London | 31 March 2023

I had the absolute honour to attend The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) President’s Annual Lunch at the Intercontinental Park Lane, London — a gathering that brings together some of the sharpest minds and most influential leaders within the global loss adjusting profession.

That year’s guest speaker was Mr. Alastair Campbell — writer, political strategist, mental health advocate, and one of the most compelling communicators of our time.

His insights on leadership, resilience, and clarity of purpose felt especially relevant in today’s increasingly complex insurance environment.

A Global Network of Excellence

Beyond the main program, this visit provided the invaluable opportunity to:

• Meet and interact with senior CILA leaders

• Connect with fellow members of the CILA Future Focus Committee — some of whom I was meeting in person for the first time

• Exchange ideas with adjusters, reinsurers, risk professionals, and educators from across the UK and beyond

• Gain deeper insight into the emerging priorities shaping our profession globally

These engagements were more than ceremonial. They sharpened my understanding of where loss adjusting is heading internationally — and, importantly, how training and professional development are evolving to meet new industry demands.

Why This Experience Matters for Kenya and the Region

Exposure to global practice is not just personally enriching — it strengthens our local industry.

For me, this visit reinforced one clear message – technical competence is a global currency.
And those who invest in structured, relevant learning will lead the future of claims, underwriting, risk surveying, and insurance operations in East Africa.

This belief has become central to my work and to the mission of the Specialty Claims Academy (SCA).

How This Experience Strengthens SCA’s Value Proposition

Today, as Lead Trainer and Managing Director of SCA, I draw heavily from such global interactions to design training that is:

• Current — aligned with international trends

• Contextual — tailored to Kenyan and regional challenges

• Practical — rooted in everyday technical realities

• Forward-focused — preparing teams for what’s coming next

Whether teaching claims professionals, underwriters, brokers, or surveyors, I ground each session in both global best practice and local industry experience.

SCA’s growing portfolio of training engagements — combined with our NITA registration, 2025–2027 pre-qualification by a leading insurer, and our strategic partnership with the UK-based Maritime Training Academy (MTA) — allows us to offer a unique blend of international insight and local relevance.

This London visit reaffirmed that we are on the right path:
training that is world-informed, locally grounded, and technically transformative.

Appreciation

My sincere appreciation to the CILA leadership and all who contributed in one way or the other to make this possible.

Your support opened doors that continue to shape my journey as a trainer and industry practitioner.

Looking Forward

As SCA continues to grow, opportunities like this help us maintain a global perspective while strengthening local capability.
We remain committed to empowering insurance teams with the competence, confidence, and clarity they need to excel.

Because when technical skills rise, the industry rises with them.

📧 training@specialtyclaims.co.ke
🌐 www.specialtyclaims.co.ke

Author:
Fredrick A. Oloo
BCom (Ins.), Dip CII, Dip CILA, BDMA Ins Tech
Lead Trainer & Director – Specialty Claims Academy (SCA)

( Also: Managing Director – Niche Loss Adjusters & Marine Surveyors Ltd
Council Member – Institute of Loss Adjusters & Risk Surveyors (IARS – Kenya)
Committee Member – Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA – UK)’s Future Focus Special Interest Group