Business Made Personal

The road to insurance leadership isn't always via traditional underwriting roles. Damien Gallagher's journey from financial planning to executive leadership at CGU shows how curiosity and cross-industry experience can boost career advancement in ways that remaining within insurance silos cannot.

From Financial Planning to Insurance Strategy

Gallagher's career shift started at Perpetual Trustees, where he specialised in personal injury financial planning for clients receiving compensation from medical negligence and motor vehicle accidents. This focus required building strong relationships with personal injury lawyers and understanding complex financial needs. His success in developing new market opportunities for Perpetual led to leadership ambitions that the organisation couldn't support internally.

I wanted to be a leader. I wanted to be more than just the individual. I wanted to be leading people, setting the strategy for the business.

— Damien Gallagher, Ep. 141

The Value of Outsider Perspective

Moving to Zurich as State Manager Queensland without a traditional insurance apprenticeship brought fresh thinking to established teams. Gallagher recognised that Zurich already had exceptional technical expertise and focused on enhancing existing strengths while introducing strategic approaches from financial services. This blend of respecting institutional knowledge while incorporating external perspectives proved valuable for both individual career growth and organisational development.

What This Means for Your Career

Insurance organisations are increasingly recognising the value of diverse career backgrounds that bring innovative strategic thinking to traditional operations. Gallagher's progression demonstrates how professionals can transition successfully by identifying transferable skills and understanding where they contribute unique value to established teams.

• Curiosity and willingness to expand role boundaries lead to faster advancement opportunities than staying within defined job parameters
• Cross-industry experience becomes a competitive advantage when combined with respect for existing institutional knowledge and relationships
• Leadership aspirations require strategic career moves when current organisations cannot offer growth pathways that align with professional ambitions.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

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Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Leadership in insurance isn’t just about strategy; it’s about culture, people, and execution.

In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Stuart Brown, CEO of The Bridge International, to unpack a career that spans some of Australia’s most influential insurance organisations. From launching Coles Insurance to leading a consultancy focused on bridging strategy and execution, Stuart shares the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy.

This conversation goes beyond traditional leadership narratives. Stuart explores the realities of transitioning from technical roles into relationship-driven leadership, the importance of building trust, and why culture must come before commercial outcomes.

You’ll learn:

•  Why the “triple play” of culture, customer, and commercials is critical for sustainable success 
•  How a growth mindset drives innovation in insurance 
•  The real challenges of leadership, including sacrifice, uncertainty, and resilience 
•  Why the future of insurance depends on attracting and developing the next generation 

Stuart also reflects on navigating COVID-19 as a business leader, the importance of mentorship, and how saying “yes” to opportunities can shape a career in unexpected ways.

If you’re an insurance professional, business leader, or someone looking to grow your impact, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Leadership in insurance is evolving as brokers shift from transactional insurance placement to becoming trusted risk advisors.

In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira chats with Tim Mathieson, CEO – Australasia Broking at Steadfast, about leadership, mentorship, and how the role of brokers is evolving in the insurance industry.

Tim shares insights from his journey leading broker networks across Australasia and reflects on the leadership mindset needed to steer an industry through technological change, evolving client expectations, and the entry of new generations into the profession.

Together, Mark and Tim discuss how effective leadership in insurance is developed through mentorship, resilience, and a sustained focus on cultivating people.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Why the future of broking is shifting towards holistic risk management

• The importance of mentorship in building strong broker businesses

• How leaders can nurture the next generation of insurance professionals

• Why trust and client relationships remain the key advantages in broking

As technology speeds up change in the insurance industry, leaders must focus not only on innovation but also on developing people who can guide clients through increasingly complex risks. 

Tim provides a thoughtful view on what leadership in insurance looks like today and how broker businesses can prepare for the future.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Systemic inequities in insurance aren’t just a policy problem; they show up in real people’s lives when they’re at their most vulnerable. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Julia Davis, Senior Policy and Communications Officer at the Financial Rights Legal Centre, AFCA panel member, and member of the General Insurance Code Governance Committee, to unpack what’s broken and what needs to change.

Julia shares the experiences that shaped her worldview, from growing up in Florida to witnessing injustice first-hand in the legal system, and why she’s dedicated her career to advocating for consumers who feel powerless inside complex financial processes. Together, Mark and Julia explore the hard truth that for a small percentage of customers, the real trauma isn’t the flood, fire, or accident, it’s the claims process that follows.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why “financial literacy” isn’t the silver bullet and where accountability really belongs
• How claims can go off the rails (and what escalation with humanity should look like)
• Why insurer pricing systems and transparency are now central to consumer trust
• What role must government, insurers, banks, and communities play in climate risk and affordability

If you care about the future of insurance, trust, transparency, fairness, and customer outcomes, this episode is a must-listen.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Insurance Industry Reform in Australia is no longer a “nice-to-have” conversation; it’s becoming a community necessity as affordability tightens and natural disasters become more frequent and severe. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with James Still, founder and managing director of Still Insured Insurance Brokers, to unpack a career shaped by unexpected pivots, personal resilience, and a deep belief that insurance should be accessible to everyone.

James shares how he moved from psychology (and even a path toward veterinary science) into insurance, initially to help his father wind down a business, but quickly discovered a people-first industry where relationships, empathy, and real-world impact matter. He also opens up about major life challenges: grief, injury, and the pressure of building a business while raising a young family, without the safety net of stable income.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why empathy and “reading the room” can be a competitive advantage in broking and leadership
• What it really takes to go self-employed (and survive the first 6–12 months)
• How resilience is built through hard seasons and why acceptance is a turning point
• James’s vision for reform: affordability, clarity, and products that better fit how people actually live

If you care about the future of insurance or you’re a young professional wondering where you can build a meaningful career, this episode will expand your view of what’s possible.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Resilience in insurance leadership is not a personality trait; it’s a practice built through hardship, self-awareness, and community. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Emily-Rose Srbinovska, Senior Account Manager at AEI Insurance Broking Group and ACT President of Young Insurance Professionals Australia and New Zealand.

