Headquarters:
Sydney
Year founded:
2007
Number of employees:
70
Phone:
1300 800 772
Email:
info@berkleyinaus.com.au
Website:
berkleyinaus.com.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/berkley-insurance-australia
"We are constantly living by our core values: integrity, impact and teamwork"
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
Read on
IB Top Brokerages
Award Winner
SHIELDED INSURANCE BROKERS
Award Winner
BERKLEY INSURANCE AUSTRALIA
Tony Wheatley
Chief Executive Officer
Matthew McPhee
National Underwriting Manager
Barbara Stenning
National Head of Claims
Leadership
Tony Wheatley has over 35 years’ experience in underwriting, claims, reinsurance and portfolio management. His expertise lies largely in the PI, D&O and medical malpractice classes having worked his way through various underwriting positions before moving into management roles.
Joining WR Berkley in July 2012, his background includes a broad expertise in managing insurance companies, managing general agents, and insurance and reinsurance portfolios.
Tony and the management team at BIA are committed to ensuring that the best possible products and services are provided to brokers through local underwriters who are empowered to make decisions with an expectation that service, in the broadest sense, is at the core of the company’s operations.
Chief Executive Officer
Tony Wheatley
Matthew McPhee has over 30 years of experience in the casualty classes (PI, ML, D&O and GL), having worked for international insurance brokers and underwriters in Australia and London.
He has a reputation for ensuring that insurance brokers and their clients receive excellent service and professional advice in his chosen specialty.
Matthew has a Commerce degree, is a Fellow of the Australian Insurance Institute, and was a Member of NIBA when he was a broker.
National Underwriting Manager
Matthew McPhee
Barbara Stenning leads the team as the national head of claims for BIA. Her extensive experience in claims management with a particular focus on the defence of complex litigated and non-litigated claims in all specialty lines of business underwritten by BIA makes Barbara one of the insurance industry’s most experienced claims professionals. Barbara has held various high-profile leadership roles across the insurance industry over a 20-year period. Most notably, she was the CEO of a leading American insurer in Australia. She combines these experiences with qualifications in law and health. Barbara’s unique profile brings to her clients a highly developed understanding of a wide and complex range of issues.
National Head of Claims
Barbara Stenning
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“We are constantly living by our core values: integrity, impact and teamwork”
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
“Now, we have much more frequent recognition awards because we want to celebrate people staying at CAAT and recognize the contributions that they bring to the organization”
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
Read on
Award Winner
NODIFI
Leadership
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“Now, we have much more frequent recognition awards because we want to celebrate people staying at CAAT and recognize the contributions that they bring to the organization”
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
“We are constantly living by our core values: integrity, impact and teamwork”
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
Read on
Award Winner
NODIFI
Leadership
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
Paul Bleakley
National Facilities Manager
Paul Bleakley has more than 25 years of experience in PI, D&O and PL, having worked for both international underwriters and international insurance brokers in Australia. In his role as BIA’s national facilities manager, Paul has established a culture based on strong relationships with coverholders, ensuring that mutually beneficial business portfolios are developed and supported. He has a Commerce degree and an MBA.
National Facilities Manager
Paul Bleakley
Kirsty Owens
State Manager SA and National Portfolio
Manager SCTP
Kirsty Owens has over 20 years’ experience in PI, D&O and PL having worked for both Underwriters and Insurance Brokers in Australia and London. She is the state manager for South Australia, leading a team of accomplished underwriters servicing the insurance needs of Adelaide brokers and insureds. In her role as national portfolio manager SCTP, she is responsible for managing the overall portfolio aspects of business underwritten through the SCTP. Kirsty has a Business degree and is a Fellow of the Australian Insurance Institute.
State Manager SA and National Portfolio Manager SCTP
Kirsty Owens
Berkley Insurance Australia (BIA) is a world-class general insurer providing customised solutions across a range of specialist product lines. Their motto is local teams supporting local brokers, ensuring fast responses to requests for quotes, risk submissions, and new claims. Recently, they have won the NIBA General Insurer of the Year in 2020 and Insurer of the Year for the Insurance Business Brokers on Insurers Awards in 2021 and 2022.
When placing a risk with BIA, their brokers expect their clients to receive the best treatment from their dedicated underwriters and claims managers. Specialists in their product lines, these professionals have extensive knowledge of the local insurance market. By working together, their underwriters can provide brokers with solutions to cover their clients against risks that arise from operating a business.
“Our No. 1 focus is on providing the highest levels of service possible,” says Tony Wheatley, BIA’s chief executive officer. “Everything we do is with this in mind. The systems we implement, the people we hire, and the authority we provide to local underwriters are all designed to add to our service levels. We are also very conscious of removing red tape and process for process sake, allowing underwriters and claims managers to focus on the main game, which is providing service to our brokers and insureds.”
