NIBA / Farewell to Dianne Phelan
FAREWELL FROM DIANNE PHELAN
Exciting times ahead
Dianne Phelan, outgoing NIBA President, has shared a long journey with NIBA – one of personal development and finding professional purpose. While her term as President comes to an end this month, her journey is still far from over. Dianne reflects on her history with NIBA, and the exciting initiatives reshaping insurance broking that she hopes to see in the years to come. A LONG HISTORY WITH NIBA
I first became involved with NIBA around 30 years ago, when the Under 35 Committee (now called the Young Professionals Committee) was first forming. My manager at the time was a Divisional Committee member and he encouraged me to join the Under 35 Committee. Back in those days, there were very few women in the industry who had the opportunity to do these things. In the workplace, it was very common for me to walk into a room full of males. The industry has progressed a long way since then but at that time, this was really an opportunity for me to put my hand up. From there, I went on to the SA Divisional Committee. I eventually took a 10-year break while my children were growing up, then was approached by Martin Luck, Chair of the NIBA SA Divisional Committee at the time, who asked if I’d like to rejoin the Committee. My kids were older by then, so I decided to take up his offer, and the rest is history. I’ve been involved with NIBA throughout the last 30 years because I’ve always wanted to give back to the industry. To work with NIBA’s Divisional Committees and the young people coming through the industry is a really fulfilling opportunity. 16 / INSURANCE ADVISER FEBRUARY 2023
There is also the satisfaction in knowing I’ve been able to help in some small way, which is the very essence of insurance broking. Being NIBA President has really reinforced in me the importance of insurance broking and the role of an insurance broker in our daily lives. I always say to people that insurance and the writing of the policy are crucial, but the value of an insurance broker is often only realised when you help someone once something has gone wrong. Helping others is what we do, all day every day, and our role really requires a desire to help and serve people in crucial times. It’s what makes insurance broking such a worthy and fulfilling career. Beyond this, I also believe what you learn and get back from others throughout that journey can be far more valuable than what you give. Committee discussions over the years have given me the opportunity to hear other people’s views on particular topics and issues that I might have never considered before. Working with different types of brokers on the Committee has also exposed me to the way international brokers work as opposed to local suburban brokers. It has been such a valuable way to build information and knowledge around all facets of insurance, which has in turn inspired me to improve my own work.
Despite working in insurance broking for over 40 years, I still learn things every day from working in our profession and being involved with NIBA.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS THROUGHOUT MY PRESIDENCY
There are several highlights that I’ll be taking away with me through my term as NIBA President. One of them is seeing Philip Kewin successfully transition into the role of NIBA CEO, and be able to achieve this seamlessly. Securing Phil was a joint effort shared by all Directors and it’s a credit to everyone that we were able to find such a worthy replacement for Dallas Booth. Another highlight is having the opportunity to represent the Australian insurance industry at the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (WFII) meetings in Amsterdam earlier in June. The third highlight for me is releasing the updated Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, and now updating the NIBA Constitution. These are the key mechanisms that will ensure we have the right platform to do things better moving forward. One of the exciting things to come from the new Code is the Terms of Engagement