Insurance Journey: Robert Cooper

LOYALTY, EMPATHY AND RESPECT

For the 2020 NIBA Broker of the Year QLD Finalist, Robert Cooper of Cooper Professional Risks, the bedrocks for professionalism are age-old values that have stood the test of time.

“I began my career with Lumley General Insurance starting in their mail room before moving to underwriting and spent 11 years there. The original plan was to go to university but when I wanted to take a gap year my parents insisted I find a job.

When I got to learn all about the industry, I chose to study insurance and obtained my associateship at only 21 years of age. When it became clear I was never going to progress any further on the underwriting side, I yearned for a new challenge.

It was Sedgwick James (as they were known then) who offered me a position that filled me with excitement.

I admit I initially found the sheer amount of knowledge and skill required an overwhelming prospect but many people at Sedgwick helped me develop into an insurance broker. Then I went to Willis and learnt even more by specialising in professional indemnity.

At school I had dreams of being a journalist or a teacher. I am glad I found insurance because it is an underrated but an extremely interesting and very important area of business and the economy.

There are so many areas of insurance that are interesting, I keep learning more and more every day. For example, the concept of indemnity.

I like the idea that an insurance policy is intended to put you back into the same position following a loss as you were prior to said loss. We are truly looking after those that may one day be dealt a bad hand by making sure they are indemnified.

I have learnt so many important lessons throughout my career, but the ability to establish relationships with clients and underwriters has been the most eye-opening. Learning to cultivate empathy, developing the ability to demonstrate respect, and accepting that everyone is different to each other and deserve to be treated equally, has

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

enabled me to network in other business and community groups as well.

I was mentored by many people in my career, some did not even know that they were mentoring me. I watched them, asked questions, got them to point me in the right direction to learn and keep developing. Then in the last fifteen years I have been mentoring many others, not just my own staff but participating in the excellent NIBA Mentorship Program as well.

We must aim to encourage younger people into the profession and then inspire them, educate them on the technical skills needed as well as the expertise required as an insurance broker. It is a very interesting and fulfilling profession that very few people outside the industry know about.

The only thing I would change about my career is that I should have been more self-confident earlier on and left Lumleys a lot sooner to further my career. Sometimes I am loyal to a fault.

I believe that all insurance brokers giving advice should have the QPIB designation. All the broking staff at Cooper Professional Risks do.

Getting the QPIB designation does not mean that you stop learning but that you have reached a standard of qualifications and experience that makes you a true broking professional. I also obtained a Fellowship of ANZIIF, a Graduate Diploma of Insurance and an MBA from Deakin University.

All of my qualifications have proven immensely valuable to what has been a truly fulfilling career in insurance. 

QUICK QUESTIONS

Tell us something most people do

not know about you? I used to play Bass Guitar in various blues rock bands in Adelaide in the eighties and early nineties.

Secret ambition? To master Delta Blues finger picking acoustic guitar.

Favourite film? The Blues Brothers – I saw it again a few months ago and it is still brilliant.

Favourite book? A Fortunate Life by AB Facey – just a wonderful inspirational human being.

Favourite tipple? A Tim Adams Shiraz from the Clare Valley. I should also mention Coopers Pale Ale too, shouldn’t I? Favourite past-time? Playing the guitar, listening to music and reading.

Favourite food? I love so many different foods from so many countries, so it’s hard to pick. But you cannot beat a roast dinner, particularly roast beef, with vegetables, brussel sprouts, Yorkshire pudding and horse radish.

Share your insurance journey. Email editor@niba.com.au