AUSTINSURE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Non Executive Director
Allan became a director of Austinsure following Steadfast Group Limited's acquisition of Austinsure in August 2022. Sydney based, Allan is the Executive General Manager - Direct & New Zealand at Steadfast Group. With a background in product development and distribution, corporate strategy and portfolio management, Allan has more than 40 years of industry experience in general insurance, including broking. Allan joined the Steadfast Group in 2002, and in April 2015 took on the Direct and New Zealand portfolios. He is also an honorary member and board member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance.
Job Titles:
- Insurance Brokers, Insurance
- Professional Liability Manager
As Professional Liability Manager, Blair works with clients to fully understand their risks and insurance requirements. He provides recommendations on insurance solutions, negotiates and arranges cover, and manages claims. He is also responsible for the development of customised liability insurance solutions and policy coverage.
Blair's eye is firmly on the individual needs of the client's business. He focuses on identifying and understanding risks and developing the most appropriate response from the insurance market to help his client protect against those risks.
Blair has nearly 30 years of experience, joining Austinsure in 2012. Prior to his current role, Blair was Professional Liability Manager for an insurer leading a team of 10 underwriters. He brings significant experience working in the fire and general insurance sector with a particular interest in liability, and products for professional services.
Blair particularly enjoys a challenge and often succeeds in getting cover for hard-to-insure risks or getting difficult claims paid.
As well as working with Austinsure clients, Blair assists other insurance brokers, insurance lawyers and insurers with liability issues
He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management.
Outside of work, Blair enjoys spending time with his family and is a keen judge of good coffee.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Broker Support
Directly prior to joining the team at Austinsure Brandon was with Tower Insurance, so he built good solid foundations and knew what he liked about the industry, and decided that his particular skills would be best suited to a brokerage.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Broker Support
Deni joined Austinsure in May 2022 and has a wide range of experience from various roles in the corporate world and in insurance broking firms since 2006.
Deni has extensive claims handling experience gained over the last few years and has completed her New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services Level V (General Insurance).
Deni has an eye for detail, and a hunger for knowledge and new challenges, in particular aviation and commercial insurance broking.
"I'm really enjoying being in a supportive and driven environment. It's great working in a team who all readily share their knowledge," Deni says.
Our youngest member of the team, Ethan Clark, majored in Finance and Management at Auckland University. He has always been interested in business and taking on a broker support role at Austinsure straight after university, he is soaking up the knowledge like a sponge.
As a support broker under Blair's tutelage, he is impressed by Blair's experience and knowledge. Everything Blair says is valuable, and Ethan is a keen understudy.
"At the moment I'm behind a desk but I see the work Blair and Greg are doing and that really appeals to me. I love connecting and interacting with different people and learning about their business. It's varied and fascinating."
Ethan enjoys social interaction and finds it easy to connect with everyone. He has an easy going nature and his interest in business and communication will see him do well in this industry, where forming strong client relationships and knowing their business is critical.
Outdoors is where you'll likely find Ethan out of work hours - unless he is at the gym or watching basketball. And for relaxation, a week in Bali would be awesome. Although if he could do anything and be guaranteed of safety, he'd also consider the moon as a holiday destination.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Broker Support
Ex-Tauranga local Giorgia has been working in insurance broking since 2018 and joined Austinsure in August 2022, fresh from a 6-month working holiday in Australia.
Giorgia is working towards gaining her Certificate of Insurance Level 5.
"I like helping people and being able to take the stress out of situations, and insurance is the perfect career opportunity to be able to do that."
Giorgia has found that insurance is an industry in which every client and their business is different. "They all have varied requirements in terms of insurance and it's great getting to know them and understanding their business. I love knowing that I'll be part of the solution if or when things go bad for them and they have to make a claim.
In her spare time Giorgia potters around home - literally! She has her own potter's wheel and is currently mastering the basics - mugs and vases. "It's a messy hobby, but I'm loving it!"
Joining the insurance industry in 1980, Greg's experience is vast. Prior to early 2018 his background was in relationship management, business development, sales and underwriting, including sales management, all with insurance companies dealing with Brokers.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Non Executive Director
John is the Executive General Manager - Operations & Acquisitions for the Steadfast Group and became a director of Austinsure in August 2022 following Steadfast Group's acquisition of Austinsure. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and Ireland and KPMG trained, John has extensive experience in the insurance industry having held a number of senior finance roles in Australia and the United States. His areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, and broker operational improvement. He joined Steadfast in 2012 and was instrumental in its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in July 2013, the second largest float of the year.
Neil Austin - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder
- Managing Director
- Industry Expert
As Managing Director and founder, Neil leads our team of brokers and support staff who are firmly focused on meeting the needs of clients and providing tailored insurance solutions and policy coverage.
With over 30 years of experience, Neil has built a solid reputation in the insurance industry as a highly regarded insurance broker and risk advisor. He brings that experience to the staff and clients of Austinsure, which he founded in 2004.
He is known for innovation and delivering cost-effective and sustainable solutions to an ever-increasing client base. These include SMEs through to major enterprises across a wide range of sectors including the Aviation industry and launching Austinsure's professional indemnity offerings to lawyers and valuers.
Neil has formed and nurtured strong relationships over many years - locally and internationally - and this has enabled Austinsure to access exclusive Lloyd's facilities and other arrangements overseas. This means the world's leading insurance products and services are available to New Zealand businesses through Austinsure.
Originally from the Waikato, Tracey's insurance career started in 2000, her first job after returning from her OE.
Tracey's early insurance career was in underwriting for insurance companies and she says being a broker now, she has a strong understanding of the industry from both sides.
She's forged many relationships in the industry - building upon those relationships is a huge part of what she does and something she really enjoys.
Tracey has a good rapport with all her clients. "It's so rewarding to be able to help people. You're not only helping them into the right cover, but also showing them why other policies aren't going to be good for them. We talk about what we do as ‘selling claims' because it's at claim time you really find out what you've been paying for. Having the right policy prevents a future nightmare when it comes time to claim."
Tracey's day to day involves working with new or existing clients to understand their business, the risks they face and therefore the covers they need, and working with insurers to put together the right solution. Things can change, especially since Covid-19. With new scenarios popping up every day, it's critical to be up to date on industry changes and amendments to policy wordings.
Whilst premium is important, Tracey is very focused on ensuring clients have the right protection. The little extra you might pay in premium is insignificant compared with the impact of a gap in cover, which can be devastating. Clients are the very heart of our business and for Tracey, doing the right thing for them is offering a fit for purpose solution.
Her time outside of work revolves around family - which usually includes good food and wine. And naturally, supporting the Chiefs.