Insurance Broking

ANZIIF's Insurance Broking Faculty Advisory Board (IB FAB) contributes to the achievement of ANZIIF's vision by providing support and guidance for Faculty activity. IB FAB members are highly respected industry experts and have significant experience as council or Board members. 

• Tim Considine

  Chair

  
  Tim Considine

  ANZIIF (Snr Assoc) CIP
  Managing Director
  Austbrokers Countrywide

  Tim began his career with T&G Life in 1979 (now part of the AXA group) in a customer service role. After three years in that role, he joined his father’s small life and general insurance agency (Considine’s Insurance). In this role, Tim built a portfolio of clients to service with a particular target and focus on Professional Indemnity for engineers.
  
  In 1993, Tim opened up a branch office for GIO Australia in Box Hill whilst continuing to service the Professional Indemnity portfolio. Six years later Tim was approached by Countrywide Tolstrup to join them in part of their succession planning strategy which led to his appointment as Managing Director in 2006.
  
  Austbrokers Countrywide has continued to grow and has acquired three Melbourne broking firms (John Smith Insurance Brokers, ACI Insurance Brokers (Vic) and Hamilton & Hamilton Insurance Brokers) since July 2009. Some career highlights for Tim include being elected as Chairman of the Austbrokers Network Steering Committee in 2005 and to the Board of Austbrokers and IBNA Member Services (AIMS) in 2010.

• Paul Benjamin

  Deputy Chair

  
  Paul Benjamin

  PDM, MBA
  ANZIIF (Fellow) CIP
  Managing Director
  Benjamin & Benjamin Insurance Group

  Paul is the Managing Director of Benjamin & Benjamin Insurance Group, a business he brought to market in April 2015, making it 3rd generation Benjamin insurance brokerage. This new business is an Authorised Representative of PSC Connect Pty Ltd.  He has been part of the insurance industry for more than 23 years having worked for underwriting agencies, as well as local and international insurance brokers. Along with insurance and accounting qualifications.  Paul holds a Post Graduate Diploma of Management and Masters of Business Administration.

   
  Paul is a Fellow of Australian and New Zealand Institute Insurance and Finance, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, Member of the Australian Institute of Directors and is President of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria, Deputy Chair of the Boating Industry Associations Alliance (National Boating Association), and is on the Insurance Brokers Claims Advisory Board at AIG.

• Graham Cassidy

  
  Graham Cassidy

  ANZIIF (Fellow) CIP
  Broker Development Manager
  Steadfast Group Limited

  Graham Cassidy was born in the United Kingdom and educated in Melbourne. He started in the industry with CIC in Melbourne and moved to Zurich (then CGA) in 1979. Graham worked his way from renewals clerk through claims, sales and branch underwriting roles in Adelaide and Sydney offices, national underwriting and regional distribution roles. Graham’s final role with Zurich was as NSW Regional Strategic Distribution Manager.
  
  In the next four years, Graham was the Technical Manager with IBNA, where he was responsible for Member technical enquiries, product development as well as wholesale broking across PI, liability and property lines.
  
  Graham joined Steadfast in 2006 as Member Technical Manager, then Marketing and Relationships Manager and in 2016 moved into the current role. Steadfast Group has Network Brokers ranging from turnovers of less than $3million to well over $100million.
  
  Graham joined the Insurance Broking Faculty Advisory Board in 2012.  
  
  Graham is married and has two daughters.

• Jarrod De Pont

  
  Jarrod De Pont

  BA/BCom
  ANZIIF (Senior Assoc)
  Broker
  Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited

  Jarrod has been in the New Zealand insurance market since 2003. Working for Vero Insurance in Auckland, Jarrod gained experience through their National Sales and Claims teams, as well as commercial underwriting in Vero’s Tauranga office. 
  
  In early 2012, Jarrod left Vero to travel, and in early 2013, returned back into the New Zealand market working for Crombie Lockwood as a commercial broker. He is an ANZIIF Senior Associate and also graduated from the University of Auckland with a BA/BCom in 2009.
  
  

• Katherine Simmonds

  
  Katherine Simmonds

  ANZIIF (Allied)
  General Manager, Corporate, Risk & Broking, NSW
  Willis Towers Watson

  Katherine was appointed as the General Manager, Corporate, Risk and Broking for Willis Towers Watson, NSW in August 2017. 

  Katherine is a member of the A/NZ leadership team and, as head of the broking business, and is responsible for connecting Willis Towers Watson people, services, and advice to achieve optimal client outcomes and solutions. She has full P&L responsibility for all divisions including property, casualty, construction, financial lines, workplace risk, global inwards, corporate, commercial, government and sales. 

