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
As chief commercial officer of Sayata, Upasana Unni oversees market partnerships and carrier relations, ensuring success for market partners while expanding the company’s offering with new product lines and markets.
Previously, she spent 10 years at McKinsey & Company, where she was an associate partner at the Boston office as well as locations around the globe including the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia.
During her tenure at McKinsey, Upasana guided her clients to develop digital strategies and build modern platforms for digital risk placement, working with over a dozen carriers on topics ranging from board strategy, portfolio optimization, capital strategy, and operating model transformation. She authored multiple articles on digital business building in the McKinsey Quarterly.
Upasana is regularly featured in the media, speaking on the topics of insurance innovation, women and careers in insurance, as well as the future of insurtech. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar (with highest distinction) and holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard College.
177 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02155
1 (516) 424-1846
upasana.unni@sayata.com
linkedin.com/in/upasana-unni-b9b2127
sayata.com
Upasana Unni
Chief Commercial Officer
Sayata
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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
2011–2022
2022–present
2022
2023
2022
Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company
Co-authored several McKinsey Quarterly articles, including “Why Business Building is the New Priority for Growth” and “2021 Global Report: The State of New-Business Building”
2011–
2022
January 2022–present: Chief Commercial Officer at Sayata
2023: Transformed Sayata from an online cyber rater to a digital distribution marketplace offering business coverages for SMBs, cemented several new relationships, and built out unique-to-Sayata products with key markets, allowing the company to augment its cyber offering and expand into new coverages, including admitted cyber and MPL
2022–
present
President, Strategic Underwriting Solutions, an Amwins Company
2022
President, Amwins Accident & Health Underwriters
2023
Promoted to the role of Short-Tail Branch Manager, where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the motor, property and recovery teams
Lead Gallagher Bassett’s response to major catastrophic events in the industry, including 2022 floods, COVID-19 and 2019/20 bushfires, for which he received widespread praise both internally and from key clients
Winner of the Gallagher Way Award Q3 2022
Nominated and finalist in a number of other annual awards such as Impact Leader, Process Challenger and Emerging Leader
2022
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
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.”