Why insurance?
I fell into it in the early 70s when I left school. I actually joined the Air Force straight from school but only lasted two days as I didn’t like being told what to do, got the haircut and quit. An insurance job as an accounts clerk was advertised in the Christchurch papers and I applied. It grew from there.
How would you sum up insurance brokers in three words?
Insurance brokers are multi-skilled, defacto lawyers and crystal ball specialists. Seriously though insurance brokers are skilled, professional and knowledgeable.
How would you change the industry?
I would increase the pace of change to connectivity to reduce the paper load and increase efficiency.
What’s the most important thing a broker can do to develop their business?
Respond quickly to client needs, communicate consistently and often to clients.
I am an elected board member on the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand (
IBANZ) and my role is to represent individual broker’s interests to ensure
IBANZ is fulfilling the corporate and educational needs of brokers throughout NZ. Being the owner operator of a locally owned broking business, I am particularly interested that the SME size broker’s voice is heard at a senior level in setting the direction and delivery of services of
IBANZ in NZ to its members.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
Never sell your motorbike! For brokers – be honest and work hard.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever arranged cover for?
Fire cover on rocks in a river.
If you were prime minister for one day, what would you do?
I would close the shops on Sundays to ensure families had time to do things together.
What’s the biggest challenge facing the industry today?
Education and lack of real world experience of people in decision-making positions.
What’s been the highlight of your career?
The highlight of my career has been and continues to be the satisfaction of a successful settlement of an earthquake claim for people in very real stress situations.
What’s your favourite style of coffee?
Cappuccino
Rugby union, league or soccer?
Rugby union – go red & black!
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, and excluding family or friends, who would they be and why?
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army
Bill Clinton – why did you do it?
Richie McCaw – speaks to me of commitment to the task
Complete this sentence: if I wasn’t in insurance I would be…
A pig farmer.
