The future is paved by those that come before us, and director of CPR Insurance Services Mandy Cooper stands as a testament to how sharing knowledge and values benefit the greater good – including discussing situations that did not go to plan.
“I took action against the employer. It was not for the money, but for every other woman that followed me in the industry. There were laws in place to protect women because you cannot retrench someone on maternity leave,” Cooper says, sharing her personal story. “I wanted to make a point against this male employer, that you cannot ignore such protections for women’s rights … We fought for these rights over a long time not to have them disregarded.” The Insurance Business Award winner makes a commendable nod to other leading women in the industry.
“Impressive ladies like Maria Parry at Austcover, or Lisa Carter at Clear Insurance, or Gabriele McDonald at Protecsure, or Liz Peach at About Underwriting, they are not only really nice people, but will do anything to help you,” Cooper says. “Women of Insurance do have a common bond.”
A passionate career that has now spanned over thirty years – starting from work experience at an insurance broker in Adelaide, to practicing as a broker at Elders Insurance, QBE, and The Mercantile Insurance Co., then to JLT Australia running the SME team – Cooper is now at the helm of CPR Insurance with her husband Robert, running their own successful business.
“We decided we were skilled and experienced enough to be the masters of our own destiny and look after our own clients,” Cooper says. “It was daunting and a bit scary taking on this new challenge, but now 4 years later we have 3 staff, a full office, and can’t keep up with the work. We love it.” Developing their team of qualified professionals and expanding into a second office in another location are all prospects down the pipeline for CPR, and in reflecting on these, as well as achieved goals, Cooper believes that it’s not just about being a good leader or business owner, but having the interest and passion to morph these with the greater community.
“We enjoy sharing our knowledge and learning from others,” Cooper says, head of Kedron Brook Business Group, a collection of local business owners who band together once a month to assist one-another in business ventures. “By sharing our knowledge we all work towards improving the overall knowledge and skills in the industry,” Cooper says, also encouraging insurance brokers to be proud of what they do, and help promote the industry, especially to school leavers.
“This helps insurance to become a better respected profession in the community … At the moment it seems to be one very big secret between us.”
