One life, make it count

As a parent, your child’s attitudes and values are influenced by their observation of yours. But I’ve found that both parent and child learn and evolve together.

My foray into sustainability and environmental appreciation started when my son started bringing home materials about science and climate change from high school. Soon, I enrolled in a Climate Leadership Project, alongside a global community of changemakers.

A personal passion

With increased curiosity in sustainability, I was compelled to apply when Bupa announced its talent and innovation programme, eco-Disruptive. Now in its fourth year, the initiative offers incredible opportunities to create real solutions, and this year with a theme of Healthy Societies, it is focused on removing the barriers people face when trying to access quality health care.

This year’s challenge areas include Inclusive Health, Supporting Disability and Illness Prevention.

This year's theme resonates with me because my work in Health Insurance gives me the privilege of talking to people about what is going on in their lives, their pressures and anxieties. I have become an empathetic listener, motivated to solve problems and offer the right advice. 

Scouting and selecting a start-up

Our team is made up of individuals from across Bupa’s Asia Pacific network, most of whom I have never worked with before. This made for a great opportunity to learn from people with a wide range of skillsets and mindsets.

The search for a start-up to partner with to prevent illness was gruelling. Everyone felt unsure where to start. And while this was a massive learning-curve, we were delighted to choose ‘Bloody Good Tests’ (or BGT) as the start-up to work alongside.

Bloody Good Tests (BGT) – early detection for a longer, healthier, happier life 

Bloody Good Tests Australia helps people get basic blood tests without the need for a GP referral, empowering individuals with accessible testing and actionable health insights.

We found through research that many of the top 10 chronic conditions (such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers) are preventable with early detection and lifestyle modifications. However, our health system is predominantly reactive, and the incidence of chronic diseases continues to rise. 

eco-Disruptive is an opportunity for each of us to be brave, caring and responsible and help make a difference.  As a team, we are pumped to make BGT a winner, so we can help people live longer, healthier happier lives.

On a personal note, I want a healthier planet for my son and all children, so I hope he looks up to me for doing something purposeful.