Headquarters:
Brisbane, QLD
Year founded:
1972
Number of employees:
58
Phone:
07 3028 9494
Email:
admin@riversinsurance.com.au
Website:
riversinsurance.com.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/rivers-insurance-brokers
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Don Tickle
Chief Executive Officer
Nerida Trappett
Operations Leader
Scott Denning
Broking Leader
Leadership
Don Tickle has been with Rivers from the start. He has helped cultivate the Rivers approach to insurance, which is great advice built on a genuine interest for the company’s clients.
He specialises in risk management and helping clients in complex industries find the perfect insurance cover. He believes in a jargon-free approach and making cover as simple as possible for clients, a belief he has passed on to each member at Rivers Insurance.
Tickle has played an active role as a board member of Council Queensland Insurance Brokers for over 15 years, helping advocate for the industry.
Chief Executive Officer
Don Tickle
Nerida Trappett’s background is in finance, where she has over 35 years of experience and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from QUT and is also a CPA.
She has been at Rivers for almost 10 years and leads the operations team in finance, marketing, IT, and compliance.
Trappett’s prior experience includes being head of finance at Credit Union Australia and CFO for the Royal National Agricultural Society of Queensland, which organises the EKKA among a range of other events.
She is passionate about mentoring the next generation and has been a mentor with the Council of Queensland Insurance Brokers over many years.
Operations Leader
Nerida Trappett
Scott Denning’s 30 years in insurance enriches the advice he provides to his clients and his team, and the value he adds to their experience. He has been with Rivers Insurance for seven years, and in this time, he has had a great impact, strengthening the helpful culture and building the team’s knowledge.
Denning’s vast experience enables him to advise clients in a broad range of industries, such as engineering, hospitality, aged care and much more. He also currently sits on the NIBA Committee for Queensland, showing his thought leadership in the insurance sector.
Broking Leader
Scott Denning
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
John Davison
Technical Manager – Insurance
John Davison joined NZbrokers in November 2017 after spending 37 years with NZI. He brings significant experience and local knowledge to the role. His previous roles have been in all aspects of insurance, sales, underwriting, audit, branch management in Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga, and more recently as national manager, CPF, responsible for managing the NZI team that services CPF throughout NZ.
Davison has a strong technical background, particularly in negotiating wording and dealing with claims issues. He also has strategic, people management, and leadership skills from being a people manager with NZI for over 25 years. He is also a senior associate at ANZIIF.
Technical Manager – Insurance
John Davison
Simon Moss
Member Services Manager
Simon Moss has worked as a senior underwriter, a senior broker and is back for a second turn with NZbrokers.
As an underwriter, he worked for NZI (formerly South British), then moved to Commercial Union.
In 1993, he took up the challenge to become a broker, initially with Marsh (formerly Sedgwick) and then for FMR Risk. More recently, Moss worked for BrokerWeb, managing their Auckland branch.
His role with NZbrokers from 2012 to 2019 helped build relationships and an understanding of many broker businesses throughout New Zealand. He aims to use this experience to further develop the member services role for the benefit of NZbrokers’ members and their clients. He has been fortunate to work in Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Auckland.
Moss has a Diploma in Business Studies, endorsed in Insurance Management, from Massey University. These studies included insurance management, risk management, public relations and human resource papers.
Member Services Manager
Simon Moss
Rivers Insurance Brokers passionately prioritise their clients’ needs to ensure they never feel alone. The company also fosters connections beyond professional relationships, encouraging an inclusive environment where several family members work alongside each other.
Recognised by Insurance Business as a Top Insurance Employer of 2024, the company is known for fighting hard for its clients and teammates, always in a respectful way. This philosophy lays the foundation for a positive work environment where employees enjoy coming to work, socialising outside the office, and where partners are pleased to work with them.
The Rivers team is instrumental in formulating the values of being supportive, embracing diversity, and promoting accountability. These principles guide all the team’s actions, including recruitment and performance management, which have grown stronger over time.
“We approach our work in a different way,” says Nerida Trappett, operations leader. “We treat everyone the way we would like to be treated. No yelling, raised voices, personal attacks, or banging on desks.”
A team-oriented approach is evident as everyone influences Rivers' performance, from a phone call to its office to interactions at functions or BBQs. The company’s flat organisational structure is built on mutual respect, where all ideas are welcome and heard, embracing diversity of thought.
