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Fiona Greenwood – Chair A privilege to have worked in Protection Claims for twenty plenty years. Technical Claims Consultant at Aviva York. An honour to be a part of the FOCUS committee and invited north of the border. I have always felt FOCUS provides a warm welcoming environment for networking, sharing knowledge and industry topics, welcoming new underwriters and claims assessors and keeping in touch with friends and colleagues. |
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Blair Dinwoodie– Committee Member I’m the Aegon Technical Claims Manager in the Underwriting & Claims Strategy Team. My journey here started when I left school in 1998 and took a phone job in Scottish Provident, where I quickly realised the value of protection insurance. To turn that from a job to a career I had a decision to make – underwriting or claims. I chose claims, and that’s what I’ve spent the majority of my working life doing since. As I was told by the Secretary to make this a ‘wee bio’ I can’t list all the insurers I’ve assessed for, but my wide industry experience set me up perfectly for my current role. When a customer has to make a claim, it’s our moment of truth – being in a role where I can develop our philosophy and influence how we do the best for customers when they need us most is hugely rewarding. Away from work I live with my wife Fiona and Lewis the Cat. I watch lots of football (Heart of Midlothian), some golf (Lee Westwood) and a little ice hockey (Glasgow Clan). I tried to learn to play golf, but it turns out I’m useless. I run to stay fit and participate in the occasional running event for diabetes and epilepsy charities. Fi and I enjoy trips away, going to the cinema and music gigs |
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Tom Green – Treasurer I work as a development underwriter in the Claims and Underwriting Strategy team at Scottish Widows. I have worked in insurance for 23 years. I started out in New Business at Scottish Provident before quickly moving to Underwriting. I then spent two years at Standard Life before joining Legal & General in 2006. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint as FOCUS chairperson and my current role as Treasurer. I spend my free-time working on my tinnitus by going to loud and heavy concerts. |
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Paul Washbourne – Claims Education Officer I am a Senior Claims Specialist at Munich Re in London having spent my formative claims years (over 10 years) at Zurich Assurance (later Capita). I have had a varied and colourful employment history and fell into health claims by fortunate coincidence and haven’t looked back. I achieved my Claims Diploma before the birth of our first child and I’m very glad I did as now I have 2 boys, aged 7 and 5, and I can’t remember how I had the time to do anything! I did manage the claims team at Zurich for a time, but decided that I wanted to get back to doing some ‘real work’. I now enjoy a multifarious role with Munich Re and love the fact that I get to learn new things every day. I used to play rugby but I’m now just a supporter, when I get the chance, and am a Vice President at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC. |
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Jane Lyle – Secretary I currently work as a Development Underwriter, within the Underwriting and Claims Strategy team of Scottish Widows (part of Lloyds banking Group). Prior to this I have spent several years as a senior underwriter with Legal and General in Edinburgh, and also spent time in Glasgow working for Abbey National and Scottish Provident within the new business area, as well as training to be an underwriter. Outside of work, I have a love for travel, food and drink so try to combine them all as often as possible! |
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Paul Hunt I have past direct office experience but most of my time has been spent in Reinsurance. I work at SCOR Global Life, as a Senior Underwriter. Previously held FOCUS roles of Secretary and Chair, I also represent FOCUS on the LUCID committee and had the honour of Chairing LUCID in Glasgow 2019. I’m a qualified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and have a love of sharks ! Football’s a big passion of mine and am a qualified FA Licensed coach. I’m also a committee member for our towns Youth Football Club and Manager and coach one of the youth teams. Always the optimist, I support West Ham United (since 1975) and still dream of Champions League football for the Hammers! |
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Steve Simkin I started my insurance career in 1991 at Standard Life in Edinburgh and joined the underwriting department a few years later. In the latter years before leaving Standard Life, I concentrated on auditing, management of the online system and underwriting standards. During this time with Standard Life I have also completed my ACII qualification and underwriting diploma. I joined RGA in early 2008 to work closely with and support business relating to their Scottish based clients. I work at home on the outskirts of Edinburgh. My interests include football, old cars and cycling (and believe it or not, I once cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End!). I am the Underwriting Education Officer on the FOCUS committee and am looking forward to working to ensure this important aspect of the Forum meets the needs and serves the members appropriately |
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Tanya Rawlings – Committee Member Most of my working life has happily been spent in health claims. I started off in Standard Life and was there for 11 years. During that time, I worked in the various areas of claims, achieved my claims diploma and managed the claims and underwriting team. I then spent some time with Serco before moving to a Claims Technical Trainer role with Legal & General in Hove. I’m now back in Scotland and currently working with Royal London in a claims philosophy development role. I like to spend my free time travelling and tasting the local food and drinks with my dog and two husbands. |
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Lynn Timmons – Committee Member I have worked in the Life and Health industry for almost 20 years starting at Scottish Widows in Edinburgh. I joined Gen Re in 2000 and am now the Underwriting Manager. My current role spans a wide range of responsibilities including product development, account management, training and auditing.Outside work I keep myself busy by teaching yoga and I have a keen interest in complimentary health and well being |
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James Blaney – Committee Member I’m married to Karen and have 4 children Megan aged 19, Rhys aged 18, Matthew aged 9 and Jacob aged 7. I work for Royal London and I am based in Glasgow, but travel to Edinburgh too. I started my career in Insurance almost 27 years ago with Abbey National Life as a new business administrator which I carried out for 3 years. Abbey National acquired Pegasus & Scottish Provident so I have experienced the Bancassurance & Intermediary Protection markets. My current role is Underwriting & Claims Quality Assurance Manager. Claim to fame is I played Dennis Taylor (Ex world snooker champion) at snooker, obviously I lost ! |
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Dave Piggin – Committee Member After a brief period as the Underwriting Project Manager at Shepherds Friendly, I am now working at The Exeter as an Underwriting Rules Developer. The Exeter are expanding their protection products and so it’s really full on, varied with exciting times ahead. I have spent the majority of my career in the insurance industry at Friends Provident, which became Friends Life and is now part of the Aviva group. I initially joined Friends Provident in 1996 as a graduate trainee and started on a technical pension servicing team. After a couple of years I saw an opportunity to move into underwriting and have not looked back since. Over the years I have had many different roles within underwriting departments including Audit and Risk, training, expert system rules development and testing. In 2005 I successfully graduated from the internal team manager training programme and have managed a variety of technical underwriting teams since then; moving to International in 2012. I have completed my ACII underwriting diploma and also sat and passed (thankfully) the ACII claims exam. Outside of work I am married to Jane and have two children, James 13 and Ella 10. We currently live in Stockport near Manchester. I enjoy most sports, particularly football, although its predominantly a watching role now. I am a qualified FA licensed coach and manage my son’s U13 team and occasionally play for my local veterans team. |
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Richard McKenna Most of my working life has been as a medical underwriter. I started my career in insurance back in 2004 with Standard Life before moving to Legal & General where I have been happily underwriting as part of the team there since 2007. My current role is in high net worth underwriting. Outside of work I live with my wife Mel and three, almost grown up children – Ben 21, Ellie 18 and Kalli 14. My interests include playing rugby for Lasswade RFC while I still can, going to the gym or attempting to take up golf as an over 40s project! |
