Irene Fortuin is one of the founders of Khanyisa Insurance Brokers in 2006. Irene Fortuin is a Training Consultant, Risk Management Practitioner, Insurance Intermediary and Reinsurer with utmost passion for training, skills transfer and capacity building.
After qualifying a 4 year teacher’s diploma, Irene started her career as an English and Biology teacher. She left this profession to join the Financial Insurance sector, where she worked for Hannover-re, the 3rd largest Reinsurer in the world, and was extensively involved with the international insurance market. Her experience of over 25 years stretches over the Insurance and Reinsurance industry and covers the local, African and overseas markets.
Irene has a Post Graduate degree from UCT in Marketing and Leadership.
She obtained a Diploma in Business Management (Institute of Business Management, PMP – SBL (UNISA).
(1996)
She has done advanced Commercial Underwriting training in Business Interruption through the Chartered Insurance Institute at the College of Insurance in Kent, England. This course included workshops and problem solving sessions, using case studies to further develop underwriting skills.
Irene has done advanced Reinsurance underwriting at Hannover-Re Germany. Irene has also done an executive leadership development program for 2 years. Irene ran the Hollandia Reinsurance Branch in Durban profitably for 2 years and was also responsible for Pretoria, Cape Town and Mauritius branches.
She was promoted to Senior Manager at Hannover-Re in 1996, overlooking the Facultative Marketing and Underwriting division and responsible for Africa, Sub Saharan countries and Mauritius. She implemented successful new strategies to enhance profitability, which was adopted by the mother company in Germany.
She provided inspiring leadership as well as management and technical input to achieve the Facultative Vision thereby contributing to the overall profitability of the company. She was responsible for the development and training of all Facultative underwriters and staff. Her personal ability to lead, inspire and encourage others has resulted in great success.
She presented training to insurance companies on technical reinsurance underwriting and was also involved in the learnership
training of matriculants. Irene served as chairperson on the Employment Equity committee and was a Senior
Member of the Social Responsibility committee. She was a Director of Sound of Rain, a non-profit organisation
of Hannover-Re.
Irene is fluent in reading, writing and speaking 4 of the official South African languages.
Christa’s career in the insurance industry also started with Mutual & Federal as a Personal Lines Underwriting clerk and advanced to a Senior Administrator and Admin Specialist at Hannover Reinsurance Group. She was responsible for the operations of the Facultative non-life administration department for over 15 years. Christa's technology skills are very advanced and she is highly computer literate. She was involved in developing various systems and procedures - planning, controlling and executing the various processes in her position in the Facultative department. She was involved in preparation for various audits within the company and achieved overall excellent results at international level standards
Christa studied for an Administration Management diploma through Unisa. She is an outstanding insurance administrator in a business that requires all “i’s” to be dotted “t’s” to be crossed and double checked. This is in order to ensure maximum compliance for protection of our clients, and to maintain our standards of excellence within the insurance market.
She is currently involved with the Administration, Operations & Compliance Management of Khanyisa Insurance Brokers
Christa and Irene has worked together closely for more than 20 years and their perfectly matched individual skills provides them with the ability to work together as a well-oiled machine.
Tyron joined the group as director of Long Term Sales and Marketing, having served twelve years in similar roles at multi-national financial services companies. He has achieved many sales accolades and awards during his tenure in financial services sales.
He heads up the Life Insurance division at Khanyisa Insurance Brokers. He is currently studying towards his Marketing degree.
Thandeka Tshabalala is young vibrant, enthusiastic and passionate. She matriculated in 2010 and continued her studies at the University of Johannesburg to obtain a National diploma in accounting.
She heads our Sebokeng Office as a representative under supervision rendering short term and long term insurance services.
Phumulani specializing in Innovative Insurance Solutions and Adept Investment vehicles and his responsibilities span across the provision of Advisory and Contracting services in the areas of Finance and Risk Management. He assists clients to structure Insurance policies that match the exposure of their assets and businesses from unforeseen losses.
Phumulani holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Degree in Risk Management and is a Certified Full Representative for all Financial Service Provider categories. He is a member of the Institute of Risk Managers South Africa (IRMSA) and an affiliate member of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA).
Khaya started her career in insurance in 2007 at a brokerage in the Eastern Cape. In 2010 she joined Old Mutual, Pretoria as Client Relationship Consultant. She then moved on to become an Office Manager at Assupol Life, East London. In June 2016 she joined Khanyisa Brokers as a Customer Service and Office Administrator.
Sinawo is a FAIS Accredited Advisor for short term and long term products. Sinawo joined Khanyisa Brokers in 2014 on a learnership program and then proceeded with an Internship program.
His areas of expertise are Personal lines, Commercial Lines, Farmers Insurance, Life and Funeral Covers, Investments, Retirement Plans and Annuities. Sinawo is also responsible for supervising learners working under supervision, ensuring compliance is adhered to
Sinawo has a Baccalaureus Technologiae in Cost & Management Accounting through Walter Sisulu University for Technology. Sinawo obtained Short Term Insurance NQF Level 4 and passed his RE 5 exam. He is currently registered part time with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), pursuing to become a member of the world’s leading business accounting professional body.
Her career in the Financial Services Industry started off when she was provided an opportunity in a Learnership program at Lion of Africa Insurance Company in 2014. During the first six months, she was involved in Policy Administration doing amendments and policy cancellations as well as data capturing of old policies to the new system.
She was then selected to work in the claims department as a Liability Specialist and Claims Administrator. She has advanced knowledge on liability claims and had an opportunity to be exposed to other streams of claims e.g. Motor, Non-motor, Motor third-party and recoveries, Sectional Title, Property Classic and Local Authorities.
She completed the following Qualifications in her career:
• Short Term Insurance - NQF Level 4 (2014-2015)
• Short Term Insurance - NQF Level 5 (2015-2016)
• Currently studying (2nd Year) Bcom General through Unisa
She joined Khanyisa in June 2016 and is looking into securing a future in brokering activities whilst expanding her knowledge and experience to becoming a Thought Leader in the insurance industry
