FEATURED WINNER

Billyard Insurance Group

“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

https://www.thebig.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/billyard-insurance-brokers

contact@thebig.ca

(905) 346-2190

38 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario, L3B 3W3

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Winner: The Allianz Global Assistance Award for Digital Innovation in a Brokerage

Billyard Insurance Group

Stephen Billyard

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Stephen’s innovative and strategic approach has been the driving force behind BIG’s remarkable growth and success. Under his leadership, the company has experienced significant expansion, embraced cutting-edge technological innovations, and fostered a culture of excellence. BIG has also been recognized as a top insurance brokerage and employer, earning numerous accolades for growth and digital innovation. In 2021, Stephen was recognized as CEO of the Year by Insurance Business Canada. He was also included in Insurance Business’ Global 100 list in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Stephen Billyard

https://www.facebook.com/billyardinsurance

https://www.instagram.com/billyard_insurance

Robin Barham

Leadership

1188 Whakue St, Rotorua Central, Rotorua

Ben Webster

Co-founder and Head of Product

Leadership

Ben Webster, co-founder of AGILE, is also the driving force behind other successful insurtechs like Insured by Us and SanctionsCheck.co. With decades of experience in founding and scaling remote-first companies across multiple time zones, Ben has mastered the art of managing diverse skill sets. He is also a co-founder of Insurtech Australia, further cementing his reputation as a key industry influencer. His multifaceted experience in both traditional insurance and technological innovation makes him a unique asset to AGILE.

Co-founder and Head of Product

Ben Webster

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

https://x.com/billyardins

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

Billyard Insurance Group: Redefining the insurance brokerage experience Based in Welland, Ontario, Billyard Insurance Group (BIG) has become one of Canada's most innovative and rapidly expanding brokerages. Founded as a family business in 1991, BIG has evolved significantly over the years and is now honoured to serve clients nationwide. Today, the brokerage has over 80 branches and employs more than 1,200 professionals in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Partnering with 30+ leading insurance providers, BIG offers a wide array of insurance products, including auto, home, life, travel, and commercial coverage. Building on its strong foundation, BIG has embraced innovation to redefine the insurance experience for clients and brokers alike. At the heart of BIG’s underwriting success is its focus on delivering value to clients and brokers by combining advanced technology with exceptional service. Guided by their corporate mission to lead the digital insurance revolution, BIG has invested in cutting-edge tools to simplify processes for brokers while ensuring clients receive fast, seamless, and personalized solutions. Its proprietary platform, Precision, represents a significant innovation that is redefining the standard for underwriting excellence. Powered by generative AI and robotic process automation (RPA), Precision enhances the client experience by reducing delays, improving the accuracy of policy applications, and ensuring a hassle-free journey from quote to coverage. By analyzing and validating extensive data in real-time, Precision eliminates common submission errors, giving clients peace of mind that their policies are both accurate and reliable. For brokers, the platform automates time-consuming tasks, enabling them to focus on building relationships and offering tailored advice to clients. This not only boosts broker productivity but also empowers them to grow their business while providing exceptional service. BIG’s technological advancements have garnered significant industry recognition. The development of Precision earned BIG the prestigious Award for Digital Innovation in a Brokerage at the 2024 Insurance Business Canada Awards and a finalist position for the InsurTech Award at the 2024 IBAO Awards of Excellence. These honours add to a growing list of accolades, including being named a Fast Brokerage by Insurance Business Canada from 2022–2024 and appearing on The Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies list from 2020–2024. While innovation drives BIG’s growth, its true strength lies in empowering brokers and creating client-centric solutions. By equipping brokers with advanced tools like Precision and offering robust training and support, BIG fosters a workplace culture that values innovation, career development, and excellence. This approach enables brokers to provide clients with expert guidance, personalized policies, and a level of service that builds long-term trust. With its blend of customer-focused innovation, a people-first approach, and a clear vision for the future, Billyard Insurance Group is setting a new standard for what an insurance brokerage can achieve—both for its clients and its brokers. 

Cody Douma

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

With extensive experience in sales, business development, and management, Cody has been a key driver of the brokerage’s national expansion. Cody joined BIG as Director of Business Development in 2017 where he was then promoted to Vice President in 2019 before being appointed COO in 2023. Under his direction, BIG has grown to over 1,200 employees and more than 80 branches across Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. This impressive growth has helped BIG secure recognition as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies and solidify its position as a leading brokerage.

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Cody Douma

Ben Webster

Co-founder and Head of Product

Ben Webster

Daniel Ignoto

Chief Insurance Officer (CIO)

Nick Goritsas

Co-founder and Group CFO

Nick Goritsas

With over two decades of expertise in business strategy, underwriting, and organizational development, Daniel leverages his experience to align BIG's Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Life & Financial divisions with a focus on innovation, excellence, and industry leadership. Prior to joining BIG in 2024, Daniel served as Senior Vice President of Hagerty’s Insurance Partners Group, where he led growth initiatives and managed a $167M USD portfolio. He also held leadership roles at Aviva Canada, including Vice President of Specialty Personal Insurance, overseeing a $1.2B portfolio serving 600,000 clients.

Chief Insurance Officer (CIO)

Daniel Ignoto

Stuart Murray has over 21 years of experience in the Australian financial services industry, specialising in credit assessment and mortgage underwriting. Prior to joining Brighten, Stuart was Head of Lending Australia and Responsible Manager at Resimac, where he was responsible for management of all aspects of Resimac’s Australian underwriting team. Prior to that, Stuart worked in mortgage credit assessment at St.George Bank and Bluestone Mortgages.

Head of Credit

Stuart Murray

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

Craig Thompson

Chief Operating Officer

Co-founder and Group CFO

Nick Goritsas

https://www.youtube.com/@BillyardInsuranceGroup

https://www.thebig.ca/

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