Headquarters:
Toronto
Year founded:
2019
Number of employees:
35
Phone:
416 362 4936
Email:
info@novarisk.com
Website:
novarisk.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/novarisk
“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”
Brett Bastow, IQumulate Premium FundinG
Maz Moini
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Phillip Best
Managing Partner
Tommy Truong
Chief Operating Officer
Leadership
Maz Moini is co-founder and managing director of NovaRisk. Since co-founding the business in 2021, he has helped build NovaRisk into one of Canada’s fastest-growing financial services firms, combining disciplined underwriting, technology, and operating infrastructure to drive sustainable organic growth and strong underwriting performance. Moini brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning Canada, the UK, and the US. His career has been defined by leading business transformations, developing innovative insurance products, and building high-performing organizations. Prior to founding NovaRisk, Moini held several executive leadership positions with Aviva plc.
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Maz Moini
Phillip Best is managing partner of NovaRisk, where he leads underwriting strategy, portfolio management, carrier partnerships, and underwriting governance across the organization. He brings more than 40 years of commercial property and casualty insurance experience, having held progressively senior underwriting and executive leadership roles with leading insurance firms, including Aviva Global Corporate & Specialty, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Elliott Special Risks, William H. McGee Insurance Company, Marsh & McLennan, and Commonwealth Insurance. Best’s career has been defined by successfully building profitable underwriting portfolios, strengthening distribution networks, and creating long-term value through disciplined risk selection and operational excellence.
Managing Partner
Phillip Best
Tommy Truong began his insurance career in 2004 at one of Canada’s largest independent retail brokerages before joining a major MGA in 2006 and becoming part of its shareholder group in 2011. He has held a range of leadership responsibilities, including overseeing a large book of business, managing broker relationships, and leading human resources initiatives covering recruitment, retention, and performance management. In 2016, Truong became vice president, Western Canada, with overall responsibility for underwriting managers across the region. A co-founder of Vailo, he now oversees the company’s general operations and supports the continued growth of its broker relationships.
Chief Operating Officer
Tommy Truong
Denise Russell
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Denise Russell began her insurance career in 2006 as a personal lines underwriter before moving into business development, an area she is passionate about. She has since developed extensive expertise in marketing and business operations through progressively senior roles with domestic insurers. Russell joined Cansure in 2018 as VP of sales and marketing and later served as director of carrier relations. She is now chief sales and marketing officer at SPG Canada, overseeing marketing, business development, and customer service. Russell has also contributed to the industry through board roles with WICC BC and YIPBC. In 2019, she received the IBABC Rising Star award.
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Denise Russell
Christy Knowles
Chief People and Culture Officer
Christy Knowles joined SPG Canada in 2021 as director of human resources, bringing more than 20 years of progressive human resources experience, including 10 years in the insurance sector. As chief people and culture officer, she focuses on HR operations, developing future leaders, and fostering an engaged, diverse, and inclusive workplace culture. Her leadership has helped strengthen SPG Canada’s position as an employer of choice. Knowles brings extensive experience in people strategy and organizational development, with a particular focus on building strong teams and supporting leadership development. Her work helps create an environment where employees can contribute, grow, and thrive.
Chief People and Culture Officer
Christy Knowles
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
Chris Marcinkiewicz
Chief Underwriting Officer
Paul Meinschenk
President, Underwriting Operations
Paul Meinschenk
President, Underwriting Operations
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Simon Breakspear is a trusted and approachable leader who makes time for people, offering support, reassurance and guidance whenever it is needed. His willingness to listen and share his knowledge makes him someone colleagues feel comfortable turning to for advice. Breakspear is passionate about bringing people together, building strong relationships across teams and ensuring colleagues feel involved and supported through change. His calm and all-embracing approach helps create an environment where people feel valued, connected and confident contributing their ideas.
Chief Underwriting Officer
Chris Marcinkiewicz
Jo Blackburn is an inclusive and supportive leader who is passionate about creating opportunities for people to thrive. She brings valuable frontline perspective into the business and ensures colleagues’ experiences and voices help shape how the organisation moves forward. A strong advocate for female leadership, Blackburn actively champions and celebrates women across the business, encouraging confidence, development and progression. Her approachable leadership style helps create a culture where people feel represented and supported to succeed.
President, Underwriting Operations
Paul Meinschenk
Laura Martin puts people at the heart of her leadership, helping to embed a positive, supportive culture within her own team and across the wider business. She invests time in mentoring and developing others, creating safe spaces where colleagues feel able to speak openly, ask for support and be themselves. Martin leads with kindness and emotional intelligence, taking time to understand each individual behind the role. Her supportive and collaborative approach helps people feel valued, builds confidence and encourages colleagues to grow and thrive.
President, Underwriting Operations
Paul Meinschenk
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, with the potential to allow IQumulate to capture a larger market share, whilst continuing to deliver service excellence to clients.”
“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
“RPS is committed to driving an inclusive workplace for the benefit of our clients, employees, and the communities in which we live and work. We foster an environment that embraces the diverse talents, perspectives, and ideas of all employees, enabling everyone to reach their fullest potential”
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“Continuous learning is built into the fabric of our operation. Through initiatives like Orion180 University, we provide tailored training for our team members to ensure they are at the forefront of insurance technology, underwriting standards, and customer engagement techniques”
Kenneth Gregg,
Orion180
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
NovaRisk is an independent, 100 percent Canadian-owned managing general underwriter, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Toronto. The company provides tailored insurance solutions for complex mid-market and large commercial risks, combining experienced underwriting expertise, technical pricing, risk control capabilities, and technology-driven processes.
NovaRisk focuses on complex risks where disciplined underwriting and bespoke solutions can deliver meaningful value. Its core industry segments include construction and builders’ risk, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, warehousing, and commercial realty.
Working exclusively through retail insurance brokers, NovaRisk provides flexible capacity and responsive service without competing with its broker partners for clients. The company partners with a blue-chip panel of AM Best A-rated carriers to provide high-quality domestic capacity and support strong underwriting performance.
NovaRisk is unaffiliated with retail brokerages, insurers, or private equity, allowing it to maintain an independent, underwriting-led approach focused on the needs of brokers and their clients.
As Orion180 introduces new coverage options and deepens product offerings, it is upskilling employees to become experts in the next generation of property protection. Retention is a cornerstone of its service standards, supported by regular feedback loops, tracked engagement, and clear internal career paths that give top talent room to advance. With a rapidly growing national presence, Orion180 offers flexible and standard home insurance solutions, including FLEX and HO-3 coverage, as well as DP Landlord, flood and jewelry protection across AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MS, NC, OH, SC, and TX. Its proprietary MY180 platform serves as essential, high-impact technology for agents and insureds alike, further enhanced by smart tech innovations like the AWTOS water damage mitigation system and the PRYZMIQ home self-inspection tool. Orion180 proudly collaborates with more than 10,000 partner agents to serve 500,000 customers, safeguarding more than $150 billion in assets. Its unwavering commitment to operational excellence and exceptional agent and customer service is demonstrated by an impressive track record: 17-day average claims resolution and 5,000 five-star Google reviews. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TruthSocial, and YouTube, or visit www.Orion180.com to learn more.