Belonging to the global W. R. Berkley Corporation, BIA has a rich history of excellence. Being a prominent member of the global insurance community, Berkley has offices in the US, UK, Continental Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia, and the Asia-Pacific region.
W. R. Berkley’s member insurance companies share the distinction of being rated A+ (strong) by Standard & Poor’s and A+ (superior) in financial strength by the AM Best Company.
BIA provides quality cover across the following product lines: public and products liability, professional indemnity, management liability, IT liability, design and construction liability, sole trader’s management liability, medical malpractice, association liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, and fast and attentive service.
BIA believes that being accessible to clients is one of the most important factors in the company’s continuing success. Whenever a broker has a matter that they wish to discuss, they are always welcome to phone anyone in their underwriting team and get an answer straight away. Always being there for their brokers means they can provide immediate support to their clients.
Embracing cutting-edge technology with the BindIT platform, BIA has achieved a more streamlined approach to underwriting for clients. Now, brokers can obtain quick quotes, bind policies, and download documents all through this secure platform.
Paying claims is the real test of an insurance policy. BIA’s philosophy is to “play fair, pay early,” ensuring that their clients and their reputations are properly protected. “I am regularly told by our panel partners when I ask how BIA stacks up in comparison to other insurers in terms of our decision making, engagement and responsiveness, that the BIA claims team is quite unique in its level of engagement with claims made against our insureds,” says Wheatley. “This is what makes claims management timely in its execution.”
What’s more, the ASIC and APRA authorisations of the Australian branch of Berkley Insurance Company mean their clients can take comfort that they are dealing with a regulated insurance company committed to the Australian market. Their professionalism and product knowledge has allowed them to attain the position as a leading specialist insurer, offering a wide range of valued general insurance products to small, medium, and large businesses.
“Now, we have much more frequent recognition awards because we want to celebrate people staying at CAAT and recognize the contributions that they bring to the organization”
Julie Giraldi,
CAAT Pension Plan
Paul Kelly
State Manager QLD/NT
Trevor Williamson
State Manager NSW/ACT
Leanne Farrell
State Manager VIC/TAS
Jason Tomerini
State Manager WA
Paul Kelly has been in the financial services industry for 30 years, beginning in the stock market before moving to insurance in 1993. He has undertaken a number of roles from portfolio management and liability underwriting for various insurers to a corporate insurance broker for local and international broking firms across a wide variety of industries from manufacturing, mining, property development to health services. Currently, Paul is the Queensland and Northern Territory state manager for Berkley Insurance Australia, based in Brisbane. He also has the role of casualty underwriter.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of ANZIIF.
State Manager QLD/NT
Paul Kelly
Trevor Williamson has a Bachelor of Business Studies and 25 years’ experience in general insurance over both claims and underwriting. Specialising in Public and Products Liability underwriting, Trevor has worked in both the SME and Corporate markets with global placement experience.
Currently, Trevor is the State Manager of the NSW and ACT open market team at Berkley Insurance Australia. His unique leadership skills guide our expert underwriters, skilled in both Financial Lines and Liability.
Outside of work, Trevor enjoys spending time with his family and travelling around Southeast Asia. He is an avid sportsman who enjoys cycling, running, football and golf.
State Manager NSW/ACT
Trevor Williamson
Karen Bannister has over 20 years of marketing expertise and has a Chartered Marketer designation from the Canadian Marketing Association. She is a strategic marketing leader with a career record of success in developing and executing effective marketing strategies, growing revenue, and overseeing multi-talented teams. She also holds five certifications for marketing and brand management.
Karen has successfully completed the Mini-MBA, Essentials of Management program at Schulich School of Business, and most recently completed the Communications and Leadership Program at The Ivey Academy.
State Manager VIC/TAS
Leanne Farrell
Jason Tomerini joined the Berkley Insurance Australia team in 2014 and has been in the Insurance Industry since 1993, holding various roles with SGIO, Mercantile Mutual, Aon and
AIG. He believes strongly in the fundamentals of insurance, the promise it delivers and the value of exceptional service.
He is a devoted family man. He and his wife, who is from Prague, have a daughter and a son. As a family, they enjoy travelling specifically to the Czech Republic to visit their extended family.
Jason’s major hobby and enjoyment is playing golf. He has been a member of The Vines Golf & Country Club in the Swan Valley since 2006.
State Manager WA
Jason Tomerini
Paul Kelly
State Manager QLD/NT
Jason Tomerini
State Manager WA
Leanne Farrell
State Manager VIC/TAS
Trevor Williamson
State Manager NSW/ACT
Paul Kelly has been in the financial services industry for 30 years, beginning in the stock market before moving to insurance in 1993. He has undertaken a number of roles from portfolio management and liability underwriting for various insurers to a corporate insurance broker for local and international broking firms across a wide variety of industries from manufacturing, mining, property development to health services. Currently, Paul is the Queensland and Northern Territory state manager for Berkley Insurance Australia, based in Brisbane. He also has the role of casualty underwriter.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of ANZIIF.
