Profile
“I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
Nilima Pokala is the principal, managing director and co-founder of SureInsure Insurance Advisors.
She had an interesting start to her career. Her family had newly migrated to New Zealand and her daughter was only a few months old when she was thrust into the insurance world by a recruiter. While she initially sought stability, she gained a world of knowledge, exposure and personal development.
“Coming into the industry with no insurance background and being promoted to a management role within the first seven months of my career with IAG was an incredible achievement,” she says. “I was selected for a national award in New Zealand and recognised as being a brilliant leader. I am extremely grateful for the career development they provided so early on in my career and gave me the opportunity to flourish as a leader.”
Her greatest quality professionally, she says, is the resilience she’s built up over many years of career and life experiences.
“I thrive in fast-paced, complex situations as I always remain cool, calm and collected to make sure I reach the best possible outcome with a clear mindset,” Nilima says.
Her optimism and determination helped her go from reacting to situations, as she did in the past, to responding to situations, as she does now. If she could offer advice to younger generations, it would be to stay positive no matter what. Currently, Nilima faces a number of ongoing challenges, one of which is seeking to match emerging industry needs with advancements in technology.
“With so much development in technology, new and upcoming occupations, and global changes after the pandemic, there are many areas in which insurers do not provide a range of products to choose from, which can sometimes be challenging,” she says. “Many new occupations have mushroomed, and this is something that a wide panel of insurers don’t offer the right solutions for yet. I am hopeful this ever-changing industry will bring modern-day solutions for modern-day problems very soon. For now, I resort to being a true problem solver and always go above and beyond to find the best possible outcomes for my clients, even if it is a close alternative of which they may not have initially thought.”
Altogether, Nilima considers her career to have been a rewarding and fulfilling journey.
“No one ever thinks of entering the insurance industry, but I believe it truly is one of the best industries to be in, and I have never looked back,” she says. “After multiplying our business tenfold in the second year of operations, alongside my husband, I am thoroughly enjoying my journey on the other end of things, where I am mentoring more people starting out in the insurance industry. I’m also ensuring that my team always has a safe, happy and fun work environment – a key priority for me. I look forward to seeing where my journey takes me next; it has been sensational so far.”
In her spare time, Nilima helps the homeless, sponsors Indian cultural activities and rescues dogs.
“Running my own business has been very rewarding, but of course it does have its moments of stress and the secret behind my stress relief is my fur baby Oreo,” she says. “Having him has been a huge blessing for my family and me, as we like to call him our official chief happiness officer, and he truly lives up to his job title.”
62 Darlot Street, Horsham, VIC 3400
0422 429 957
nilima@sureinsure.com.au
au.linkedin.com/in/nilima-pokala-795a693b
sureinsure.com.au
Nilima Pokala
Principal, Managing Director and Co-Founder
SureInsure Insurance Advisors
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“To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
2002-2020
2021
2022
Present
Present
2002 - Various roles with multiple insurers and brokers
2020 – started own business
2002-
2020
Started trading under our own AFSL Licence
2021
Advisr Top Insurance Broker QLD
Advisr People’s Choice Award
Advisr Top Thought Leader
2022
Principal, Managing Director and Co-Founder of SureInsure Insurance Advisors since 2020
Present
Operating her own brokerage since 2013
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
How does he distinguish himself among fellow brokers?
“I believe all brokers are working very hard in a difficult market,” he says. “However, I have demonstrated continued growth, advocacy and performance on my client’s behalf, which is now recognised [for 10 consecutive years] in the Elite Broker awards.”
In 1990, Dixon got started with FAI, working in claims and as a team leader. From the late 1990s up until 2003, he worked at FAI and Suncorp in underwriting and as an area manager at VACC, CGU (South East Queensland). From 2003 to 2012, he got into broking and eventually started Dixon Insurance in 2013. Since then, he’s accumulated numerous acccolades, including Elite Broker, Diversity and Equity, and Fast Broker awards.
During the pandemic, Dixon challenged insurers over the Quarantine Act application to insurance wordings. His argument was that the Quarantine Act does not apply as an exclusion, as the Biosecurity Act was invoked by the Morrison Government, and this was not a subsequent amendment to the Quarantine Act. The test case in the Appeals court was won for Dixon’s client with a unanimous five-judge verdict.
He remains focused on transport, manufacturing, motor trade, engineering and large farm clients.
What are his plans for the future?
On a business level, “more of the same. I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes.”
On a personal level, Dixon invests significant time, effort and funds, along with his GT3, to support many charities through his passion for motorsport. From participating in and sponsoring the Thunderbolt Run (which provides tens of thousands of dollars in support for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer), to organising and running the Track Knights for Amira charity night where 28 Exotic Supercars raised funds through passenger laps in wet conditions, Dixon states “this is our time to give back to the community and those in need. My friendships and association with those seeking to do the same, allows us to contribute to those less fortunate and raise funds and awareness”.
He adds: “To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need.”
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present