Emily shares a powerful journey from a challenging childhood in country New South Wales to becoming a standout leader in the industry, grounded in grit, discipline, and a deep commitment to client advocacy. Along the way, she opens up about neurodivergence, emotional regulation, and what it really takes to build a career you’re proud of while staying aligned with your values.

Key takeaways include:

• How early hardship can become a foundation for resilience (and how to build it without “hardening” yourself)
• The practical reality of neurodivergence at work, focus, emotional regulation, and communication strategies that help
• Why broking can feel like a “true calling” when you’re driven by relationships and business curiosity
• What “collective progress” means in a competitive industry, and why collaboration scales careers faster than ego
• A clear-eyed view on women’s equity in insurance: representation, sponsorship, leadership pathways, and pay equity

If you want a real conversation about resilience, leadership, and building meaningful client relationships in insurance, this one delivers.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Climate risk in insurance is no longer a future problem; it is a present-day leadership test.

In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Sharanjit Padam, Principal Climate Analytics at Finiti, to unpack the human story behind a career spent translating complex risk into real-world decisions. Sharanjit shares his journey from Zambia to boarding school in Wales, then into actuarial consulting in the UK, before building a leading career in Australia across consulting, insurance, and ESG risk. Along the way, he reflects on cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the sacrifices families make to create opportunity.

You will hear practical, values-driven lessons that apply well beyond climate work, including:

1. Why trust is the real product in insurance, and how it can be lost quickly even when you are “mostly right”
2. How mentorship accelerated Sharanjit’s career, and the workplace culture rule that promotions should require teaching others
3. What “healthy disdain for authority” means in actuarial and boardroom decision making, and why it matters for innovation
4. Why insurers are still moving too slowly on climate risk, and how scenario analysis plus mandatory disclosure is shifting boardroom behaviour

If you care about the future of the industry and the role insurance must play in protecting families and communities, this conversation will challenge and equip you.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Mentorship in insurance isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s how you build an industry that lasts. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Brett Piggott, Executive Director at Willis Temby, to unpack a 25-year journey defined by resilience, empathy, and a refusal to compromise on integrity.

Brett’s story begins far from boardrooms: in remote WA communities, shaped by his father’s gold prospecting and logging work, and by an early lesson in how deeply events can affect small towns. Those experiences became the foundation of Brett’s professional philosophy — be interested, be interested in people, and don’t lose your sincerity.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why Brett believes clients deserve 100% of your time, no matter the size of their account
• The role mentorship played in his growth — and why he now prioritises developing future leaders
• What “professionalism” really means in insurance, and why Brett advocates for higher minimum education standards
• How integrity shows up in real decisions — including moments where Brett chose values over convenience

If you’re building a career in insurance (or leading a team), Brett’s perspective is a masterclass in playing the long game, centred on relationships, standards, and people.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Leadership and mentorship in reinsurance are central themes in this discussion with Stephen Brunker on Business Made Personal. With more than 25 years in both international and local reinsurance markets, Stephen shares the personal story behind his professional success – from a disjointed childhood and frequent school moves to finding stability through his grandparents’ wisdom and the family values that continue to guide him today.

Stephen shares how a detour through hospitality and completing a Bachelor of Business at UTS led him into NRMA Reinsurance. He reflects on how those early days in underwriting and claims shaped his views on risk, relationships, and responsibility. He explains why the customer service discipline he picked up in hospitality has become one of his greatest assets in reinsurance and broking – and why listening well continues to be more important than ever.

You’ll hear honest reflections on the trade-offs that come with senior roles, the realities of travelling when you have a young family, and how Stephen has learned to maintain work–life balance without losing ambition. He discusses his passion for mentoring, the surprise many mentees feel when they understand the size of the reinsurance market, and why the industry needs to do a better job of telling its story if it wants to attract young talent.

Along the way, Stephen shares lighter moments too – including teaching himself guitar, playing in a pub rock band, and his love of boxing, yoga, and mountain biking as outlets beyond the office.

Listen in to rethink leadership and mentorship in reinsurance, and walk away with practical insights on career paths, transferable skills, and staying true to your values.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Mentorship and balance in insurance careers are central themes in this honest chat with Kishan Dasan, General Manager at MECON Insurance. Growing up in Malaysia with dentist parents and a solid educational background, Kishan talks about how a one-way ticket to Melbourne at 21 completely transformed his life, his identity, and ultimately his career in insurance.

In this episode, Kishan shares how he was overwhelmed by the freedom of being an international student, struggled with failing subjects at university, and had a wake-up call upon realising the extent of his parents’ financial sacrifice. He discusses how he recalibrated, completed his electrical engineering degree, and unexpectedly fell in love with sales, eventually securing a graduate underwriter role at AIG that led him to New York.

Kishan also discusses the shift from technical underwriting to leadership, including a significant move from Melbourne to Sydney that tested both his resilience and his relationships. He’s honest about the period when work became his entire identity, and how burnout and self-reflection pushed him to rebuild a more sustainable version of success.

You’ll hear Kishan’s practical view on building networks in a small industry, staying loyal without losing yourself, and leading a team of more than 40 underwriters while still being a present husband and dad. He also shares his opinions on innovation in insurance and why agencies like Mekon are particularly well-placed to move faster.

If you're passionate about mentorship and work-life balance in insurance careers and want a genuine story of determination, sacrifice, and adjustment, this episode is for you.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]