A New era of practical insurance and reinsurance training
The South African insurance and reinsurance sectors have long grappled with a void in structured, consistent, and practically focused professional development.
This gap has only widened since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person learning and caused many established institutions to shut down their training operations indefinitely. Recognising this critical shortfall and driven by a deep commitment to rebuilding and uplifting the industry’s technical capacity, The Oak Tree Academy was born.
At the helm of this bold new venture is Jason McKean, whose vision and energy are poised to make The Oak Tree Academy a transformative force, not only in South Africa, but across the African continent and eventually, globally. Under the mentorship of seasoned industry expert Gordon McKean, the Academy is built on a foundation of practical learning, peer collaboration, and a passion for empowering the next generation of insurance professionals.
“We want to be the inspiration and driving factor behind every individual’s career growth, whether they’re just entering the industry, are already established, or considered experts in their field.” – Jason McKean
Why The Oak Tree Academy?
The idea for the academy was sparked by a clear need: the insurance and reinsurance industry has suffered from a lack of high-quality, relevant training options. Weekly sessions that used to bring professionals together to sharpen their skills and share experiences have all but disappeared. The Oak Tree Academy seeks to fill that void, offering something that many other institutions have overlooked: practical, real-world training tailored to the African insurance landscape.
But the vision doesn’t stop at borders. Oak Tree Academy aims to eventually expand beyond South Africa, creating a pan-African and even global platform for insurance knowledge sharing, professional upskilling, and collaborative learning.
What makes Oak Tree Academy different?
- Practical learning approach: Courses are designed to give participants hands-on, applicable knowledge that they can immediately use in their daily work.
- Industry experts as trainers: Every course is developed and delivered in collaboration with seasoned professionals, ensuring that content reflects current realities and best practices.
- CPD accreditation focus: All content will be submitted to the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) for CPD accreditation, ensuring that learners receive recognised professional development hours.
- Hybrid delivery: Training will be delivered in-person at a custom-built, state-of-the-art facility, as well as online to accommodate broader participation.
Core areas of training
The Oak Tree Academy will offer a wide variety of courses across the insurance and reinsurance spectrum. This is not limited to technical knowledge but also includes support skills for broader industry roles. Some of the core areas that will be introduced (but are not limited to):
Technical courses
- Engineering insurance
- Marine and Aviation cover
- Reinsurance principles and practice
- Underwriting and broking
- Finance and insurance operations
Skills development
- Secretarial training for insurance offices
- Sales and client management techniques
- Career development for emerging professionals
- Leadership pathways for future executives
Facilities and delivery
The Oak Tree Academy training hub is located at Unit 6, Boss Crane Office Park. The newly built training room, designed to accommodate a maximum of 16 attendees per session, is purposefully kept small to foster deep interaction, group discussion, and personal engagement.
However, recognising the importance of accessibility and scale, select sessions will also be available online. This ensures that learners from across the country, and eventually the continent, can benefit from the same high-quality training.
Each course will be developed with both digital and in-person presentation in mind. Jason McKean will personally collaborate with every course presenter to ensure that the material is of the highest standard, engaging, and fit for CPD approval by the IISA. The goal is to ensure every module meets rigorous content standards and delivers maximum professional value.
Enrolment and participation
Prospective learners can sign up in one of two ways:
- By email: Jason McKean will personally assist those who wish to register or find out more. He can be reached at jason@theOak Treeacademy.co.za.
- Via the website: A user-friendly calendar and sign-up form are available at http://www.theOak Treeacademy.co.za/, where visitors can view available courses, dates, and details.
Launch timeline
Courses are expected to go live by the start of June, with the latest potential start being the second week of June. This initial phase will lay the groundwork for a long-term, expanding curriculum and participant network.
A Vision for the future
Oak Tree Academy is more than a training centre; it’s a catalyst for industry growth and personal development. With a strong ethos of collaboration, professional excellence, and lifelong learning, the Academy seeks to rebuild the foundational skills that once fuelled the insurance industry’s momentum and equip the next generation of leaders.
As Jason puts it, “Whether you’re just entering the world of insurance or you’ve been here for decades, we want you to grow, and we want to grow with you.”
The future of insurance training in Africa has taken root. And it starts under the branches of The Oak Tree Academy.
