sura.com.au/construction
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Read on
Award Winner
SURA CONSTRUCTION
Jamie Schibuk
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Michael Holbrook
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
Director – SURA Construction
and Engineering
Leadership
Headquarters:
Level 14, 141 Walker Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060
Year founded:
2011
Number of employees:
12
Phone:
0413302131
Email:
selina.lezes@sura.com.au
Website:
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/3160015
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
Blair Arnot joined SURA Construction in March 2015 as a senior underwriter and became a director in 2018. With over 20 years of underwriting experience in both Australia and the UK, Arnot is passionate about providing expertise and high service levels to brokers servicing construction clients throughout Australia. He completed an advanced diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute in 2013 and is a senior associate of ANZIIF. Away from proposal forms and nat cat models, Arnot enjoys spending time with his young family and playing tennis.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
Michael Holbrook became the director of SURA Construction in 2018 after joining as a senior underwriter in 2015. A qualified mechanical engineer, Holbrook has over 20 years’ experience in construction insurance, having previously worked at Lumley Insurance as a regional specialty lines manager – engineering and marine. His technical capability and pragmatic underwriting are highly regarded throughout the insurance industry, a reputation he seeks to replicate in his home-grown shiraz.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Michael Holbrook
Marcus Kadir joined Brooklyn Underwriting in 2021 as the systems and projects manager, coming from a consulting and contracting background. He has extensive experience working on projects throughout the insurance industry and beyond, completing stints with Allianz, JLT, Police Bank and within Capgemini’s Digital Consulting practise for both iCare and McDonald’s.
Kadir brings a pragmatic approach to the Brooklyn Leadership team and is focused on driving Brooklyn into their next phase of growth through the introduction of digital technologies and operational efficiencies.
Kadir holds a master’s degree in business law from the University of Sydney and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Systems and Project Manager
Marcus Kadir
For the second year running, Shielded Insurance Brokers has claimed the number-one spot among IB’s Top Brokerages. In 2020, it was record-setting growth that drove the company’s impressive success. This year, says managing director Stuart Brady, the key ingredient behind the win is the Shielded culture. Brady is proud of the shared vision for constant improvement across all aspects of the business. “We are thrilled to take out the win again, and it’s hats off to the team for their hard work over the past year,” he says.
Maya Lazarus
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Maya Lazarus is a qualified solicitor with over 15 years’ experience within the insurance industry. Lazarus joined AXA XL in March 2016 as a senior financial lines claims specialist for IFL and was appointed Brooklyn underwriting claims manager in April 2020. Lazarus started her career as an underwriter for World Insurance Network and then worked for a number of international brokers specialising in financial lines. She then moved across to claims and worked for QBE and DUAL Australia as a financial lines senior claims specialist and as the national claims manager for Invivo, a medical indemnity insurer. During her time as a claims specialist IFL for AXA XL, she focused on financial planning and construction claims.
Her passion for SME claims and her service-focused approach have drawn her to Brooklyn Underwriting, where she has been making claims the “face of Brooklyn” and where she enhances the unique Brooklyn claims experience and adds value to brokers.
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Maya Lazarus
Marcus Kadir
Systems and Project Manager
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Hela Trerotola
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Chris Christon
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Stephen Swartley
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Micah Ponto
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/3160015
Website:
sura.com.au/construction
Email:
selina.lezes@sura.com.au
Phone:
0413302131
Number of employees:
12
Year founded:
2011
Headquarters:
Level 14, 141 Walker Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
The SURA group of underwriting agencies consists of specialists in particular insurance products or industry segments and have the know-how to make sense of insurance and simplify its complex features.
In 2011, SURA Construction (formerly Latitude Construction until 2015) was created to provide expert underwriting for construction insurance. Created as a joint venture between AUB Group and Jim Weichmann, SURA Construction built a steady foundation, growing from one underwriter and $0 GWP in 2011 to eight employees and $7.5m GWP in 2018. Michael Holbrook and Blair Arnot took over the directorship in 2018 and have continued building the business to a GWP of $24m in 2022, supported by a team of 10 people.
“We’re old-fashioned underwriters who pride ourselves on being adaptable and flexible in our approach,” says Arnot, director of construction and engineering at SURA. “We don’t rely on online portals or IT systems to calculate terms. We accept inquiries in any form and will contact the broker if additional information is required. We aim to be approachable and focused on solutions.
