Luke Pratt, Account Executive for Willis Construction in WA, the former Fremantle Dockers AFL player and winner of the 2015 NIBA WA Young Broker of the Year Award, talks about his love of footy, the rise of technology and Biggie Smalls.
Why insurance?
When I left school I didn’t want to head straight back into study, so my dad, Geoff, helped me get a job straight away at EBM Insurance brokers. Geoff has been a broker for more than 30 years, and works at Centrewest in Perth.
How would you sum up insurance brokers in three words?
Knowledgeable, opinionated, helpful.
How would you change the industry?
I would work hard on positive promotion of the industry as we still seen as ‘car salesman.’
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
Never burn a bridge in insurance and never be afraid to ask stupid questions.
What’s the most important thing a broker can do to develop their business?
Be pro-active and always strive to have a point of difference. People can get complacent with what they are offering so always try and be pushing the boundaries.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever arranged cover for?
I arranged cover for ‘The Giants,’ which were the giant puppets that came to Perth and walked through the streets as part of Perth Festival in 2015.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the industry today?
Technology taking over the art of broking. The last thing we need is to turn into processors in front of the computer all day and not use our knowledge and interpersonal skills to engage with our clients and Insurers.
What has been the highlight of your career?
Winning the 2015 NIBA WA Young Professional Broker of the Year Award.
NRL, AFL, soccer or other?
AFL as I have been playing the game since I was 5.
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, and excluding family and friends, who would they be and why?
Barack Obama - because he is an interesting man and plus, we could watch all the memes of him!
Biggie Smalls - because he was a genius and wish he was still around making music today.
Elvis Presley - because he was the first artist I can remember due to my old man being able to sing like him, and also because he is the King!
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t in insurance, I would be…
I would be a sports teacher and football coach.
