Shaivahn Parsons from MLC Insurance is the winner of the 2024 ALUCA Turks Life Insurance Scholarship (ATLIS)
Shaivahn, Case Consultant, has taken out this year’s prestigious ATLIS with his outstanding paper on 'Innovation in Group Insurance.’
The well-researched paper was the standout in a field of great papers dealing with a range of pressing issues facing the life insurance industry.
This was MLC’s second win in the 18 year history of ATLIS. AIA also had a great performance scooping up the remaining podium places to further cement its position as the all-time leader on the ATLIS honour board.
The ATLIS prize is an overseas conference package valued at up to $8,000 including return travel, accommodation, $1,000 cash and registration to one of the following conferences in the USA:
- 2025 Eastern Claims Conference in Boston
- 2025 Life Insurance Conference in New Orleans
- 2025 Supplemental Health, DI & LTC Conference, San Diego
In addition to the major prize, Shaivahn will be invited to:
- sit on the judging panel for next year’s ATLIS; and
- speak to his paper at Turks’ Life Matters session to be held in early 2025.
'Unearthing innovative thinking is what ATLIS is all about and Shaivahn has really delivered on this. This was a pretty important topic and I suspect this winning paper will be a must read for industry executives interested in boosting group insurance coverage’ said Alph Edwards, Partner and Practice Head of Turks' Life Insurance, Superannuation & Financial Advice group and head of the ATLIS judging panel.
The 1st runner-up is, Madeleine Merriman, Senior Legal Counsel, AIA for her paper on ‘Life Insurance and Financial Abuse’. Madeleine wins a $1,000 Visa pre-paid gift card. The 2nd runner-up is Celeste McFadyen, Senior Case Manager, AIA for her paper on ‘Mental Health and access to Life Insurance’ Celeste receives a $250 restaurant voucher.
ATLIS will return for its 19th year in mid-2025.
Have your say on one of the issues facing the life industry and make your mark . All expenses paid international travel to a variety of life insurance related conferences is the main prize for best entry as well as other great prizes and the ongoing respect and admiration of your industry.
To enter, applicants are asked to write a paper up to 2,500 words answering one of 8 questions, drawn from a broad range of topic areas pertaining to the life insurance sector, in the Application Form.
For the full entry requirements, essay questions and to apply, download the Application Form. You can also download an A3 poster to put up around the office.
Click here to read the tip sheet from our experts and past winners on how to write a winning paper.
Applications closed on Sunday, 1 September 2024.
Hear from the 2023 Scholarship winner
Matthew Garrett from Australian Retirement Trust was the winner of the 2023 ALUCA Turks Life Insurance Scholarship (ATLIS) with his outstanding paper on 'The Rise of Artificial Intelligence: Life Insurance Implications: Is the risk worth the reward?’ The well-researched paper broke down the complex issues around AI into an easy to digest analysis of how AI has the capacity to revolutionise life insurance for the good of customer and insurer alike. In this short clip, Matthew talks about how to choose a question to research, what winning the prize was like and also gives his top three tips for writing a winning paper. If you are thinking about entering ATLIS this year, we suggest taking the time to listen to Matthew's video as it is very inspirational!
Download 2023 winners' papers
The winner of the Scholarship receives a package valued at up to AU$8,000 including return travel, accommodation, $1,000 cash and registration to one of the following overseas conferences of their choice:
- 2025 Eastern Claims Conference
- 2025 Life Insurance Conference
- 2025 Supplemental Health, DI & LTC Conference
In addition to the major prize, the winner is invited to sit on the judging panel alongside senior industry leaders for next year’s scholarship and is invited to headline the Turks Life Matters session in early 2025.
The 1st runner-up received a AU$1,000 Visa pre-paid gift card and the 2nd runner-up received a AU$250 restaurant voucher.
Submissions are assessed on:
- Understanding of and insight into the chosen topic
- Conclusions supported by sound evidence and research
- Clarity of thought
- Commercial insight
- Presentation
The 2024 judging panel comprised the following senior industry leaders:
- Jenny Oliver, Chief Claims Officer, TAL
- Gavin Pearce, Chairman, SCOR Global Life Australia
- Andrew Howard, Strategy Consultant, Insignia Financial
- Malcolm Weir, Head of Life Protection, Allianz Retire +
- Carola Moore, Head of Group Claims, AIA
- Linda Winterbottom, Claims Rehabilitation Consultant, RGA Reinsurance
- Matthew Garrett, Claims Technical Specialist, Australian Retirement Trust (2023 Scholarship winner)
- Joanne Faglioni, ALUCA Board Member & Chief Claims Officer, ClearView Wealth Limited
- Alph Edwards, Partner, Turks
- Darryl Pereira, Partner, Turks
Matthew Garrett from Australian Retirement Trust was the winner of the 2023 ALUCA Turks Life Insurance Scholarship (ATLIS) with his outstanding paper on 'The Rise of Artificial Intelligence: Life Insurance Implications: Is the risk worth the reward?’ The well-researched paper broke down the complex issues around AI into an easy to digest analysis of how AI has the capacity to revolutionise life insurance for the good of customer and insurer alike.
The 1st runner-up was Vanessa Back, Senior Claims Consultant, RGA Reinsurance Company for her paper on ‘Redefining the role of Life Insurance. The 2nd runner-up was Stuart Wing, Product Manager - Insurance, Rest for his paper on Enhancing the value of group insurance.’
Click here to read the full announcement.
Elizabeth Haddow-Allen, Client Manager, TAL was awarded the 2022 ATLIS for her outstanding paper on ‘Group Insurance - The impact of the stapling reforms’. The paper provided a cogent and accessible analysis of the stapling reforms as well as outlining a perceptive and entirely doable roadmap for tweaks to the system to ensure members’ valuable life insurance benefits are not put at risk. Elizabeth attended the Eastern Claims Conference in Boston, USA, in March this year. In this short clip Elizabeth talks about what winning, but more importantly, simply putting her many thoughts on the record, meant to her. If you’re considering entering ATLIS this year, we suggest taking the time to watch Elizabeth’s video for some inspiration!
The 1st runner-up was, Gail Jones, Head of Underwriting Innovation and Quality Standards, Integrity Life Australia, for her paper on ‘Climate Change and Life Insurance’. The 2nd runner-up was Lynley Moore, Strategy and Recovery Specialist, MetLife for her paper on 'Real Time Health and Fitness Data. Are Life Insurers Keeping Pace?'.
Be inspired by watching this short video from our 2021 winner, Alan Tealby, Case Consultant, MLC Life Insurance talking about his paper and what he learnt writing it, the prize he won and some tips on how to write a better paper.
Download 2022 winners' papers
