Union Assurance Launches Groundbreaking Women Empowerment Initiative “GROW”

Union Assurance, Sri Lanka’s premier Life Insurer, marked International Women’s Day with the launch of its groundbreaking women empowerment initiative, “GROW.” The event drew participation from female team members across the organisation, as well as key figures from the Corporate Management Team, the Executive Committee, and esteemed guests.

Central to the event was the introduction of the GROW concept, a dynamic initiative crafted to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment for female team members within Union Assurance. GROW, an acronym for Growth and Development, Recognition, Opportunities, and Well-being, aims to empower female team members both professionally and personally. With a steadfast commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles, Union Assurance proudly maintains 51% female representation within its workforce, setting industry benchmarks. The Company aspires to raise these standards further through GROW, with initiatives focused on increasing female presence in management positions, corporate leadership, and non-traditional roles.

The event’s highlight was a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring industry luminaries such as Mifaz Ahamed (Chief People Officer, Bharti Airtel Sri Lanka), Kavi Rajapaksha (Chief Marketing Officer, Sunshine Consumer Lanka Ltd), Kumudu Munasinghe (Assistant Vice President, Head of Corporate Communications, Group Lead – Diversity & Inclusion, Head of Operations – Social Entrepreneurship, John Keells Holdings), and Wathsala Aluthgedara (Chief Partnership Distribution Officer, Union Assurance PLC), while the session was moderated by Mahen Gunarathne (Chief Marketing Officer, Union Assurance PLC), The discussion delved into crucial topics including women in leadership, work-life balance, women’s empowerment, personal branding, and men’s allyship.

Reflecting on the launch of GROW, Imtiyaz Aniff, the Chief People Officer of Union Assurance, remarked, “We take immense pride in unveiling the GROW initiative, a testament to our unwavering dedication to empowering women and nurturing a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. GROW adopts a comprehensive approach to address the myriad challenges and opportunities encountered by female team members, prioritizing various aspects of growth and development, recognition, opportunity creation, and the well-being of female team members at Union Assurance. Through GROW, we are committed to equipping women with the resources and support they need to excel in both their personal and professional endeavours.”

Union Assurance is a subsidiary of the John Keells Group, one of Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerates. The Company has completed over three decades of success with a Market Capitalisation of Rs. 23.6 Bn, and a Life Fund of Rs. 64.5 Bn as of end December 2023. Set to protect lives and enrich the well-being of all Sri Lankans, Union Assurance offers Life Insurance solutions that cover the health, investment, protection, retirement, and education needs of Sri Lankans. With an island-wide branch network and a workforce that is over 4,000-strong, Union Assurance continues to invest in people, products, and processes with a customer-centric focus to be responsive to emerging changes in the Life Insurance industry.