People-first leadership in insurance begins with a willingness to give others your knowledge, time and belief. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira speaks with Linda Bennett, Senior Claims Advisor and Broker Partner at Crawford & Company, about the experiences that shaped her leadership, insurance career and commitment to mentoring others. Linda Bennett's insurance career started in Hobart in 1998 as a credit controller, not exactly the origin story most people expect ...

Major complex loss in insurance is not just about technical expertise; it is about communication, judgement and the ability to guide people through pressure. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira chats with Nigel Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Sedgwick Singapore, and Head of Major Complex Loss, Asia. Nigel shares how a trade apprenticeship in South Wales, an early move to Abu Dhabi, and decades as an expat have shaped his approach to engineering, loss adjusting, and leaders...

How Deniz Bekir is raising the standard of insurance claims begins with a simple belief: every claim deserves the very best expertise, professionalism and care. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Deniz Bekir, CEO and Principal Engineer at Silver Wolf Projects and Chairperson of the Association of Insurance Building and Engineering Consultants (AiBEC). What unfolds is more than a conversation about engineering; it’s an exploration of leadership, resilience ...

Insurance leadership is rarely a straight path, and few people understand that better than Ben Goodall. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Ben Goodall, CEO of Envest Broking and former CEO of PSC Broking, to explore a career that has taken him from aspiring musician to one of Australia's most respected insurance leaders. Ben shares his unique upbringing across Melbourne, Queensland and regional Victoria, his early ambitions in music, and how a temporary ro...

What does modern leadership in insurance actually look like? In Episode 144 of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira speaks with Lorelle Hillman, General Manager of Distribution at QBE Australia, about resilience, mentorship, gender equity, and the future of the insurance industry. Lorelle shares her journey from Brisbane tennis courts and corporate travel into a 25-year insurance career spanning underwriting, broking, sales leadership, and executive management. She reflects on balancing moth...

Leadership in insurance isn’t built in boardrooms — it’s forged through resilience, relationships, and real-world experience. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Steven Hill, NIBA Director, board member, and 2018 Queensland Broker of the Year, to explore a remarkable 40-year journey in the insurance industry. Steven’s story begins in suburban Brisbane, shaped by sport, discipline, and strong mentorship. From a chance opportunity at 18, he entered the world ...

Insurance leadership and resilience are at the heart of this powerful conversation with Greg Fisher, chairman of Nautilus Marine and chairman of the Steadfast Foundation. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with one of the insurance industry’s most respected leaders to explore a journey shaped by hard work, humility, adversity and purpose. Greg shares how growing up on a sheep farm in rural Victoria during drought taught him resilience early. From there, he open...

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...

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 beyo...

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 thr...