Headquarters:
Suite 4, Level 41, 264 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Year founded:
2017
Number of employees:
21
Phone:
02 9003 1660
Email:
Sydney: quotes@FTAinsurance.com.au
Website:
FTAinsurance.com.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/fta-insurance
“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”
Christian Garling
Managing Director
Rowan Mattinson
Financial Lines Underwriting Manager, Vic, SA and Tas
Rachel Macionis
Financial Lines Underwriting Manager, Qld, WA and NT
Leadership
Christian Garling has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He founded Berkley’s insurance operations in Australia before establishing FTA Insurance, a Lloyd’s coverholder. With two decades of success in the Australian market, Garling has built a strong reputation for leadership and expertise. As the founder and managing director of FTA, he is passionate about providing brokers with exceptional value through outstanding service, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times on quotes – regardless of the risk size. Garling’s commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has been central to FTA’s continued growth and success in the industry.
Managing Director
Christian Garling
Rowan Mattinson’s career began in hospitality, where he developed a strong foundation in customer service before transitioning to insurance brokerage. Over nearly a decade, he honed his skills and gained valuable experience, eventually moving into underwriting. Specialising in professional indemnity risks, he worked across various market segments, expanding his expertise.
In late 2021, Mattinson joined FTA as underwriting manager for the southern states of Australia. Since then, he has thrived in the role, quickly establishing himself as a key contributor to FTA’s success and growth. His broad experience and dedication continue to make him an invaluable asset to the team.
Financial Lines Underwriting Manager, Vic, SA and Tas
Rowan Mattinson
Rachel Macionis has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. She began her career as a box assistant at Lloyd’s of London before transitioning into underwriting. Drawn to the variety and complexity of risk, she relocated to Australia 15 years ago to expand her expertise in the local market.
In 2021, Macionis joined FTA as the Queensland underwriting manager, specialising in financial lines with a particular focus on construction risks. known for her friendly demeanour, fast turnaround times and exceptional broker support, she has quickly earned a strong reputation within both FTA and the wider industry.
Financial Lines Underwriting Manager, Qld, WA and NT
Rachel Macionis
BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs
Leadership
Leadership
Dan Malic
National General Liability Underwriting Manager
Dan Malic brings over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry to the FTA team. For the past two decades, he has specialised in liability underwriting, working with major insurance companies and as a cover holder on the agency side.
Before transitioning to underwriting, Malic spent a decade as a mid-market insurance broker, giving him a well-rounded perspective that enhances his work in both underwriting and broking. His expertise makes him a key member of the FTA team.
National General Liability Underwriting Manager
Dan Malic
Philippa Green
Broker Partnerships and Events Manager
Philippa Green brings over five years of experience in the insurance industry and plays a key role in FTA’s distribution strategy. She began her career in retail and hospitality while completing her bachelor’s degree, building a strong foundation in customer service and client engagement.
After COVID, Philippa transitioned into the insurance sector, joining FTA Insurance in the administration team. Her strong work ethic and relationship-focused approach saw her quickly progress through the business, moving into the marketing team before stepping into a role centred on broker engagement and business development.
Today, Philippa manages FTA’s distribution team, where she focuses on creating and nurturing broker partnerships across Australia. Known for her approachable manner and dedication to delivering fast, practical support, she is committed to strengthening broker relationships and contributing to FTA’s continued growth.
Broker Partnerships and Events Manager
Philippa Green
Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues.
In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has:
• experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year
• improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40%
• significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience
• expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group
Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers.
The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”
Wayne Tower,
IQumulate Premium Funding
Ed Rooke
Technical Underwriting Manager
Paul Behm
Liability Underwriting Manager
Mary-Anne Turner
Property Team Manager
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Ed Rooke rejoined Pen in 2023 as technical underwriting manager, overseeing liability classes of business. With experience as a senior underwriter and roles at insurers, he is responsible for negotiating binders and expanding Pen’s broker network nationwide. He is known for his positive attitude and creative problem-solving, always looking for innovative solutions. Rooke values building strong relationships both internally and externally. Outside of insurance, he enjoys watching sports and listening to music, bringing the same enthusiasm to his hobbies as he does to his work.
Technical Underwriting Manager
Ed Rooke
Paul Behm has been with Pen since 2017, bringing 25 years of insurance industry experience. Specialising in underwriting, business development and portfolio management, he has focused on the hospitality sector for the past 15 years. He is passionate about delivering fast, knowledgeable service and has built significant relationships within the industry. Behm’s deep understanding of Pen’s products and the hospitality market enables him to provide tailored solutions for clients. He is dedicated to supporting brokers and driving the success of Pen’s liability offerings.
