Remember you can vote every day. Note that the votes will not determine who the top eight will be but will definitely contribute in making the final decision. The more votes they receive, the better their chances of making the final eight. The top 20 candidates are: 

  1. Avinash Ramksitan
  2. Bukhosi Khumalo
  3. Colin Lunsky
  4. Cornelia Nkosi
  5. Ditebogo Mokgalabone
  6. Dylan Browne
  7. Francis Kamenga
  8. Gillian Riley
  9. Jake Pennacchini
  10. Kishan Vanmali
  11. Melldrick Smith
  12. Mitesh Lakha
  13. Muhammed Doola
  14. Palesa Mochane
  15. Pieter Stoker
  16. Reese Aron
  17. Rudi Snell
  18. Sebastian Reddy
  19. Shaheel Jawair
  20. Sikhumbuzo Kubeka

Videos can be viewed and voted on the TIA website, the link can also be found on Twitter, and Facebook. If you would like to receive a newsletter, simply sign up here. To view photos of the elimination round, visit Facebook and Twitter to get a taste of the competition.

The top eight will be revealed on 17 October 2018 so get those votes going. Filming will take place from 20 to 25 January 2019. The series will be aired early 2019 via the FAnews and The Insurance Apprentice websites, YouTube and Facebook.

The winner of The Insurance Apprentice wins a trip to Lloyds of London, a R75 000 bursary from Inseta, a cash prize of R20 000 from Masifunde Training Centre, and also R15 000 from Hollard. 

The Runner Up wins R15 000, sponsored by Tracker and a bursary from Masifunde Training Centre worth R27 500. Third place will receive a bursary from Masifunde Training Centre worth R27 500. 

Each of the eight apprentices will receive a Samsung tablet with a wireless keyboard (sponsored by Masifunde Training Centre) and a R1 000 Uber voucher (sponsored by Discovery Insure), a book ‘Everything you need to know about non-life insurance in South Africa’, written and sponsored by Gareth Stokes and Liz Still, and a cool gift from King Price. 

Proud sponsors of #TIA2019

In showing support here are our #TIA2019 sponsors - thank you for your support and sponsorship: 

Platinum

  • Inseta 

Gold

  • Aon South Africa
  • Emerald Risk Transfer
  • Hollard
  • Innovation Group
  • Insure Group Managers
  • Lloyds of London
  • Marsh Africa
  • Masifunde Training Centre
  • Old Mutual Insure
  • Sasria Soc Ltd
  • SHA Specialist Underwriters 

Silver

  • Bryte Insurance
  • Constantia Insurance
  • FNB Insurance Brokers
  • Innosys
  • Oakhurst Insurance
  • Price Forbes
  • Santam 

Bronze

  • AIG
  • Auto & General
  • Chubb
  • Discovery Insure
  • HIC Underwriting Managers
  • Hogan Lovells
  • King Price
  • Tracker 

Thank you to all the sponsors who truly believe in skills development and the fact that we have to get rid of the misconception about what insurance really is. 

Editor’s thoughts:
Let’s get those votes going. The contestants have worked hard to get to this point we wish them all the best. Please comment below, interact with us on Twitter at @fanews_online or email me your thoughts at myra@fanews.co.za.

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