FEATURED WINNER

CHU Underwriting Agencies

“I had a picture of a house, and the house was Premiere Mortgage Centre”

Kerri Reed, Premiere Mortgage Centre

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEE: Underwriting Agency of the Year

www.chu.com.au

CHU Underwriting Agencies Pty Ltd

info@chu.com.au

1300 361 263

Level 33, 101 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060

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WINNER: Underwriting Agencies Council Underwriting Agency of the Year

CHU Underwriting Agencies

Kimberley Jonsson

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Jonsson was appointed CEO of CHU in 2020, following a 15-year career with the company. Her extensive experience has led to her recognition as one of Australia’s leading strata insurance specialists. She is frequently called upon by both the strata and insurance sectors to present on key industry topics. Jonsson is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is both a Fellow and Board Member of ANZIIF. She also holds an MBA from AIM Business School.

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Jonsson

facebook.com/MHIAInsurance

@agileunderwriting

Robin Barham

Leadership

1188 Whakue St, Rotorua Central, Rotorua

Ben Webster

Co-founder and Head of Product

Leadership

Nick Goritsas is a seasoned insurance executive with over 30 years in the field, focusing on operational and financial improvements. He previously served as CFO and head of risk management at W.R. Berkley Insurance Australia and was the founding CFO at DUAL Australia. As the APRA Alternate Agent in Australia for W.R. Berkley, Nick brought an extra layer of compliance and risk mitigation to the table. His proficiency in finance and risk management provides AGILE with a strategic advantage in these critical areas.

Co-founder and Group CFO

Nick Goritsas

Robin Barham brings over 30 years of industry experience to AGILE, having honed his skills at Lloyd’s Syndicates in London and Australia. Starting out in Marine and Aerospace underwriting, he later assumed management roles focusing on A&H, Property, Casualty and Financial Lines. His former positions include underwriting manager at Catlin Australia, regional director at Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s (Australia), and MD at StarStone Underwriting Australia. Robin’s extensive background adds unparalleled underwriting expertise to AGILE’s leadership team.

Co-founder and CEO

Robin Barham

Co-founder and CEO

Robin Barham

@agile_uw

Robin Barham

Co-founder and CEO

As an independent, forward-thinking girls’ school we are committed to preparing girls for a lifetime of learning, leadership and engagement in our global community. We believe in girls. At Ruyton Girls’ School we foster the individuality of each girl in a caring and safe environment, nurturing her intellectual, physical, social and emotional qualities that are essential to flourish. Powerful learning is central to the Ruyton culture, building on our strong academic reputation. We focus on advancing the learning of every girl through the engagement of intellectual curiosity, building their knowledge and skills about how to learn, and supporting them to achieve their personal best and be exemplary citizens. We believe in real-world learning beyond the classroom, collaborating with the wider community to promote growth, discovery and sustainability. We empower our girls to lead lives of purpose with courage, character and compassion. Through the development of values and action-focused learning they are inspired to pursue equity and justice for self and others. By embracing diversity and raising their voices, our girls effect positive change and make a difference.

Bellbird Park State Secondary College (BPSSC) prides itself on providing an innovative and inclusive education experience for all learners. Our college is extraordinary because of the incredible students, parents, community partners and staff who bring it to life each day. Since opening in 2017 with 212 Year 7 students and 31 staff, the school has been on a rapid journey of student growth and staff recruitment. BPSSC now has an enrolment of 1,800 students and 150+ staff members. Located in the aspirational, multiculturally rich Ipswich community (ICSEA 953), we’re exceptionally proud to be the school of choice in our community. At BPSSC, we’re committed to supporting the success and wellbeing of every student as they transition through each stage of learning through our high-expectations, high-support approach. In 2023, 175 First Nations students are connected and thriving at our college. Our Many Pathways, No Limits mantra extends to all students, and we provide tailored differentiated, culturally appropriate educational opportunities for our First Nations students. Our approach to First Nations education is extensive, multifaceted and a whole-school effort effecting positive systematic change and outcomes for our students.

