CSR Middle East, CSR dedicated platform with 3.555 corporate members in the Middle East.

Al Ahlia Insurance team takes up cause of Arctic’s climate change

A four-member team of Al Ahlia Insurance employees are out on a vital outing to the Arctic with scientists from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to see firs thand the impact climate change is having on our environment, communities and wildlife. Lloyd East, CEO of Al Ahlia Insurance, explains what the Arctic challenge means to the company. 

What does corporate social responsibility mean to you and your company? Despite an insurance company with a less direct connection to climate change and having a lesser responsibility, why did you all embark on this initiative? 

The connection may not be direct, but we want to keep our customers moving. With our history stretching back to 300 years, we are definitely the oldest insurance group. We know risk better than any other industry, and when disaster strikes, the insurance industry picks up the pieces. And it’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet. Our customers’ experience with us after these events are deeply personal: they are replacing what has been lost, destroyed and need to be replaced, if they can. 

We help keep them moving wherever they are. What concerns us is the increasing severity and frequency of weather events and the impact on customers. We see this firsthand around the world, whether it’s flooding, storms, or any other calamity. As an insurer, any change in the intensity or frequency of extreme weather conditions is a significant risk, increasing claims from flooding or other damages. 

Climate change is also an opportunity to create products that support and encourage consumers to tackle their environmental footprint. We seek to minimise the impact of our operations and work with high profile partners like WWF to encourage customers to adopt climate-friendly behaviour. We want to minimise impacts at home and work and hence, this initiative. 

The ‘Arctic Challenge’ saw over 60% of our 23,000 employees in 34 countries taking part in this tough challenge competing for their chance to make the trip, with only 12 being selected. The competition challenged teams to reduce their carbon footprint by walking and cycling rather than driving; donate and fund-raise for charity and come up with ideas to reduce their environmental impact or think of a new green initiative. 

The winning team from each individual challenge gets to go to the Arctic on a joint expedition with WWF to study the impact of climate change. With initiatives like the ‘Arctic Challenge’, we are working towards raising awareness of vulnerability in the Arctic region due to increasing human activity and climate change. Our employees are concerned and want to play a role. This is one reason why, in partnership with WWF, we launched the ‘Arctic Challenge’. 

What is Al Ahlia Insurance’s expectation from its staff who are venturing to the Arctic with scientists from World Wide Fund? Apart from lessons on the impact of climate change, what does the company hope to achieve (through its staff)? 

They’re going to be spending five days coming face to face with Arctic wildlife, local Inuit residents and expert researchers to learn about the effects of climate change first hand. They’ll spend most of their time in Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world, and enjoy time in the tundra buggies, searching for polar bears along the shorelines of the Hudson Bay. 

As individuals, it will be a unique experience they will share with us, but as an organisation, the experience will highlight the overlap between environmental and insurance risks and the increasing need to consider both elements in tandem. Since our approach to corporate responsibility is practical, it involves employees wherever possible. Raising employee awareness and engagement is a key organisational goal. 

Apart from the obvious objectives stated earlier, we want to have a highly engaged team. We believe engaged employees are more productive, innovative and this culture helps us retain and attract good talent across all levels. What matters most is the feeling one gets when you work here. 

There’s a buzz at Al Ahlia, a pride in our achievements and an excitement about where the company is going. I want them to pass these on to their other colleagues and new entrants, along with their views on climate change. Creating ambassadors will help drive the change needed to ensure a sustainable future for the Arctic region and for us as an organization. 

Will you encourage your staff to share and practise the lessons they learn once they are back? How will you implement what they learn? 

Yes, of course! That’s a part of the plan. We want them to share their experience not just in terms of fantastic memories but also from the point of view of insurance experts. The key thing I would like them is to engage others via their own changed mind-set. 

When people actually experience the impact first hand, it leaves a bigger impression on them and they can then adapt the learning to local impacts. With scientists accompanying the team, they will have a comprehensive understanding of the scientific and practical issues associated with climate change. 

It is aimed that on their return the participants will be able to re-enforce the need to plan effectively now to ensure a sustainable future for the region. I will be engaging them in our next event of Dardasha (a quarterly staff engagement session). 

The primary objective of Dardasha is to involve the entire team in the company’s business operations and generate momentum for growth by providing everyone with a clear perspective of the business environment and opportunities. It also gives me and my executive team to have an open dialogue with the entire staff and bring on board their views on all matters. 

The ideas generated there are then given shape and implemented across Al Ahlia. In fact, the concept of ‘Dardasha’ was also generated at one such informal session during my early days here. 

We invited staff to send in their suggestions a few weeks prior to the event and the name ‘Dardasha’ was chosen on the basis of its origin from the Arabic language and the intrinsic meaning ‘dialogue’, which is key in Al Ahlia’s way forward to bring out the best in its most important asset – its people. The Muscat Challengers will be invited to share their views on the experiences at the next Dardasha.

