This week we feature Joy Tera – our company secretary and legal officer, who is also our resident plant specialist. We hope you are inspired by Joy’s journey at Capital.

When did you start and what is one thing you know about Capital?

Its been 3 months with Capital since I joined on Monday 22 June 2020 and so far, I am loving the experience! I remain grateful to Mr. Michael Koisen, the Board of Capital Insurance Group, as well as Mr. David Lee for having confidence in my ability to serve Capital and its members.

 What changes have you seen within CIG since you joined?

Capital is home grown and owned by the ordinary Papua New Guineans who are members of TISA, Nambawan Super, Credit Corp and Nasfund. Behind the face of Capital- there is a young versatile and vibrant team carving a road map for capital amidst the present economic calamities and delivering value to its members. Capital remains vocal on community issues and does what it can in its capacity to contribute to change in the society. Presently, Capital has engaged the PNG Tribal Foundation through its ‘senisim- pasin program’ educating its staff on the root causes of violence and how staff can contribute to being the change in their families and society.

What are some ways that you are doing to contribute to this change?

Aside from my primary role of facilitating board/shareholder related matters and providing management team legal support, I have been much involved with creating legal processes where agreements and potential court matters are concerned. This involves having a handle on all the legal matters between Capital and other stakeholders as well as providing clearance before any agreement is signed. Legal is a new department created by Capital and is an interesting space to operate in as I get to build legal policies from the ground up. Whilst it has been a challenge trying to understand the technicalities of the insurance business, I remain grateful to the supportive Management Team for allowing me an opportunity to grow and deliver value to Capital and its members.

Why do you think insurance is important?

Insurance is basically financial security. We do not know the time and place catastrophes will happen and when it does in the absence of security, it can cause financial stress which affects us and our families. Having insurance gives you comfort that you and your family members are secured financially in the event of disaster.

How do you balance your career and family?

My career and family are both equally important and co-exist simultaneously. My job, my family together with my faith remain the pillars of my existence as a person. How I balance work time against family time is approaching it from a day to day perspective. My day normally starts of by creating a daily ‘to do list’ at work where I aim to complete every task by the days end. Where a task remains incomplete, I ask myself whether the incomplete task is something that can be done the next working day or whether it is something that should be settled right away as a priority. Where I find a task can be settled the next day- I leave the task at the office at close of business and make time for family matters. Where I find an incomplete task as priority, I take it home and attend to it after my home priorities such as preparing my husband’s dinner, feeding my pet Nami and watering my plants are taken care of. Taking an incomplete task home is not a foreign concept for me personally, in fact, I do not see it as work at all. I love what I do as it gives me satisfaction when I provide a solution to an apparent issue. Like Mark Twain would say, “You find a job you enjoy doing and you will never work a day in your life.“

Any random facts/hobbies you could share with us (anything fun away from work)? 

I have recently started a hobby of collecting plants and caring for them. I aim to collect different species both known and unknown for as long as my veranda space can hold but where I run out of space…well….my family will need to move into a bigger space to accommodate my plants! If there is one thing this hobby has taught me, it is appreciating beauty you normally will not see on an average day unless you stop and look. All things naturally created are beautiful- the question is, do you see it? I realized that appreciating the beautiful and sophisticated arrays of a plant has made me grown more aware of my surroundings as I continue to perfect the art of paying attention to detail.

Do you have a favorite quote, motto or mantra?

I actually have a lot of favorite quotes and listing them all down will be never ending. The one quote though which has been my strength the past months is a text in the Holy Bible that reads, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1Timothy 4:12”

Is there any particular product or services you want customers to be aware off?

We have some of the best medical partnerships that provide medical services to our customers and clients who subscribe to our Health Insurance product.  Our recognized medical partners include: Paradise Private Hospital, Nanga Medical, Aspen Medical in Port Moresby and Lae Wellness, GM Flores Clinic, Lae International Hospital in Lae, Morobe Province. This does not limit our health care coverage to other hospital and clinics. You can still receive medical services from other medical institutions and apply for claims according to the terms and agreements of your Capital health insurance plan.