Nick Goritsas

Co-founder and Group CFO

Co-founder and CEO

CHU Underwriting Agencies (CHU) is Australia’s first dedicated strata underwriting agency, with a strong focus on leading innovation in the industry. The company prides itself on embracing the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and technology while also championing diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability. CHU offers a wide range of comprehensive insurance products tailored to the needs of strata schemes, covering everything from residential apartments, units, villas and townhouses to commercial strata properties and community title schemes. Part of the Steadfast Group, one of Australia’s largest networks of general insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, CHU benefits from the financial strength and backing of Steadfast, an ASX-listed company with $13 billion in total billings. Policies underwritten by CHU are provided by QBE Insurance, one of the world’s top 20 insurance companies, adding an extra layer of security and credibility. As one of the largest across the country, with an insured value exceeding half a trillion dollars. The company’s achievements include multiple prestigious awards, such as the ANZIIF Excellence in Environmental, Social, and Governance Change (ESG) Award in 2024, Underwriting Agency of the Year (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023), and Insurance Business Claims Team of the Year in 2024.

James Makin

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Ben Webster

Co-founder and Head of Product

Co-founder and Group CFO

Nick Goritsas

Kristy Pownall is a senior professional who has operated at director level for over 15 years in the position of head of people and culture/HR director. She has multi-regional experience covering Australia, APAC, the UK, and Europe across a range of sectors, including professional services, media, technology and insurance. Pownall has enabled organisations to move through periods of rapid growth and change. Her area of expertise allows her to understand the importance of communication, connection and community in delivering successful business outcomes.

Head of People and Communications

Kristy Pownall

Chris Meaker has over 21 years of experience in the finance industry with a focus on lending, business development and sales management. Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for La Trobe Financial, where he was an Executive General Manager and Head of Origination Channels. Previously, he worked for Pepper Financial Services Group as State Manager and Senior Business Development Manager.

Head of Distribution

Chris Meaker

Co-founder and Group CFO

Nick Goritsas

EVENT PARTNER

Kristy Pownall

Head of People and Communications

Jane Wang

Operations Manager

Steve Tchepak

Head of Underwriting

David Gow

Head of Claims

Anirudh Kakulapati

Chief Customer Officer

Nick Goritsas

Co-founder and Group CFO

MHIA Leadership Team

Co-founder and Head of Product

Ben McInnes

Managing Director

James Makin

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

James Makin

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Nick Goritsas

Co-founder and Group CFO

James Makin is the CFO and COO at CHU. He has been with the company for over eight years and was previously head of commercial portfolio management at Zurich Australia. He has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. Makin has extensive experience in actuarial analytics across both life and general insurance in Australia and overseas.

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

James Makin

Steve Tchepak became Head of Underwriting at CHU in June 2019. He has over 20 years of experience in strata management and strata insurance, and has held several roles within CHU, including Commercial Underwriting Manager, Team Leader, and NSW/ACT Underwriting Manager.

Head of Underwriting

Steve Tchepak

David Gow has over 30 years of experience in handling property, public liability, employers’ liability and motor third party or personal injury claims. Along with his extensive experience, he is a senior associate of ANZIIF and a chartered loss adjuster for AICLA. Gow’s previous role was head of property claims at QBE Insurance.

Head of Claims

David Gow

Anirudh Kakulapati is the CCO at CHU. He has rapidly progressed in his career since joining the insurance industry in 2008, relocating three times in pursuit of his goal to be an exceptional leader. His previous roles were head of distribution, head of customer service and state manager for QLD and NT for CHU.

Chief Customer Officer

Anirudh Kakulapati

Kimberley Jonsson was appointed the CEO of CHU in 2020 after a 15-year career with the company. This extensive experience means Jonsson is recognised as one of Australia’s leading strata insurance specialists and is often called upon by both the strata and insurance sectors to present on various topics affecting the industry. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is both a fellow and board member for ANZIIF. Jonsson holds an MBA from AIM Business School.

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Jonsson

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

James Makin

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Jonsson

As the Managing Director of MHIA, Ben Mcinnes understands that people form the heart of any successful business. With over 16 years of experience working and leading in the home insurance industry, Ben focuses on supporting and developing hardworking people. Thanks to his leadership and encouragement, MHIA has quickly developed a reputation among homeowners as the go-to land lease insurance specialists.

Managing Director

Ben McInnes

Chief Customer Officer

Anirudh Kakulapati

Head of People and Communications

Kristy Pownall