Protection advisers were recognised for their contribution to the industry in the third annual Dr Marius Barnard Recognition Event.
The awards, hosted by Scottish Widows, were held this week at The Gherkin in the City of London.
Scottish Widows worked closely with Dr Marius Barnard, the creator of critical illness cover to develop its own protection products, culture and philosophy.
His work was influenced by his brother, Christiaan Barnard, who was part of the team which carried out the first human to human heart transplant.
The theme for this year’s event was the mind, with a focus on the brain and neurological system.
The guest of honour was Gary Shaughnessy CBE, the chair of Parkinson’s UK and former chief executive of Zurich Insurance EMEA.
Diagnosis and King’s Birthday honours
In a fireside chat Rose St Louis, protection director of Scottish Widows asked Shaughnessy about the challenges he has faced and overcome since his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2015.
He told guests he noticed his hand shaking over Christmas and first dismissed it as a trapped nerve. When the tremor spread to his leg he went to his GP who then referred to him for tests.
After he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 48 he initially continued working, and admits he was stung by employee feedback after an event where an attendee said they had no confidence in his ability because he had been shaking.
At that time employees at Zurich were unaware of his diagnosis.
Shaughnessy, has continued to run marathons and and sits as a trustee on charities focusing on climate resilience, mental well being, and social equality.
In September 2021, he was appointed chairman of England Athletics and in 2023 was awarded the CBE and services to business and charity in King Charles III’s first Birthday honours list.
Shaughnessy said exercise, his charity work and the support of his wife Janet and family had inspired him to keep going and that while he would not wish his Parkinson’s diagnosis it had taught him humility and empathy.
In an award ceremony Marius Barnard’s daughter, Naudene Leisegang, presented the Barnard Award to Alan Lakey, of CIExpert, recognised for his longstanding commitment to and promotion of critical illness cover.
Dread disease insurance
Leisegang also spoke to Johnny Timpson, who worked alongside Marius to create critical illness products.
She explained how her father had battled Apartheid and had also been one of the politicians responsible for helping secure the release of Nelson Mandela, something she had also pressed him to get involved with when she was a student at Cape Town University.
Leisegang said: “He saw the pain his patients went through because they were getting healed, but they then couldn't work. They needed financial security, and that's when he had the idea that they needed insurance that pays out before death.”
She also pointed out critical illness was first known as ‘dread disease’ cover, something it is still known as in her native South Africa.
