INSURANCE JOURNEY / David Harry
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE REWARDING RELATIONSHIPS
The 2020 NSW/ACT Young Professional Broker of the Year, David Harry from Aon, revels in his role as an insurance broker because he truly enjoys using his knowledge and skills to build rewarding relationships with his clients and fellow professionals.
“W
hen I finished school, it came as no surprise to my parents that I didn’t have my career planned out and for a few years I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. This led me to a couple of different roles until I made my way into the corporate world. In my previous role I worked at Hewlett Packard for close to three years and really enjoyed my time there. Being in the corporate space ticked a lot of boxes for me personally and professionally, but I was still searching for something I was passionate about and where I felt I could best use my skillset. An advertisement for an insurance broking role at Aon immediately caught my attention and while I had zero broking or insurance experience, I made the decision to pursue the opportunity. A great decision it was as I’m now seven-and-a-half years in and have enjoyed every bit of my time as an intermediary. I chose this profession because the thought of being able to specialise in insurance, and to use that knowledge to assist others and be there to help when they need it most, appealed greatly. The complexities and importance of insurance made me want to become a specialist in the field. It is a people-driven industry and relationships are at the heart of what we do. I definitely wanted to be a part of that. There is obviously the cliché about falling into insurance, however I simply did not know of our world. My role prior to broking was in a project management team where we looked after print services and roll-out of various contracts. There were definitely some transferrable skills and I would deal with clients directly, although it was very different from what I do now. I am definitely way more invested in my client’s wellbeing as an insurance broker.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING
58 / INSURANCE ADVISER JUNE 2021
When you think about it, almost every part of life has insurance behind it. To be involved in something so important is both interesting and exciting to me. There’s always so much to learn, and it’s such a rewarding and varied industry. It can be complex, it is critical for organisations and people, it is a huge part of our economy and, in terms of a career, offers so much more than most can comprehend. The value of relationships both internally and externally is one of my biggest takeaways from my time in insurance broking. There are so many great people in our profession and building these relationships helps one develop one’s own skillset, keep on top of trends in the industry, gain valuable insights, share experiences, meet possible mentors and clients – the list goes on. Building a network gives one the resources to assist in our day-today work, career and, importantly, establish a
long-term relationship with someone and in many cases a lifelong friendship. I always encourage people to be a part of our industry in any way they can. I think it’s about raising awareness of our profession and highlighting the rewarding journey(s) one can take by being a part of this wonderful profession. I can not speak for everyone, however am happy to share my own experiences to date and how much I have and continue to enjoy what we do, and who we do it for and with. So, if there is opportunity to promote, support or encourage others into our profession then I will always do so. If there was anything I would change, it would simply be entering into our profession earlier. Otherwise, I am happy with the journey and have the outlook that each role or change played its part in a great learning experience.”
FOUR QUICK QUESTIONS Favourite film? Man on Fire (I am a massive Denzel fan). Favourite book? I am not a big book reader, I must admit. I am all about reading the news as well as finance and sports articles. Favourite tipple? A social beer or two. Favourite pastime? Playing sport with my mates. I grew up playing rugby league then soccer and cricket for years and years – now it’s golf! And of course, time spent with my family (wife and two young boys.)
Share your insurance journey. Email editor@niba.com.au