  Katherine’s years of experience gained with global insurers, including company and Lloyd’s markets, gives a unique perspective to matching client risk profiles and solutions within her current role of broking leadership. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson, Katherine held leadership roles within insurance including Managing Director and a member of the board of directors of Ironshore Insurance Australia, and Head of M&A Insurance (Warranty & Indemnity) at AIG. Katherine has broad international experience having lived or worked in Australia, Asia, UK and Europe. Her earlier career includes corporate law, and management consulting in banking, wealth, risk and insurance. 

  Katherine is highly motivated and passionate about driving positive outcomes for all clients and colleagues within the local insurance industry. Katherine is admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales and Victoria and holds a Juris Doctor (Law), Bachelor of Commerce, and Diploma of Languages (French) from the University of Melbourne.

• Stacy Finnegan

  
  Stacy Finnegan

  Regional Director – Commercial
  Aon

  Stacy has been focused on broker distribution for over 20 years holding leadership roles across Underwriting, Sales and Strategy both locally and internationally.
  Commencing at Aon in 2019 as Regional Director, in this role she leads 5 branches that provide risk, placement and advisory services.
  
  Stacy is committed to creating an environment built on collaboration, trust and service excellence. In her personal time, she enjoys volunteer work, riding her bike, gardening and dancing like no-one is watching.

• Trevor Howard

  
  Trevor Howard

  ANZIIF (Assoc)
  General Manager
  United Insurance Group

  Trevor has over 25 years experience in general insurance after starting his career with State Insurance Office in 1986 in workers compensation claims. Trevor then moved into the domestic insurance area, including management of the insurance program for the old State Bank network, before moving on to a district manager role looking after part of the SIO’s large state network of agents and brokers. Following SIO’s purchase by GIO in 1992, Trevor was involved in various sales and management roles leading to him moving to WA as State Manager of GIO in 1997. In 2000 he moved to HBF (WA's largest health insurer and membership organisation) to manage their general insurance portfolio and the implementation of FSRA reform to HBF’s large network of branches and travel agents.

  In 2004 Trevor took the opportunity to move back to Victoria to take up a role with Financial Lifestyle Solutions, managing a network of 40 general authorised representatives. In 2008, together with his partners, Trevor formed United Insurance Group (UIG) to provide an alternative solution to segments of the growing authorised representative population. UIG is part of the Steadfast network and has over 30 ARs as part of the group.

  Trevor is a Richmond AFL supporter and is married with three sons.

• Vishal Kapoor

  
  Vishal Kapoor

  BCom (Ins & Mkting), Dip.F.S. (Brok), Q.P.I.B.
  ANZIIF (Fellow) CIP
  Director
  McLardy McShane

  Vishal is a Director and an equity holder of the McLardy McShane Group of companies. Vishal joined the group in 2012 and brings with him over 18 years of insurance experience. Vishal is responsible for team management, insurer relationships and major client support.

  Throughout his career, he has attained valuable experience previously working as an underwriter with Ansvar Insurance where he held a national role as the National Accounts Manager and prior to that with a global insurance broker Willis Ltd. During his time at Willis he held various management roles; Commercial Manager (VIC), Insolvency Manager, Franchise Manager & headed up the Insurance division for the Franchise Council of Australia (FCAIS).

  Vishal has managed large teams and has also developed and launched new products into the market with impressive results. Vishal is also a NIBA member and is a Qualified Practising Insurance Broker (QPIB). He also holds a Fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (Fellow) and degrees in Insurance & marketing from Deakin University.

  Married with a son Vishal loves traveling and is a self-confessed sports nut. He loves Cricket, Golf and AFL and gets along to matches whenever he can.

• Vanessa Morton

  
  Vanessa Morton

  Dip. Insurance Broking, Grad. Dip. Insurance, Q.P.I.B, B. Bus.
  ANZIIF (Fellow) CIP
  Director
  Gary Morton Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

  Vanessa has over 10 years of experience in the insurance profession, commencing her career with Allianz on their graduate program in 2001.  Vanessa gained experience through the various areas of a large, international insurer, working in roles such as eBusiness, Business Analyst, Reporting & Planning, Marketing and Sales / Distribution. 

  Vanessa was appointed as Allianz Broker & Agency Divisions’ National Sales & Development Manager in 2009. 

  In June 2011, Vanessa joined her family’s broking business in NSW, Gary Morton Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd.  Since joining the broking business, Vanessa has become a shareholder of the company and is now a Director.  Vanessa manages the overall operation of the business and a portfolio of clients.

  Vanessa participated on the NSW NIBA Young Professionals’ Committee in NSW for 10 years as both an insurer & broking representative and was Chair from 2013-14.  Vanessa has completed a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma in Insurance. 

  Vanessa is a Fellow of ANZIIF and a Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker (QPIB).