The Young Insurance Professionals (YIPs) of Australia and New Zealand is the biggest, independent not-for-profit organisation for insurance professionals in Australasia. It focuses on providing educational, networking, and developmental opportunities for up-and-coming insurance professionals.
At present, YIPs has 11 branches spread across most major city centres in Australia and New Zealand. Their membership consists of more than 5,000 professionals. The organisation is managed and operated on a voluntary basis. It aims to benefit the AU and NZ insurance industries by attracting and keeping new talent and developing a shared passion for the continued growth and prosperity of the insurance market in the region.
Young Insurance Professionals was founded in 2011 in Melbourne and started with a dedicated following of young, up-and-coming insurance professionals. What began as a simple networking and professional development tool soon expanded into a community with a current membership of several thousand.
In only two years since its inception, the YIPs set up branches in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. Then in 2013, branches in Auckland and the Northern Territories followed, with the South Australian branch established a year later. Two years later, another branch in NZ, specifically in Christchurch, was set up.
The most recent branches include those in Wellington, NZ, along with the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmanian branches, rounding up coverage across all AU states and territories.
In 2018, YIPs had its first woman president in Katie Stephenson, who succeeded YIPs co-founder James Smorthwaite, who stepped down to devote more time to his career. This was followed by the retirement of co-founder and Australasian president Sampath Soysa, when YIPs reached its fifth anniversary.
Soysa held his position since YIPs’ inception, and was replaced by Andrew Shepherd, who vowed to attract school leavers and graduates into the industry. To this end, Shepherd tapped industry giants Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia (NIBA) to further the interests of YIPs’ members, and to continue running educational events.
In 2023, Justin Micale took over as president, replacing his predecessor, Jackson McDonald. Sylvia Quang has been appointed president of Young Insurance Professionals in 2025.
The good news for aspiring members and young professionals is that membership in YIPs is free. There are no fees or dues to pay to secure or maintain membership. There are also no licenses or certificates to maintain. The only requirement is that you must be a practicing professional in the insurance industry of Australia or New Zealand. Your role should also be related to the insurance sector, such as:
Meet these simple requirements and you can sign up for membership on their page. If you are new to the NZ or Australian insurance industry and have yet to decide on a clear career path, try checking our guide on becoming an insurance broker to get the ball rolling.
The Young Insurance Professionals is also focused on creating and fostering a dynamic, inclusive community and network of insurance professionals for:
The majority of YIPs’ members are insurance professionals in their 20s and 30s. Older professionals are also welcome, since there is a growing number of people have begun pursuing careers in insurance later in life.
YIPs have a few main goals for operating in the Australian and New Zealand insurance industry, including:
The organisation is committed to swell the AU and NZ insurance industry’s numbers by enticing young insurance professionals. It does this mostly by promoting insurance as a rewarding and fulfilling lifetime career, especially for those who may be considering this path for the first time.
YIPs aims to show that insurance offers distinct professional development opportunities. It also paints a picture of an industry that is constantly evolving to keep up with advancements in business, technology, and general insurance.
The organisation is committed to assisting young insurance professionals with their career development with the right mix of benefits and services. It offers yearly educational events to provide a platform for young professionals to foster business relationships and enhance their understanding of the industry.
YIPs provide many opportunities for young insurance professionals to thrive in their insurance careers via education, networking, and skill enhancement initiatives.
YIPs foster early career development and retaining talent within the insurance industry. Their activities and programs are designed such that young professionals are engaged and encouraged to stay committed to their careers in insurance.
By building a dynamic community and network, YIPs can ensure that its members see insurance as a worthwhile, long-term endeavour.
YIPs benefit the insurance industry by elevating the professionals who operate within it. The organisation does this by actively engaging with fresh grads via career fairs, encouraging insurers to have graduate programs and internships, and networking events. Through these efforts, YIPs contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the insurance industry.
When an insurance professional from Australia or New Zealand joins the Young Insurance Professionals, they get to reap several key benefits. Here are the most compelling reasons for joining this organisation:
While in their formative years, insurance professionals can benefit from the many professional development opportunities this organisation offers. Thanks to YIPs, there are many events, seminars, and insights that those new to the AU and NZ industry can access to enhance their skills and knowledge.
For instance, heads of insurance companies like Aon are regular speakers at YIPs events. The organisation also partners with relevant authorities like the ANZIIF. The ANZIIF can provide exclusive discounts to events like the Rising Stars in Insurance, which further supports professional development for new insurance professionals.
YIPs facilitates and encourages many networking events for different types of professionals of various sectors. There are events and seminars for life insurance agents, brokers, underwriters, insurance lawyers and more. These networking opportunities enable members to create connections within their specific regions and build business relationships within their sectors.
Relationship-building is an essential skill to have and develop in the insurance industry. YIPs can serve as a platform for young professionals to develop these valuable skills. Some of the organisation’s recent events include:
The events that are organised by YIPs can range from range educational seminars to social gatherings, affording young professionals with more chances to connect with peers and learn valuable insights from industry leaders.
YIPs also assists younger insurance professionals by sharing industry news and upcoming events that are of interest to them. With these awards shows and related activities, the organisation actively promotes the attraction and retention of new talent in the Australasian market. This ensures that they share a passion for the continuing growth and prosperity of the industry.
The Young Insurance Professionals gives due recognition to up-and-coming industry professionals, typically those under the age of 35, who make significant contributions to the insurance sector. These awards recognise the achievements of young insurance professionals, highlighting their expertise and leadership potential.
To support career growth in the insurance industry, YIPs also sponsors scholarships to young professionals who show leadership potential and good business sense. YIP-sponsored scholarships include:
In many cases, members can apply for scholarships by submitting a 2,500-word essay on certain assigned topics. Those whose essays impress the judging panel and accurately and eloquently expound on the topic can win a scholarship and a cash prize ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
The Young Insurance Professionals of Australia and New Zealand give awards to individual professionals and to a professional services firm. These are meant to recognise those who demonstrated outstanding passion and achievement in the insurance industry and highlight their outstanding contributions to the industry. Awards that the YIPs hand out include:
This award is a specific recognition of young insurance professionals who have shown outstanding commitment, achievement, and passion in the Australian insurance industry.
The Young Insurance Professional of the Year is open only to individuals who are below the age of 35, and are employed or contracted by an insurer, broker, agent, or other insurance intermediary based in the Northern Territory. The winner of this award gets a cash prize of $1,000 and a trophy.
This award recognises the business and leadership potential of young insurance professionals throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is also meant to encourage and support the career development of rising industry professionals in these regions.
The Young Insurance Professional of the Year and YIPs and Barry Nilson Next Gen Insurance Leader awards are the two main awards from YIPs. The organisation, however, has other awards that are in partnership with other institutions, including:
