Olamide Dada | Melanin Medics
Olamide Dada is a medical student and the founder of Melanin Medics, a non-profit charitable organisation for the present and future African and Caribbean doctor.
In her early years at Medical School, Olamide started Melanin Medics as a blog having realised that there were very few African and Caribbean students in medical schools across the UK. Determined to find a way to share her journey and encourage prospective African and Caribbean students to apply to study Medicine at university, she set up Melanin Medics in June 2017. The blog soon grew to become a nationally recognised organisation which aims to promote diversity in Medicine, widen aspirations and aid career progression. Melanin Medics supports African and Caribbean aspiring medics, medical students and doctors in the UK who have been found to face a number of challenges on their career journeys. Melanin Medics has been focused to implement positive solutions which will help to overcome underrepresentation and socio-economic barriers in Medicine.
Olamide is an advocate for youth social action and continues to amalgamate her two loves, medicine and social equality, in order to positively influence and inspire the next generation.
Olamide is also a current Scholar the Healthcare Leadership Academy and sits as a member on the GMC Equality and Diversity advisory board.
Her education and experiences in leadership further introduced her to current health policy debates and medico-political issues, sparking her interest specifically in healthcare leadership and the opportunities to bring about change and put forward solutions to benefit the health sector. Olamide is passionate about racial equality, leadership, widening participation and empowering young people.
In 2018, Olamide received the Rare Rising Star Award at the House of Commons having been recognised as one of the Top 10 Black students in the UK, she was also recognised as one of the Powerlist Media Top 100 Future Leaders 2018 and welcomed to No.10 Downing Street as a result. Olamide was a recipient for the Akindolie Medical Scholarship awarded to minority ethnic medical students with strong leadership potential.
Ayomide Ayorinde | Imperial College London
Ayomide is currently a 5th Year Medical Student at Imperial College London.
When she moved to England at 13 years old, she never thought she would end up studying medicine partly due to continuous discouragement from teachers along the way and not having all the opportunities she thought she would require. This was especially because Medicine is often viewed as quite an elitist hard to penetrate field. She attended state schools for secondary and sixth-form education and through this experience gained a vested interest in widening access into higher education as she realised how much difference support during the application process helps in accessing university.
When she got to University, she actively searched out projects that were helping school students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those aimed at people of colour. She has worked formally with Imperial College Outreach department and with other student led initiatives such as Imperial Vision Society and Black Medical Society. All these are aimed towards students from disadvantaged background. She is also a mentor for sixth form students through Melanin Medics where she provides support for students as they navigate the medical school application process. She believes that it is a disservice to patients if the doctors being produced lack a global understanding of the patients that they serve. Therefore, she hopes to contribute to tackling this through levelling the playing field through outreach in order to help make medicine representative of the general population.
With some colleagues, she recently co-founded ‘Native HealthMate’; a platform that hopes to widen access to health information for groups that are mostly under-represented in health care. This is through providing information that is sensitive to their needs. She is also a co-founder of the National Collaborative for Health and Social Media. This is a platform which aims to raise awareness about the importance of social media with regards to health and how social media can be used as a tool in healthcare.
Outside of this, she has served as the 2018 drama director in Afrogala; Imperial College African Caribbean Society's annual flagship show and Vice-President of the society. She is also currently the recruitment officer for the Imperial College Vision society which organises events for school students to experience medicine early. In 2017/2018, Ayomide was named one of the top 100 African and Caribbean Future Leaders in the UK by Powerful Media. She was also a contributor to the Merky Book’s ‘Taking Up Space’.
Her favourite quote is by Edward Everett Hale ‘I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do’.
Mansata Kurang | VR Revival / Royal Holloway University of London
I am a Nesta and Story Futures Immersive Mental Health Fellow at Royal Holloway University of London where I graduated with a First-Class Honours in Mathematics.
My project involves working alongside Psychology Academics to develop immersive solutions for Adults in the UK Mental Health industry. I am a Creative Technologist, passionate about using innovative strategies to fill gaps in the care of vulnerable underrepresented populations and promoting health inclusivity in Adults. As the Founder of Health Tech Start-up VR Revival, I spent the last year building a virtual reality 360 software application for dementia patients so they can experience love and joy through wellness and education. Our Revive VR app was released on Worlds Alzheimer’s Day in 2019 and has now been downloaded in 3 continents with our BBC Worldwide Campaign raising awareness on Dementia having over 500,000 views across TV and social media platforms. I also received positive patient trails and testimonials in South London through collaboration with Hestia Adult Crisis group. I was Finalist for 15 National and International Awards and won 7 Awards for excellence in Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Technology. I love personal development and I am very enthusiast about leading by example to inspire and motivate young women to unlock their full potential and do what they love while impacting the world positively. I am a self-taught technologist and an entrepreneur of excellence with my work featured in many publications such as BBC, The Times and Business Cloud. Prior to VR Revival, I built a platform where Young Professionals can submit inspiring content and I edit it using video and animation in return for donations. Donations are used to give musical training to help poor or war-torn children to unlock their creativity or aid the children going through mental health through music therapy. This evolved to Freestyle 4 Africa Foundation (F4AF) where we donate arts and musical instruments to African schools and impact hundreds of children including the MIS Arts and Music project and the Acholi Voices Uganda Project.
