Jimmy Higgins Awarded 2025 ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Leader of the Year

Few leaders have had a more profound and practical influence on the evolution of New Zealand’s insurance sector than Jimmy Higgins.

His leadership has not only shaped national policy and bolstered public trust but also helped redefine what resilience looks like in a country grappling with escalating climate risk.

“Thank you to ANZIIF, to my peers and everyone in our insurance community for this incredible honour,” he said in his video address at the 13th ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards at the Cordis in Auckland.

“Being recognised as an industry leader is very humbling, especially among so many dedicated people working for New Zealanders every day.”

Towards Resilience

Early in his leadership journey, Higgins championed a fundamental shift in how insurers in New Zealand manage natural disaster claims, following the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes.

Most recently, in the face of climate change, he has consistently advocated for transitioning from a recovery-focused system to a prevention and resilience mindset.

“Insurers are leading the shift towards preparing New Zealand before disaster strikes, not just cleaning up afterwards,” he says.

“Our industry thrives when we come together, supporting our customers and communities through every challenge and change.”

This philosophy underpins all Higgins' work in national resilience and a vision that became the through-line of his approach to reform, risk mitigation and community protection.

“For me, leadership is about leaving people and systems stronger than you found them,” he says. “New Zealanders deserve insurance settings that support confidence and protect their future, not just their past.”

Global lessons to Strengthen New Zealand

With resilience as his compass, Higgins sought out global models capable of guiding New Zealand’s future. Study tours to the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK deepened his understanding of adaptation infrastructure, smart regulation and long-term risk planning.

A defining moment occurred during his engagement with the Netherlands’ Adviescollege Toetsing Regeldruk (ATR), where he observed the Standard Cost Model in action; a system designed to quantify regulatory burden and improve decision-making.

“The Dutch showed what’s possible when you measure what matters,” Higgins reflects. “If we want regulation that protects New Zealanders without overwhelming them, we need tools that are objective, transparent and actually work for people.”

The insights sharpened his focus on resilience funding, adaptation governance and sustainable protection for communities at growing risk.

Embedding Insurance Expertise Into Policy

Higgins’ international learnings became vital as climate pressures intensified at home.

In 2024, he was appointed the sole insurance expert on the Ministry for the Environment’s Independent Reference Group (IRG), tasked with shaping the National Adaptation Framework (NAF).

His contribution ensured that insurance realities, risk transparency and community needs were embedded directly into the framework.

“Adaptation isn’t abstract; it affects every household and business,” he says. “People deserve accessible, honest information about the risks they face. Only then can communities make informed decisions about their future.”

He also emphasises the urgent need to rethink development patterns: “It is important that we continue to advocate for change on how we manage high risk hazard zones and stop putting people in harm's way by developing housing and communities in these zones.”

His leadership has helped cement core adaptation principles: transparent risk data, long-term resilience investment and shared responsibility across government, industry and communities.

Restoring Confidence on the Global Stage

In addition, last year Higgins joined Minister Hon. Simon Watts and ICNZ President Amanda Whiting on the Insurance Council of New Zealand’s inaugural reinsurance delegation to London.

His presence, representing both the industry and the IRG, sent a powerful signal to international reinsurers that New Zealand was committed to clarity, stability and long-term resilience.

“Reinsurers want to see stability, clarity and commitment,” Higgins notes. “By showing them a united front, we sent a powerful message that New Zealand is serious about resilience.”

The intervention contributed directly to maintaining the affordability and availability of insurance for New Zealanders at a critical moment.

Leadership in Moments That Matter

When devastating floods struck Wairoa in 2024, Higgins was one of the first industry leaders to arrive on the ground. He worked alongside local leaders, Toka Tū Ake, councils and community groups to identify needs and accelerate support.

“Being there matters,” he says. “When people are standing knee-deep in mud, they don’t want policy language. They want commitment, clarity, and compassion.”

His hands-on leadership helped transform crisis response into an opportunity for collaboration, rebuilding trust and strengthening community resilience.

Educating New Zealand’s Decision-Makers

Higgins also recognises that strong national resilience requires informed policymakers. Building on Suncorp’s Insurance 101 program, he expanded political briefings across both major parties, providing MPs with essential knowledge about risk, affordability and insurability.

“We have a duty to demystify insurance,” he says. “When leaders understand how the system works, and where its limits are, we can have much more productive conversations about shared responsibility.”

His advocacy has lifted the quality of political engagement and helped embed insurance as a central pillar of national adaptation planning.

His leadership brings together commercial realism and deep social purpose, strengthening the industry’s social licence and public trust.

Across all his work; resilience, adaptation, regulatory reform, risk education and crisis response, Higgins has championed one core principle: ensuring insurance remains accessible and sustainable for all New Zealanders.

“As we work collectively with governments, councils and our partners, we need to ensure that insurance remains affordable and accessible to all,” he says.

A Legacy That Will Shape the Decades

Ahead Jimmy Higgins’ contribution to New Zealand’s resilience landscape is profound and enduring.

Through global insight, national influence and a steadfast commitment to communities, he has helped shape a future where insurance is not just a safety net, but a foundation for confidence, preparedness and long-term security.

“This recognition reflects the collective efforts of my entire Suncorp team,” he says warmly. “So thank you again.”

Though unable to attend in person, Suncorp New Zealand Board Chair Rob McDonald accepted the award on his behalf, marking a defining moment in Higgins’ already remarkable career.

Read more about the ANZIIF New Zealand Insurance Award winners