Liability Underwriting Manager
Paul Behm
Mary-Anne Turner has a long-standing association with Pen, returning as property team manager in 2022 after previously serving as a senior underwriter. With 29 years of insurance experience, she leads her team in managing high volumes of quote requests while maintaining exceptional customer service. Her background in corporate and global property insurance, managing large and complex risks, has built her strong network and negotiation skills. Turner encourages her team to follow her example of dedication and professionalism. Outside of work, she enjoys family life and keeping up with her three children.
Property Team Manager
Mary-Anne Turner
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view.
IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance.
“We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.
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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future?
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur.
“Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share.
“As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead.
“We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
Claire Watson
Product Manager
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Claire Watson
Product Manager
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
xxxxxxxxx
Spokesperson,
Salesian College Chadstone
xxxxxxxxx
Spokesperson,
Salesian College Chadstone
Ivan Verescuk
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Shaun O’Brien
Head of Underwriting
Emily Walker
Head of Strata and Development
Rex Oakman
Head of Operations and Risk
Sandy Newton
Head of Underwriting
Andrew Mitchell
Manager – NSW
Michael Prokopis
Manager – Southern Region
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Jeffrey Valdivia
Manager – Commercial Strata
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
FTA Insurance (FTA) is a 5-Star Excellence Award-winning underwriting agency, renowned for delivering exceptional risk solutions tailored to businesses across a range of industries. With a specialised focus on financial lines, standalone general liability, cyber insurance and other critical coverages, FTA ensures that clients are safeguarded against a broad spectrum of potential risks.
Why choose FTA?
Fast turnaround: FTA quotes more than 65% of new business submissions within 48 hours, helping clients secure coverage quickly.
Competitive rates: Whether your client’s risk is large or small, FTA offers premiums starting at just $400, making insurance affordable and accessible.
Long-term stability: With a multi-year long-term capacity agreement in place with eight highly respected Lloyd’s Syndicates, FTA guarantees long-term security and reliability.
Award-winning expertise: As a five-time 5-Star award winner, FTA is recognised as an industry leader in risk solutions.
Expert underwriting: FTA’s team of experienced underwriters provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.
Exceptional service: FTA is known for its commitment to clear communication, quick responses and a relentless focus on exceeding client expectations.
What FTA covers:
Professional indemnity
Public and products liability
Combined professional indemnity and general liability
IT liability
Technology Risks (Combined IT + Cyber)
Management liability
Design and construct
Association liability
Cyber insurance
Excess layers on all of its products
By partnering with FTA, businesses gain a trusted, reliable ally that’s fully committed to both their success and the protection of their clients.
IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company.
“We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.”
Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate.
“Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”
Medals
Financial lines
Management liability
Professional indemnity
Public liability
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Innovation
Reputation
Sustainable programs
Overall
Under the leadership of Principal Mark Ashmore and the College Board, Salesian College Chadstone fosters a positive, professional and growth-oriented environment. With a focus on continuous improvement, the college has achieved record academic results, rising ATAR scores, stronger attendance and national recognition in child safety, including the 2025 Victorian Protecting Children Award.
The college celebrated the outstanding achievement of Year 12 student Thomas Maguire-Nguyen, who was named Overall VCE Leader of the Year by the Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Nina Taylor MP. The college has also proudly led the way in innovation through its partnership with Uniform Group and designer Peter Morrissey to launch Australia’s first bespoke, designer-curated school uniform collection, coinciding with the opening of the new Year 7 and 8 Precinct campus in 2026.
Salesian College Chadstone’s extra-curricular program develops students’ talents and passions in team environments. Key activities include house sports, debating, peer mentoring, Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) sports across 55 teams, instrumental music and public speaking.
The college collaborates with its partner Girls Schools Sacred Heart Girls College and Avila College for musical productions, leadership experiences and community events, providing the opportunity for cross-school teamwork and connection, reinforcing the college’s commitment to holistic development, leadership and community engagement.
Technology is another priority and underpins the college’s strategy of delivering a contemporary education. Over the last 12 months, the college has introduced a series of initiatives:
ICT Future Directions committee – exploring the use of technology for communication, data analysis and learning
Risk Wizard – risk management, incident tracking and compliance monitoring software
Employee Connect – HR and onboarding software
Alumnly – integrated cloud-based Alumni Networking and Management Platform for Alumni of Salesian College Chadstone
Vivi – whole school wireless mirroring system for efficient classroom displays
Intellischools – data platform for student results, attendance and security, aggregating student data for school improvement
IVR (Interactive Voice Response) – system for telephone enquiry management
Committed to diversity and inclusion, the college’s Learning Diversity team ensures the varied needs of students are met in an environment where every student can thrive.
Salesian College Chadstone is a place where academic excellence, personal growth and community spirit converge, preparing young men for an interconnected world while staying true to its Salesian values.
https://emergenceinsurance.com/
Melbourne: melbourne@FTAinsurance.com.au
Brisbane: brisbane@FTAinsurance.com.au