Louise van der Valk | THB Group
After completing my A-Levels at 18 I sought my "first proper job" in the City and successfully applied for a junior claims role at THB, a London Lloyd’s Broker.
Like most college leavers with no prior connection to insurance I believed Lloyd’s of London was a bank. It was within this role I learnt the basics of insurance and assisted in handling of our Binding Authority and Direct and Facultative (D&F) accounts in North America. As the business grew so did the opportunities to progress and in 2018 I was proud to be promoted to Claims Manager. As Claims Manager I am now responsible for overseeing the D&F losses emanating from the Worldwide Property division at THB.
Having truly fallen into insurance and learning the different opportunities now available to me, at the time I believed it was the best kept secret. I am a member of THB’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) committee and for me, an inclusive environment is one where everyone with the capability can be heard and succeed. I am currently working alongside others within the company ways to recruit more, promote more and retain more diverse employees and to strive for the secret to be out.
I have been involved in other London Market initiatives such as the U35 LMA LIIBA Claims Committee and was elected chair in 2018. As the name suggests, the U35 Claims Group is a networking forum for Lloyd’s Managing Agents and Lloyd’s Broker’s young claims professionals. The Committee is responsible for promoting education and interest in all aspects of insurance claims. There’s a real focus on educating our members on claims matters from all classes of business. In view of the electronic world we live in, we also work hard to facilitate networking opportunities for our members.
Luise Kindsvater | Euler Hermes
I was born in Kazakhstan but I moved to Germany when I was four years old, multilingual and multicultural settings are part of my DNA.
I joined the Hamburg School of Business Administration in 2010, which offers a great scheme to obtain your Bachelor’s degree whilst you are simultaneously gaining your first work experience with a company of your choice. For me this company was Euler Hermes, the world’s leading provider of trade-related insurance solutions – where I still work today. I had the chance to see all core departments within Euler Hermes during the 3 years of dual study ship, including an overseas internship in our Los Angeles office and was part of the company women’s network.
Upon graduation, I started working for the World Agency, a dedicated team providing flexible global risk management solutions for multinational companies. After two years as an Account Executive, I was promoted to an Account Manager, the youngest within the team back then and within a short period of time, my portfolio grew to include global clients in a variety of different industry sectors, making each and every relationship unique in its own way.
I was nominated to look after the new students in our department and act as the go-to person, given I experienced that particular graduate scheme myself a few years earlier. This part of my daily work was particularly enjoyable as I could relate so much to them! Around the same time we have kicked off a global project within Euler Hermes World Agency to strengthen the overall work environment, which I was able to lead with a few other dedicated characters based in different parts of the globe.
In early 2018 I moved to London and whilst I kept holding my position as an Account Manager, transferring to another location – actually THE place to be for finance and insurance – it was a complete different scale. Next to a variety of other clients, I started looking after one of the largest finance policies in the industry, which I perceive as a great opportunity to push the boundaries of what our industry have done so far.
Pelumi Ojo | Aon
I joined Aon in 2014 as Consultant Apprentice in the Retirement business via the Aon Apprenticeship scheme after deciding to pursue a non-traditional route – I felt that University was not for me.
I completed the formal two-year programme earlier than scheduled and was promoted to the role of a Consultant Analyst. Shortly after my promotion, I was appointed as a Scheme Secretary to a Defined Benefit Scheme as requested by the Client. Whilst in this role, I also became a regional champion for the gender equality network, by hosting regular local TED talk lunch and learns and speed mentoring events etc., all of which helped to raise engagement in the Epsom office and increased network membership.
In 2017, I sought a new challenge and accepted a Project Manager role in the Office of the Chairman in Aon’s global headquarters in London. This role was my first foray into the Insurance Industry and I supported the Chairman in creating partnerships and opportunities that drive growth for Aon and our clients. During this time, I joined the Multicultural Network (which I now co-chair) and became an advocate for BAME and female talent by volunteering on committees such as the insurance industry’s Gender Inclusion Network and contributing to a variety of industry-wide events and initiatives for International Women’s Day, The Dive In Festival, SheCanBe – the Lord Mayor’s programme to bring young women into the City, BAME TNON (The Network of Networks), The Lord Mayor's Appeal Power of Diversity series, Capital Experience Days and Insuring Women's Futures.
I was recently promoted to the Executive Support Manager to the CEO of Aon UK and in this role, I work closely with the CEO in the development and implementation of the firm's strategic and operational objectives. Diversity & Inclusion remains important to me and a priority for Aon and this is an area that I continue to champion both as part of my day to day role and as co-chair of the multicultural network.
