COVER STORY / 2025 Young Broker of the Year Award National Finalists
What might the profession look like for young brokers starting their career in 2035? By 2035, the insurance broking profession will be more dynamic than ever before, leveraging on our digital and technological capabilities. We are already seeing advanced technologies like AI-driven risk analytics and automated policy management available now to deliver real-time trends. These analytics will be heavily built out within the next decade, allowing brokers to explore innovative solutions based on data driven insights allowing for more creative and accurate structured solutions. The role will have completely shifted from traditional policy placement to becoming trusted advisors who interpret complex risks to relative solutions, especially as global exposures emerge and grow in areas like cyber, climate, and intangible assets. Above all, regulatory knowledge and ethical standards will need to remain foundational in the profession. In recent years with consistent regulatory change, we now hope for consistency of policy however this will be dictated by ESG influences locally and internationally. What is your broking philosophy or mantra? I can choose so many, I don’t believe there’s any one golden mantra because they all work together. I’ve always believed in being a true resource, both for clients and colleagues, by consistently demonstrating value. This profession is fundamentally rooted in relationships, and investing time with others is what creates trust and long-lasting partnerships. Delivering results is essential, but it’s the reliability and integrity behind those results that make you someone people want to work with. Embrace challenges, especially those that push you outside your comfort zone. Tackling difficult tasks not only sharpens creative problem-solving skills but also opens doors to connect in with others and expand your insurance IQ. Be a teacher and a mentor. Sharing knowledge helps elevate the profession’s standards and fosters growth—for others and for yourself. The more you teach, the deeper your own understanding becomes, creating a cycle of continuous learning and improvement that benefits everyone in our industry. As a young broker, what are some of things about the profession you enjoy that others outside might not know about? It’s the profession that no one ever strives for at school but delivers so much back to the community. There are reasons people who fall into insurance, stay in insurance. It’s not about ‘the sale’—it’s about understanding each client’s unique needs and finding tailored solutions that genuinely make a difference in their lives. The industry is a hub for innovation, especially in how we use data to solve complex challenges and craft policies that fit like puzzle pieces.
Insurance is one of the leading professions globally when it comes to using data to drive solutions. There are so many different careers in insurance from actuaries, reinsurance, data analytics, operations and marketing. What many outsiders don’t realise is how social and collaborative the profession is; you build strong relationships and networks that drive personal and professional development. It is a rich and vibrant environment and one of the best kept secrets in Australian workforce. How are technology and automation transforming broking today? Technology and automation are fundamentally transforming broking today. AI-driven risk analytics now provide brokers with deeper, more detailed insights than ever before, expanding our role as risk advisors. With this data, we can tailor policy structures, set appropriate limits, and advise on self-insurance more effectively, ensuring clients achieve the best economic outcomes for their needs and greater confidence in their coverage decisions. Automation and digital platforms are streamlining administrative tasks, boosting efficiency, and freeing up brokers to focus on more complex and creative solutions. However, there are challenges: as reliance on technology grows, some brokers risk losing essential problem-solving and negotiation skills. For example, younger brokers may assume a declined submission on a platform means coverage isn’t available, rather than exploring alternative solutions with underwriters. Similarly, insurers relying solely on automated systems may miss opportunities to underwrite around risks with appropriate endorsements and premium/excess balances based on those platforms' appetite for risk. The key is to balance technology’s efficiencies with human expertise that defines great broking. If you were to be crowned the national Young Broker of the Year winner, what would that recognition mean to you? It’s not just me; it’s such deserving recognition for my team as well. I’m fortunate enough to travel across the country, educating the NFP sector and creating connections in the insurance profession and community sector. That isn’t possible without the support from my team, and I’d be so proud to win this for them because in a way it validates the way we are servicing our clients and communities. I shouldn’t deserve to be the winner if I wasn’t already doing the right work. I hope that I can continue to grow and develop personally; and continue to mentor young brokers so they too can find growth and longevity in insurance and meaningful impact in their communities. I would be proud to carry the responsibility of mentoring our next generation of brokers, and champion the NIBA and Vero brands and their commitment to grow the standards of our profession as the Young Broker of the Year.
22 / INSURANCE ADVISER OCTOBER 2025
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