I would also like them to focus on localizing their experience and learning to see what kind of impact climate change has here in Oman? What needs to be done here by us at Al Ahlia, as an insurer keen on promoting sustainability? Some of our brokers and customers have also asked us why not extend it externally. This leaves us with something to think about probably next year, how we can scale it up for a larger benefit to the society. 

When you look at it holistically, how is Al Ahlia more engaged then the other organization, Arctic Challenge is one example, what are the other things that your organization is doing? 
As a group we place immense importance on our people. We invest in our team and we provide them with a working environment to hone their skills and to achieve excellence in their careers. 

At Al Ahlia, we have invested over 2700 hours on training so far in 2011 and plan to continue to invest in our people to take on the new challenges ahead. We are equally keen on developing our insurance experts we have had more than 20 new specialists join us at Al Ahlia. We have 64% Omanisation in the industry, which is the second best. 

We have Leadership Development Programmes and Executive Development Programmes to prepare our staff for the next level in their careers and become leaders of businesses and operations. We also have an annual programme called ‘Fast Track’ - an 18 month intensive development programme, wherein one member of our staff is selected and joins other cross sectional experts from different offices worldwide and work on business related projects. 

This year we have not one but two people from Al Ahlia from a handful globally, which is a fantastic achievement given the stringent selection criteria. Al Ahlia is different – and a unique place to work. Our online skill development portal ‘Learning Zone’ allows employees the flexibility to learn and develop their skills at their own pace. We have around 800 courses available for self learning and development. 

At Al Ahlia what unites us our behaviour resulting in a highly motivated and engaged team. I have a first class team that I am confident will build a long-term, sustainable and profitable position in the market. Results of Arctic Challenge are a testament to that. 

Share us with details about RSA’s future commitment to working with WWF. RSA and WWF are working together to strengthen the insurance industry’s understanding of the link between environmental and insurance risk through joint research, emerging risks briefings and product development. 

Understanding emerging risks : Climate change threatens marine environments, water supplies, energy and biodiversity. A series of regular reports published by RSA and WWF aim to improve understanding of these risks among the global insurance industry and encourage action. 

Protecting marine ecosystems : As climate change opens up new areas of the world’s oceans to commercial opportunities, RSA and WWF are working to protect marine areas under threat in the northern hemisphere. 

Flood and water management : Changing weather patterns mean flooding and drought are more frequent than ever. Research between RSA and WWF is exploring ways to cut water use in the home and how natural solutions can reduce the risk of flooding in towns and cities. 

Sustainable insurance : The insurance industry can play an important role promoting more sustainable behaviour in society and the economy. RSA and WWF are investigating how the industry can help remove the barriers facing renewable energy generation and assessing the business case for integrating environmental risks into investments and pensions. 

Raising awareness : RSA and WWF are helping to raise awareness among the insurance industry about the consequences of climate change and the steps it can take to limit its impact. 

Box Money can’t buy experience 
The team members, who are undertaking the challenge, are Maqdoom Pasha, Shihabuddin Abdul Karem, Vinod Prabhakaran and Sukesh Shetty. Before they left they spoke to Times of Oman about their thoughts and feelings. 

Maqdoom Pasha – “From the blazing heat of summers, when we walked, to the sub zero temperatures where we are going; it is all taking shape. What started as a dream is going to be a reality in a few hours time. Still can’t believe it, that I am actually on way to the arctic. The encouragement from our colleagues and management support has been fantastic. I am looking forward to the coming week which will be full of great experiences. I have been mentally checking and rechecking if I have packed everything and all documents. Arctic, here come the Muscat Challengers.” 

Vinod Prabhakaran – “Ever since we broke into the top 10, this image of us being in the Arctic has been in my mind. I am super excited and a bit nervous, don’t know why. Guess it is because of the weather, meeting so many people, seeing a polar bear and so many other things. This is something I wouldn’t have probably done even if I had tons of money, it is surely turning out to be a ‘money can’t buy experiences’, keeping my fingers crossed. That winning moment is the most unforgettable and most remarkable moment in my whole life as yet.” 

Sukesh Shetty – “I remember that one day we saw a poster saying “Which route will u take…?”, and here we are today taking the winners route. Wow, the Arctic Challenge experience so far has been the highlight of my life. What we set out to do and what we achieved has been just perfect. Our colleagues both here and abroad have put in so much effort to make this all possible. I am just so lucky to be working in a company that is engaged all through. This experience, I am sure will motivate many others to go the extra mile.” 

Shihabuddin Abdul Karem - “To be honest, I was a bit worried after we were in the top 5. With my marriage scheduled for November 13, I was…not sure. Even if I win, will I be able to make it? I didn’t have answers then. All my team mates and other colleagues said was - first complete the challenge and then figure out the rest. 

And see, it all actually worked out. My visa came through, my marriage was preponed and all the ceremonies went off well. I couldn’t have asked for any more. I am extremely happy about the result and I feel very proud of it.” 

Views: 188

Comment

You need to be a member of CSR Middle East to add comments!

Join CSR Middle East

© 2024   Created by Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service