Angie Wang | PwC
Whilst born and raised in China, I moved around with my parents quite frequently and lived in Singapore, Nottingham and Leicester in the UK for a total of five years up until my teenage age.
Although picking up a foreign language or new accent was not something difficult, I have struggled as a child to adapt to a new environment and culture that was completely different to that I was born with. Re-adapting and rehabilitating to a former culture proved to be even more challenging, I found myself switching my personality and behaviour whilst dealing with my different groups of friends and colleagues, gradually finding myself with a self-identity crisis of “who I am” and “where do I come from”. Being able to “blend in” was my only goal then, and I have found myself to observe and compare how people behave and speak and try to act in the same way in order to conform to the unspoken norm.
Reflecting on my background, I have started to find myself with growing zest and passion about raising awareness of ethnic diversity and gender awareness in the working environment in my second year of joining PwC.
I became a member of the LeanINsurance that looks to support women rising through the ranks and ColourBrave Action Group with the objective of encouraging staff to discuss more openly about differences in race and ethnicity in order to better emphasise, and promote team collaboration. Being one of the key members to initiate the Colour Brave event on Insurance Day, we brought the people from all backgrounds to openly discuss differences and make their personal pledge in creating a truly inclusive workplace. Coming up with the idea of “Colour Brave Podcast”, I helped to create a video of partners sharing their overseas work experience in Japan and how they have brought it back to London.
Laureen Ramsay | Marsh
I have worked in the insurance industry since 2002 in various roles within an Insurance Company, Loss Adjuster and Broker. I now work for Marsh and have done for 11 years working my way from a Claims Advisor to Claims Executive.
In my role I have responsibility for various client's claims procedures and processes. A large part of my role is to support clients in controlling their claims, total cost of claims and this risk to their business. I do this with strategic claims analysis and risk based discussions. I also support the firm with new business opportunities in the same way I deliver service to existing clients.
I originally graduated from university with a degree in hospitality management and fell into insurance by chance.
I am very passionate in everything I do and want the best for everyone I deal with and if I can support anyone with that it makes very happy!!
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching football and swimming. Most of all I love spending time with family and making wonderful memories with my husband and little girl.
Gabrielle Lang | Marsh
Having been born in Hong Kong and brought up internationally, travelling extensively, particularly in Asia, I have gained experience in a range of cultures and languages.
I consider myself curious and easily adaptable and I love working with people from around the world and learning from them.
During secondary school, I studied the International Baccalaureate and went on to continue with my tertiary education at the University if Exeter, where I read International Relations, Spanish and Business Management. During my time at university, I focussed on gaining as much international exposure as possible and enrolled in a month-long Chinese Language and Chinese Business Culture course in Zhejiang, China during my first year. Furthermore, during my Erasmus year abroad, I lived in Spain, studying at Burgos University for 6 months and working in a Spanish recruitment firm in Madrid for 4 months. Other global work experiences which I have embarked on include a 2 month insurance internship in JLT Hong Kong in 2016 and 5 weeks teaching in a children's outdoor adventure camp in Hong Kong in 2017.
Aside from my studies, I was a keen dancer throughout school and university, achieving my Grade 8 with Distinction and RAD Advanced 1 with Merit. I continued to teach Ballet lessons for Exeter University's Dance Society, choreographing pieces for various national competitions. I have also been a keen sportswoman throughout my life, taking part in several running and swimming events.
I currently work as a risk consultant at Marsh (Marsh Risk Consulting) having joined the firm in 2017 through the Graduate Development Programme. My primary focus is on assessing cyber exposures, carrying out qualitative as well as quantitative assessments and insurance coverage analyses, in which I have assisted clients sitting across a variety of industries and geographies. My skillset also extends to risk management in the resilience space, preparing organisations for major physical damage and business interruption events, and ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and good practice.
Professional qualifications which I have achieved include Prince2 Project Management and the Foundation Certificate in Cyber Security. I am in the process of completing my Advanced Diploma in Insurance through the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Joanne Clark | Marsh
I am an experienced placement specialist and relationship manager with over twenty years' experience in the industry, predominantly with global insurance brokers.
I started my career with GRE as a commercial underwriter and benefitted from their strong training programme before moving across to a broking role with J&H Marsh & McLennan (now Marsh Ltd).
I currently lead a team of four placement brokers in programme design and pricing as well as strategic account planning for all of Marsh's Scottish Corporate client base. With effect from 1st May, I will be taking a wider role, leading the Placement practice for North & Scotland Region, with responsibility for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and the Midlands.
In addition to my role in Marsh, I am also involved with the Insurance Institute and take over as President of The Insurance & Actuarial Society of Glasgow in April 2020.
I am ACII qualified and a Chartered Insurance Broker.