“No one is more important than anyone else,” says Trappett. “Our results are a collective performance, not based on one individual.”
Momentum started to build once the team opened communication channels between branches and emphasised organic and inorganic growth to remain relevant to its partners. A true partnership blossomed with clients, nurtured by its motivated staff.
As one of Australia’s insurance employers of choice, Rivers’ approach to employee compensation is anchored by fairness with annual benchmarking reports. It prioritises training and development of the whole team that links back to a bonus structure.
Diversity is a crucial driver of its success, spotlighting its dedication to embracing team members’ personality profiles and supporting them in treating each other in the best possible way.
“Retention of the team is critical to getting a good momentum within the business; however, we also understand when teammates move to different roles to help develop their career,” says Trappett. “Some teammates have worked with us, gone to other organisations for a few years, then bounced back to us with great skills and knowledge, which is fantastic.”
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Rachel Green
Underwriting Manager, Cyber
Kane Bradford
Head Professional Practice,
Innovation and Partnership
Constantine Osuchukwu
Reverend
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Moving to Arch a year ago made Rachel Green feel like she has finally found her insurance home. It has been great to be part of a company in Australia that celebrates birthdays, everyone being invested in the company’s trajectory, and the nimble way of operating where all ideas are heard. Green finds it so refreshing – all combined with having the large Arch brand behind the workforce, which has been fantastic.
The company benefits show Arch’s commitment to its employees’ health and wellbeing, which is supported by trust and flexibility on a day-to-day basis. Culture comes from the top, and regional manager, Dominic Brannigan, drives a positive working environment and genuine care for employees, which is replicated throughout the company.
Underwriting Manager, Cyber
Rachel Green
Kane Bradford oversees the school’s teaching and learning agenda, with a particular focus on harnessing strategic partnerships to the benefit of our staff and students. He brings significant experience from his previous work as a teacher and leader in independent schools to his leadership spanning senior roles at the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
Head Professional Practice, Innovation and Partnership
Kane Bradford
Constantine Osuchukwu joined Lindisfarne as chaplain in 2021. Previously, he was the parish priest of St Matthew’s in Wendouree, Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy and Theology), a Masters of Counselling and a Graduate Diploma in Community Development. Osuchukwu brings experience in a variety of parish roles, plus ministry work in prisons and the tertiary sector.
Reverend
Constantine Osuchukwu
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
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RIVERS INSURANCE BROKERS
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Medal
Small business
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Overall service level
BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Rivers Insurance Brokers passionately prioritise their clients’ needs to ensure they never feel alone. The company also fosters connections beyond professional relationships, encouraging an inclusive environment where several family members work alongside each other.
Recognised by Insurance Business as a Top Insurance Employer of 2024, the company is known for fighting hard for its clients and teammates, always in a respectful way. This philosophy lays the foundation for a positive work environment where employees enjoy coming to work, socialising outside the office, and where partners are pleased to work with them.
The Rivers team is instrumental in formulating the values of being supportive, embracing diversity, and promoting accountability. These principles guide all the team’s actions, including recruitment and performance management, which have grown stronger over time.
“We approach our work in a different way,” says Nerida Trappett, operations leader. “We treat everyone the way we would like to be treated. No yelling, raised voices, personal attacks, or banging on desks.”
A team-oriented approach is evident as everyone influences Rivers' performance, from a phone call to its office to interactions at functions or BBQs. The company’s flat organisational structure is built on mutual respect, where all ideas are welcome and heard, embracing diversity of thought.
“No one is more important than anyone else,” says Trappett. “Our results are a collective performance, not based on one individual.”
Momentum started to build once the team opened communication channels between branches and emphasised organic and inorganic growth to remain relevant to its partners. A true partnership blossomed with clients, nurtured by its motivated staff.
As one of Australia’s insurance employers of choice, Rivers’ approach to employee compensation is anchored by fairness with annual benchmarking reports. It prioritises training and development of the whole team that links back to a bonus structure.
Diversity is a crucial driver of its success, spotlighting its dedication to embracing team members’ personality profiles and supporting them in treating each other in the best possible way.
“Retention of the team is critical to getting a good momentum within the business; however, we also understand when teammates move to different roles to help develop their career,” says Trappett. “Some teammates have worked with us, gone to other organisations for a few years, then bounced back to us with great skills and knowledge, which is fantastic.”