I have been in the industry for close to fifteen years. During my career I have worked in the specialist lines of insurance such as Liabilities and Marine. I feel I have found my home and speciality in Marine due to the multi-lateral diversity of the business. I also have the opportunity at times to utilise my knowledge and experience learnt from liability insurance, that I also apply on Marine/transit related products.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to apply my skillset at Nautical Underwriting Managers, we are a Underwriting Management Administrator (UMA) that writes business on New National Assurance Pty Ltd. I have been with Nautical for close to 5 years. Our business has a team compliment of just over 15 dedicated and driven individuals, it has a great working environment, where titles do not matter, but providing effective service and advice to our brokers and clients’ does – we live, eat and breath this philosophy, which I am proud to form part of.
The facets mentioned above, in my opinion all speak to leadership. Forming part of the Roots and Wings initiative, being assigned an incredible mentor, who runs numerous businesses, is a well-respected industry expert and a true gentleman has been a blessing in my life. Derek Vermeulen, my mentor, shared and performed case studies with me on numerous leadership considerations and traits. What I appreciated was the knowledge I also gained from him on how to run a business and ensure the people who work with you, share the same drive, ambitions, and values. During this period, I was also privileged in attending seminars and courses, which not only grew my knowledge base, but also allowed me to network with others in insurance, plus other markets, which I found exciting and rejuvenating.
The Roots and Wings programme created a platform, plus took my interests and desires of what I wanted out of the journey into account by assigning me to a very special mentor. During the time together, I not only gained a heap of knowledges and effective leadership tools, but I was fortunate to gain a friend, in the form of Derek, who I remain in regular contact with. We bounce ideas off one another and I lean on him for advice on matters related to industry or business considerations. I am truly grateful for the relationship that we have formed, and it would not have been possible without the structures the IIG put in place with this initiative. Due to this experience, I value what Roots and Wings has to offer and regularly do recommend it to peers in the industry to pursue through the IIG.