“We seek to understand the client’s construction business and provide a customised policy tailored to the client’s needs. We have a wide underwriting appetite and the ability to support brokers with all construction risks, from small and low-hazard ones to large and complex ones.”
Since 2017, Lloyds of London has provided capacity to SURA Construction, which was initially supported by Great Lakes Australia. The same Lloyds syndicates have supported the binder since 2017 and remain on the binder to this day, having supported significant growth and dynamic market conditions. The relationship between SURA and Lloyds is strong, and with continued positive results, even through the recent Australian flood and storm events, the partnership should continue for many years.
SURA Construction has also expanded from its roots in North Sydney and now has local representation in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, servicing brokers nationwide.
The SURA Construction team is made up of some of the best construction underwriters in the country who have substantial experience, as well as a professional and enthusiastic team who have been trained and developed by the company’s senior underwriters. This mix of youth and experience contributes to a service-led culture with a focus on delivering valuable underwriting solutions and advice to its broker clients.
The majority of policies at SURA Construction are annually renewable; however, they can also accommodate single projects, including those of owner builders. The company’s appetite for risk is one of the broadest in the market. While the majority of its portfolio is comprised of the building construction, SURA Construction has underwritten projects as diverse as construction of a prawn farm, Sikh temple fit out, several bridges and dams over the last 11 years.
“In the future, we plan to continue to build our team’s capability in order to deliver expert knowledge and service to brokers throughout Australia dealing with construction clients,” says Arnot. “We want to be the underwriter brokers trust to provide the best advice and solutions for their building industry clients. We are also looking at new and innovative ways to enhance our policy coverage.”
Brigid Rauwhero
Claims Manager
John Hogan
Head of Claims
Meg Dempsey
Operations Manager
Robert Collins
Head of Underwriting
Anthony Porter
Head of Business Development
Marcus Kadir
Systems and Project Manager
Maya Lazarus
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Michael Holbrook
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Leadership
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Marcus Kadir joined Brooklyn Underwriting in 2021 as the systems and projects manager, coming from a consulting and contracting background. He has extensive experience working on projects throughout the insurance industry and beyond, completing stints with Allianz, JLT, Police Bank and within Capgemini’s Digital Consulting practise for both iCare and McDonald’s.
Kadir brings a pragmatic approach to the Brooklyn Leadership team and is focused on driving Brooklyn into their next phase of growth through the introduction of digital technologies and operational efficiencies.
Kadir holds a master’s degree in business law from the University of Sydney and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Systems and Project Manager
Marcus Kadir
Maya Lazarus is a qualified solicitor with over 15 years’ experience within the insurance industry. Lazarus joined AXA XL in March 2016 as a senior financial lines claims specialist for IFL and was appointed Brooklyn underwriting claims manager in April 2020. Lazarus started her career as an underwriter for World Insurance Network and then worked for a number of international brokers specialising in financial lines. She then moved across to claims and worked for QBE and DUAL Australia as a financial lines senior claims specialist and as the national claims manager for Invivo, a medical indemnity insurer. During her time as a claims specialist IFL for AXA XL, she focused on financial planning and construction claims.
Her passion for SME claims and her service-focused approach have drawn her to Brooklyn Underwriting, where she has been making claims the “face of Brooklyn” and where she enhances the unique Brooklyn claims experience and adds value to brokers.
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Maya Lazarus
Michael Holbrook became the director of SURA Construction in 2018 after joining as a senior underwriter in 2015. A qualified mechanical engineer, Holbrook has over 20 years’ experience in construction insurance, having previously worked at Lumley Insurance as a regional specialty lines manager – engineering and marine. His technical capability and pragmatic underwriting are highly regarded throughout the insurance industry, a reputation he seeks to replicate in his home-grown shiraz.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Michael Holbrook
Blair Arnot joined SURA Construction in March 2015 as a senior underwriter and became a director in 2018. With over 20 years of underwriting experience in both Australia and the UK, Arnot is passionate about providing expertise and high service levels to brokers servicing construction clients throughout Australia. He completed an advanced diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute in 2013 and is a senior associate of ANZIIF. Away from proposal forms and nat cat models, Arnot enjoys spending time with his young family and playing tennis.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
Read on
IB Top Brokerages
Award Winner
SHIELDED INSURANCE BROKERS
Award Winner
SURA CONSTRUCTION
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape"
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
As an award-winning mortgage brokerage company with time-tested results, XIN Mortgage strives to be on top of the game. The company offers independent advice, develops personalised and customised solutions, and ensures that customers receive a lifetime customer service experience backed by customer reviews.
