Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
When Irene Zhu first entered the workforce, insurance wasn’t on her radar. With no background in the industry, she discovered her passion for insurance only after realising the real-world impact she could have – helping people and businesses when it matters most. Today, she is the principal broker and an equity partner at KeyInsure, where she’s played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a small start-up into a thriving, multi-state brokerage. Under her guidance, KeyInsure now boasts more than $4 million in gross written premium and a client base exceeding 1,500.
Irene’s success stems from her unique ability to blend deep technical expertise with genuine empathy. She’s renowned for making complex insurance policies accessible and understandable, supporting clients from SMEs to large corporates – not only at the point of placement, but especially when it comes to claims. Her leadership has seen KeyInsure expand into South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland while also earning a reputation for personalised, culturally sensitive service, particularly within Australia’s diverse communities.
Her achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. Irene has been recognised as a finalist for the ANZIIF Young Professional of the Year and Insurance Business’s Rising Star, and she’s a winner of the Community Broker Network Business Improvement of the Year. Beyond her own career, she is passionate about giving back – mentoring young brokers, investing in training and helping to shape a new generation of professionals who will lead the industry with integrity and care.
Level 3, 32-38 Grote Street, Adelaide, SA 5000
0400 373 483
irene.zhu@keyinsure.com.au
linkedin.com/in/irenezhu-keyinsure
keyinsure.com.au
Irene Zhu
Team Leader/Senior Account Executive KeyInsure
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Bio
Milestones
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
2017–2018
2020
2022
2024–2025
2025
2017–2018: Mortgage Assistant at Keylend – supported brokers with loan processing and client management
2018: Joined Keylend Insure (now KeyInsure) as an Insurance Broker, specialising in SME and domestic lines
2017–2018
Promoted to Senior Account Executive – managed corporate and SME portfolios and led client service delivery
2020
Became Principal Broker and equity partner at KeyInsure – led team growth and national expansion
2022
KeyInsure reaches $4 million GWP with over 1,500 clients
Zhu recognised as a finalist for multiple national awards
Winner, CBN Business Improvement of the Year
Finalist, ANZIIF Young Professional of the Year
2024–2025
Honoured by Enterprising Women Magazine as one of its Enterprising Women of the Year
2025
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
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
