Tomás Canas da Costa (Class of 2007) | Chief Operating Officer of the Malaysian Branch at Hannover Re

From sneaking into the headmaster’s garden to daring ski trips and unforgettable musicals, Tomás da Costa's journey at St. Julian’s was filled with moments of curiosity, adventure, and discovery that shaped not only his formative years but also his global career. Now Chief Operating Officer at Hannover Re in Malaysia, he reflects on how the school’s emphasis on exploration, resilience, and self-discipline, the hallmarks of the IB Diploma, sparked his wanderlust and prepared his for challenges across continents. In this candid interview, he shares memories that range from the playful to the transformative, offers insights into his dynamic role in the world of reinsurance, and gives advice for young alumni aiming to navigate international careers with curiosity and courage.

Interview

What was it like attending St. Julian’s?

St. Julian’s School has always felt like home to me, a place where I could be myself and really belong. I spent 11 years there, which makes it the longest I’ve ever lived in one place. It’s the backdrop of most of my formative memories.

Is there a memory you hold dear from St. Julian's?

Too many to count. Playing hockey with shiny new sticks in the primary playground. Sneaking into the headmaster’s garden from the upper playground. Sitting on the floor in Year 5 devouring Harry Potter before it had even become a worldwide craze. Year 6 in Greece—the first time I was away from family for so long—felt like the ultimate adventure. The Year 9 Serra da Estrela trip, with our first “serious” hikes and ridiculous “chicken wars” in the pool. Ski trips with spectacular crash-landings. Musicals with songs I can still hum nearly 30 years later (especially Ocean Commotion, Oliver Twist). What ties them all together is that sense of fun, freedom, and discovery.

How did your experience at St. Julian’s, particularly the IB Diploma, shape you?

The IB was a challenge—in the best way. I don’t think I’ve ever learned as much, in so little time (one three-month consulting internship in Germany without speaking much German beforehand perhaps excepted). On one hand, it gave me a head start: university material felt familiar, and I arrived well-prepared. On the other, it forced me to learn the art of self-discipline (something my wonderfully dedicated teachers at St. Julian’s had shielded me from a little too well!). Most importantly, the IB’s emphasis on being a well-rounded person through what we called CAS pushed me into clubs, events, and activities that later became more valuable to my career than any textbook. Organising, debating, managing teams, convincing people to join your club were real preparation for professional life.

What are your career highlights and/ or achievements?

I never expected a corporate career, at the time I thought politics or the civil service were more likely. Yet here I am, still in reinsurance. The achievement I secretly cherish most is contributing a few lines of text to a European regulation. I’ve always been a strong supporter of the EU project, so to have nudged it, just slightly, towards making Europe a better place to run an insurance company felt like leaving a small mark. Beyond that, I take pride in having worked in “third countries” - places I had never lived or studied before moving there for work. It’s daunting at first, but it’s also been my greatest learning experience.

Did you have any favourite teachers?

So many, and each for a different reason. Samantha Haynes welcomed a nervous 7-year-old into a new world. Jackie Correia made a subject I wasn’t good at fun anyway. Anna Kilpatrick’s reading voices – and choice of literature - were unforgettable. Alexandra Esteves Cardoso gave us freedom to create. Darren Acomb turned the Prémio into an adventure. Wayne Mockett’s passion for history (and his students) was infectious. Vikki Hopkins sacrificed endless hours of her time to get us where we needed to be. Brian Rodgers lit the spark for economics, which I’ve stuck with ever since. Guy Atkinson for letting us fly his electric airplane. Ian Fox, who once designed an experiment around beer. Vanessa Scully, who got me into university. The list could go on. They all shaped me in small but lasting ways.

Do you still keep in touch with your colleagues from St. Julian’s?

Yes! Even from Asia, I keep in touch with a handful of friends regularly. I also have this habit: whenever I travel, I check LinkedIn to see if any old classmates are in the city. Every now and then it leads to a coffee, and friendships are rekindled in the most unexpected places.

Did attending St Julian's influence your career path in any way? 

Absolutely. Without St. Julian’s, I may never have realised that living abroad was even an option. Since leaving school, I’ve never started a degree or a job in the same country I was already living in. That wanderlust started at St. Julian’s.

Do you think St Julian's is a school that fosters curiosity in its students?

For me, curiosity came most alive when teachers were confident enough to step outside the syllabus and let us explore. There was always a curriculum to cover, of course, but the moments where we had space to experiment and think differently were where curiosity truly flourished. I particularly remember a series in Portuguese class about different media in Year 9, where we were given quite a bit of freedom to create a newspaper, a TV report, and similar pieces, the results of which I still keep a copy of. I also vividly remember our final physics experiment for IB, which was about trying to make fire from materials from a shipwreck, in our case from a lens made out of clingfilm. Those are the experiences I remember.

Can you talk to us about your current role at Hannover Re?

I’m Chief Operating Officer at Hannover Re’s branch in Malaysia. In simple terms, reinsurance is insurance for insurers, so if a natural disaster causes thousands of claims, we’re the ones helping those insurers shoulder the risk. My role is wonderfully varied: leading teams, driving group-wide projects, and supporting our CEO on whatever unusual challenges pop up. No two days are alike.

Can you talk to us about Hannover Re?

Hannover Re is one of the world’s leading reinsurers, headquartered in Germany but doing business across the world. What I love about it is the global footprint and the lean structure, where you can build teams, connect across countries, and even talk to decision-makers without layers of bureaucracy. And there’s purpose, too: reinsurers play a big role in making economies more resilient to natural disasters and other shocks. It’s satisfying work.

What challenges have you faced when in your current role as Chief Operating Officer at Hannover Re and how have you overcome them?

This was my first operations role after years in risk and capital. On top of that, it was a newly-created position. So, there were plenty of challenges: setting expectations, re-aligning strategies, finding the right skills at the right time. The key was patience and communication, including building trust with colleagues, making sure everyone understood the “why” behind changes, and accepting that some trial and error was inevitable.

What advice can you give Y13, or other Alumni, that want to follow a career in (re)insurance?

Don’t underestimate the importance of reinsurance. It’s intellectually stimulating and plays an important role in society: Without reinsurance, insurance would be less efficient, more costly and riskier. A quantitative background helps, whether in maths, physics, actuarial science, or economics, but it’s not the only path. And because many insurers and reinsurers are European multinationals, languages and global mobility are big pluses. If you’re curious, adaptable, and like solving complex puzzles, it’s a rewarding career.