To leave no stone unturned, XIN Mortgage employs its in-house CRM X-Online, which focuses on transparent reporting and analytics system between the company and brokers to develop a healthy and pleasant competitive atmosphere.
Unlike traditional systems, XIN Mortgage’s platforms provide transparency and confidence by enabling brokers to have a complete overview of their customer portfolio at any moment, including property details, home loan details, application histories, home loan health check reminders, annual rate review tasks, leads management functions, and much more. A key breakthrough feature is to introduce new brokers to intensive and careful mentoring to work towards success, using the client service team to assist brokers and marketing teams to build their personal brands and drive high levels of customer satisfaction.
As a leading company, XIN Mortgage offers ongoing professional training and case study to its whole team, which helps the brokers develop highly effective solutions and guarantees the best interest of customers.
Micah Ponto
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Chris Christon
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Stephen Swartley
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Hela Trerotola
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Jamie Schibuk
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Marcus Kadir
Systems and Project Manager
Maya Lazarus
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Michael Holbrook
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
Director – SURA Construction
and Engineering
Leadership
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/3160015
Website:
sura.com.au/construction
Email:
selina.lezes@sura.com.au
Phone:
0413302131
Number of employees:
12
Year founded:
2011
Headquarters:
Level 14, 141 Walker Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060
Read on
SURA CONSTRUCTION
Award Winner
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Marcus Kadir joined Brooklyn Underwriting in 2021 as the systems and projects manager, coming from a consulting and contracting background. He has extensive experience working on projects throughout the insurance industry and beyond, completing stints with Allianz, JLT, Police Bank and within Capgemini’s Digital Consulting practise for both iCare and McDonald’s.
Kadir brings a pragmatic approach to the Brooklyn Leadership team and is focused on driving Brooklyn into their next phase of growth through the introduction of digital technologies and operational efficiencies.
Kadir holds a master’s degree in business law from the University of Sydney and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Systems and Project Manager
Marcus Kadir
Maya Lazarus is a qualified solicitor with over 15 years’ experience within the insurance industry. Lazarus joined AXA XL in March 2016 as a senior financial lines claims specialist for IFL and was appointed Brooklyn underwriting claims manager in April 2020. Lazarus started her career as an underwriter for World Insurance Network and then worked for a number of international brokers specialising in financial lines. She then moved across to claims and worked for QBE and DUAL Australia as a financial lines senior claims specialist and as the national claims manager for Invivo, a medical indemnity insurer. During her time as a claims specialist IFL for AXA XL, she focused on financial planning and construction claims.
Her passion for SME claims and her service-focused approach have drawn her to Brooklyn Underwriting, where she has been making claims the “face of Brooklyn” and where she enhances the unique Brooklyn claims experience and adds value to brokers.
Brooklyn Claims Manager
Maya Lazarus
Michael Holbrook became the director of SURA Construction in 2018 after joining as a senior underwriter in 2015. A qualified mechanical engineer, Holbrook has over 20 years’ experience in construction insurance, having previously worked at Lumley Insurance as a regional specialty lines manager – engineering and marine. His technical capability and pragmatic underwriting are highly regarded throughout the insurance industry, a reputation he seeks to replicate in his home-grown shiraz.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Michael Holbrook
Blair Arnot joined SURA Construction in March 2015 as a senior underwriter and became a director in 2018. With over 20 years of underwriting experience in both Australia and the UK, Arnot is passionate about providing expertise and high service levels to brokers servicing construction clients throughout Australia. He completed an advanced diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute in 2013 and is a senior associate of ANZIIF. Away from proposal forms and nat cat models, Arnot enjoys spending time with his young family and playing tennis.
Director – SURA Construction and Engineering
Blair Arnot
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Management Liability
Arch Insurance’s professional underwriting team specializes in providing management liability insurance to a broad range of industries.
Cyber
Arch Insurance’s experienced underwriting team takes a forward-looking approach to writing network security, privacy and media liability.
Professional Liability
Arch Insurance’s professional liability team is positioned to offer liability insurance solutions for lawyers, architects and engineers; design-build professionals, contractors and consultants; franchisors, insurance agents and brokers; real estate agents and brokers; property managers; registered investment advisors; travel agents and tour operators; and a host of other miscellaneous professional classes.
Medal
Overall service level
Construction
Product innovation
Product range
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Product innovation
Product range
Construction
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Product innovation
Product range
Construction