"I’ve experienced and seen first-hand the many challenges neurodiverse people face including the stigmas and outdated beliefs that people hold."
- Emily Fraser, chief technical underwriting officer at RSA
This announcement signals RSA’s recognition that neurodiverse individuals represent a significantly untapped pool of talent with the potential to bring value to customers, colleagues and businesses across the industry.
Given the multidisciplinary nature of insurance, it offers a “fertile ground in which to unleash neurodiverse skillsets.” For RSA, maximising talents such as problem-solving and pattern recognition, presents “real commercial opportunity.” The insurer is also keen to celebrate the existing neurodiversity amongst its workforce, and to take further steps to ensure these valued colleagues flourish.
RSA’s membership is a three-year commitment to improving the employment prospects of the neurodiverse and to removing barriers to neuro-inclusivity. Working closely with GAIN, RSA will complete a detailed review of the current environment to be able to build interventions, investments, training, office adjustments and enablers across the end-to-end ecosystem to ensure neurodiversity can thrive. This process extends to the RSA customer experience including reviewing customer journeys to ensure accessibility and support vulnerable customers.
As part of this review, Emily Fraser, chief technical underwriting officer at RSA, has been appointed as its first neurodiversity ambassador. As an individual with ADHD and Dyslexia, Fraser is well positioned to help RSA and the wider IFC Group companies support neurodiverse employees’ experience and capitalise on its opportunities.
Commenting on this announcement, Emily Fraser, chief technical underwriting officer at RSA, has said:
“I’ve experienced and seen first-hand the many challenges neurodiverse people face including the stigmas and outdated beliefs that people hold. But I’ve learnt that with the right strategies and positive curiosity, being neurodiverse can be a huge advantage.
“I see this role as the perfect time to start to reframe what it means to be neurodiverse, recognise the huge strengths neurodivergent people have, including the resiliency of growing up in an environment not designed for you. I’m really excited because this role gives us a fantastic platform to be an employer of choice for neurodiversity.”
Johnny Timpson OBE, supervisory board member of GAIN, added:
“I welcome RSA joining the GAIN community and their commitment to leading the transformation of the insurance industry by recognising and championing cognitive diversity and the strengths of neurodivergent colleagues, providing flexible work arrangements and reasonable adjustments, and developing a supportive ecosystem and culture that creates and enables a more underinclusive workplace and profession where everyone can belong, be empowered, and thrive.”