State Manager QLD/NT
Paul Kelly
Trevor Williamson has a Bachelor of Business Studies and 25 years’ experience in general insurance over both claims and underwriting. Specialising in Public and Products Liability underwriting, Trevor has worked in both the SME and Corporate markets with global placement experience.
Currently, Trevor is the State Manager of the NSW and ACT open market team at Berkley Insurance Australia. His unique leadership skills guide our expert underwriters, skilled in both Financial Lines and Liability.
Outside of work, Trevor enjoys spending time with his family and travelling around Southeast Asia. He is an avid sportsman who enjoys cycling, running, football and golf.
State Manager NSW/ACT
Trevor Williamson
Karen Bannister has over 20 years of marketing expertise and has a Chartered Marketer designation from the Canadian Marketing Association. She is a strategic marketing leader with a career record of success in developing and executing effective marketing strategies, growing revenue, and overseeing multi-talented teams. She also holds five certifications for marketing and brand management.
Karen has successfully completed the Mini-MBA, Essentials of Management program at Schulich
School of Business, and most recently completed the Communications and Leadership Program at
The Ivey Academy.
State Manager VIC/TAS
Leanne Farrell
Jason Tomerini joined the Berkley Insurance Australia team in 2014 and has been in the Insurance Industry since 1993, holding various roles with SGIO, Mercantile Mutual, Aon and
AIG. He believes strongly in the fundamentals of insurance, the promise it delivers and the value of exceptional service.
He is a devoted family man. He and his wife, who is from Prague, have a daughter and a son. As a family, they enjoy travelling specifically to the Czech Republic to visit their extended family.
Jason’s major hobby and enjoyment is playing golf. He has been a member of The Vines Golf & Country Club in the Swan Valley since 2006.
State Manager WA
Jason Tomerini
Paul Kelly
State Manager QLD/NT
Leanne Farrell
State Manager VIC/TAS
Trevor Williamson
State Manager NSW/ACT
Jason Tomerini
State Manager WA
Paul Kelly has been in the financial services industry for 30 years, beginning in the stock market before moving to insurance in 1993. He has undertaken a number of roles from portfolio management and liability underwriting for various insurers to a corporate insurance broker for local and international broking firms across a wide variety of industries from manufacturing, mining, property development to health services. Currently, Paul is the Queensland and Northern Territory state manager for Berkley Insurance Australia, based in Brisbane. He also has the role of casualty underwriter.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of ANZIIF.
State Manager QLD/NT
Paul Kelly
Trevor Williamson has a Bachelor of Business Studies and 25 years’ experience in general insurance over both claims and underwriting. Specialising in Public and Products Liability underwriting, Trevor has worked in both the SME and Corporate markets with global placement experience.
Currently, Trevor is the State Manager of the NSW and ACT open market team at Berkley Insurance Australia. His unique leadership skills guide our expert underwriters, skilled in both Financial Lines and Liability.
Outside of work, Trevor enjoys spending time with his family and travelling around Southeast Asia. He is an avid sportsman who enjoys cycling, running, football and golf.
State Manager NSW/ACT
Trevor Williamson
Karen Bannister has over 20 years of marketing expertise and has a Chartered Marketer designation from the Canadian Marketing Association. She is a strategic marketing leader with a career record of success in developing and executing effective marketing strategies, growing revenue, and overseeing multi-talented teams. She also holds five certifications for marketing and brand management.
Karen has successfully completed the
Mini-MBA, Essentials of Management program at Schulich School of Business, and most recently completed the Communications and Leadership Program at The Ivey Academy.
State Manager VIC/TAS
Leanne Farrell
Jason Tomerini joined the Berkley Insurance Australia team in 2014 and has been in the Insurance Industry since 1993, holding various roles with SGIO, Mercantile Mutual, Aon and
AIG. He believes strongly in the fundamentals of insurance, the promise it delivers and the value of exceptional service.
He is a devoted family man. He and his wife, who is from Prague, have a daughter and a son. As a family, they enjoy travelling specifically to the Czech Republic to visit their extended family.
Jason’s major hobby and enjoyment is playing golf. He has been a member of The Vines Golf & Country Club in the Swan Valley since 2006.
State Manager WA
Jason Tomerini
BDM support
Medals
Broker communication, training and development
Commission structure
Online platforms and services
Overall service level
Premium stability
Product innovation
Turnaround time – claims
Turnaround time – new business
Medals
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Commission structure
Online platforms and services
Overall service level
Premium stability
Product innovation
Turnaround time – claims
Turnaround time – new business
Medals
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Commission structure
Online platforms and services
Overall service level
Premium stability
Product innovation
Turnaround time – claims
Turnaround time – new business