Travis Hargreaves has built a strong reputation over the past seven years as one of Newcastle’s most innovative Insurance Brokers. He offers the full range of insurance products, specialising in high risk liabilities for small to large businesses in the Hunter region, thus insuring many hotels, nightclubs, scaffolding and security firms. He and his expert team continue to broaden their knowledge by taking relevant courses within the financial services sector.
BACKGROUND: Before starting his own brokerage in 2005 Travis was appointed Business Development Manager for Ausure Insurance and Finance. He was responsible for implementing new procedures under the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 throughout the Ausure Group which now has 93 offices countrywide. This gave him a comprehensive background in general insurance.
Travis has also trained and worked as a structural landscaper. The understanding he developed during this time of the needs and concerns of a great variety of trades and professions has contributed to the trusted solid relationships he forms with clients today. He is well respected amongst the local business and insurance community.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: Paddle your own canoe.
Nathan Wicks, Co-Director, Insurance Broker
Mobile 0430 707 617, e-mail nathan.wicks@ausure.com.au
Nathan Wicks is widely regarded as one of Newcastle and the Hunter’s most experienced and professional Insurance Brokers. Nathan has solid underwriting contacts locally and in Sydney, interstate and overseas including NZ, China, Hong Kong, North America and London. He has been working in the General Insurance industry for over 16 years including 12 years broking in Newcastle. Nathan recognised the Ausure Group as the leading AR network in the country and became a Director of Ausure Newcastle in January 2010, bringing with him a wealth of experience unmatched locally by any other Insurance Broker. He offers the full suite of General Insurance products, including specialist experience in the cost efficient placement of Business Insurance, Large National & Multi-National Corporate Risks, Liability/Casualty, Professional Indemnity, Directors & Officers Liability, Motor Fleet, Bankers Bond and Accident & Health.
Nathan has serviced a broad range of clients from local small business, financial institutions and national health funds, to large corporate multi-national firms employing 1000+ staff, with General Insurance Product placements in China, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Russia and the UK.
Having seen many market cycles in the past 15 years, Nathan has highly developed risk profiling skills; he has expertise in knowing which insurers are suited to specific businesses and the most suitable time within a cycle to approach appropriate markets. Sometimes the skill is knowing “when” not “how”.
Background: Nathan Wicks completed a Bachelor of Business Degree majoring in Tourism and Hospitality at the University of New England after he finished high school, but soon realised his excellent people skills could be utilised in a different way. He joined Zurich Insurance in 1995 as an Account Executive where he worked for four years, building strong relationships with the industry, peers and clients. It was time well spent as it helps him understand insurance from both sides – from an insurer’s perspective as well as from his client’s, as discovered whilst broking. In 1999 Nathan commenced Insurance Broking and in 11 years has developed a professional reputation beyond repute, from both his clients and the Insurer markets perspective.
Qualifications: Nathan is a qualified practising insurance broker (QPIB), a certified insurance professional (CIP), a fellow of the Australian Insurance Institute (FAII) and holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (B.Bus) from the University of New England. He also has Group 1 Junior Rugby League and Cricket coaching certificates.
Interests: Nathan has participated in sport his entire life. Rugby league for 20 years including many representative and 1st grade professional honours, cricket for 15 years, and more socially plays indoor cricket & indoor soccer, touch football and six-a-side soccer. Nathan is a member of the St George RLFC Supporters Club. Nathan and his wife Belinda are adventurous travellers, both having travelled Western Europe before they met, and more recently together having explored Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Their future plans include adventures to the old Eastern Block to see Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. Nathan is the proud father of 2 boys, Braeden 12, and new addition Archie 6 months.
Community involvement: Nathan has been a keen advocate for charity fundraising. In recent times Nathan has been a pivotal part of organising and administering charity corporate golf days within the local Newcastle Insurance community, raising tens of thousands of dollars. One of his finest achievements to date was the completion of the OXFAM 2008 Trailwalker Sydney event. His team “4 lost boys” had 48 hours to walk the 100km from the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn, to Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore. “It was gruelling” Nathan quips – “I’ve never seen blisters and chafing like it”, but points out that OXFAM is widely regarded as one of the most respected charities in the world. The “4 lost boys” raised over $25,000 for OXFAM. This was a proud and truly satisfying achievement for Nathan – one he says is unmatched to anything else he has ever achieved. Nathan has also been extensively involved in coaching and assisting/managing his sons junior soccer, cricket and indoor cricket teams.
Favourite proverb: “The Chinese use two brush strokes to describe the word crises. One stroke for danger. One stroke for opportunity. Beware the danger but recognise the opportunity.”
Thoughts on insurance: We’d like our clients to think of us as business partners. “Be honest, insurance doesn’t have to be a dirty word."
Kristy Hargreaves, Senior Account Manager and Office Manager
Kristy Hargreaves has been involved with the professional services industry for seven years. After working as a mortgage broker for a few years, she joined her brother Travis when he opened his insurance business in 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. As a qualified Authorised Representative she offers General Insurance to small and medium businesses. She also deals with many of the tradesmen in the Newcastle area who, when signing up for big contracts, discover they need to have the right insurances in place.
“Most people phone up not certain what insurance is all about or what cover they need. We make sure we take enough time with each person to explain carefully what is available and advise each client individually which I believe people respect. They also praise our good response times as we get back to them quickly with quotes and other queries."
BACKGROUND: Kristy has gone from fashion to finance. After growing up in rural NSW, Kristy studied Fashion Design at TAFE and landed up in the big smoke of Sydney at 19 managing a major fashion retail store. This experience, especially at such a young age, taught her much about customer service and expectations, communication, people management and business all of which has been useful in her current work in insurance and office management.
Qualifications: Kristy holds a Certificate III in Mortgage Broking, T1 in General Insurance and Broking and a part completed Diploma of Business (which she plans to continue this year). She also holds a Certificate III in Fashion Design and has completed retail and management courses. She won the Flair Fashion Novice Award in 2001.
Interests: Kristy is currently renovating her home, enjoys spending time with her Labrador, gyms regularly (including Robbie’s boot camps) and still loves fashion and fashion drawing.
Philosophy: Treat others as you want to be treated yourself.
About insurance: “Many people only realise they need us when it’s too late. We’d like to encourage people to talk to us about what options are available and make sure they’ve got adequate cover so they don’t have to stress if things do go wrong in the future."
Ashley has worked in the finance industry for five years. She joined Ausure in 2008 in a broker support role to take care of their domestic and commercial motor portfolio. After gaining her insurance broking qualifications in early 2010, Ashley will be taking on new responsibilities which include expansion into business insurance. She will concentrate initially on securing new clients from the Port Stephens and Raymond Terrace area where she has many contacts. Ashley enjoys meeting customer’s needs: “When people call enquiring about insurance they are motivated by price and the need for personal service. No one really wants to deal with a call centre. I believe this is what has made our business so successful – the personal attention we provide. We also re-quote our clients each year on their insurance, where appropriate, so we’re sure they’re getting the most cost effective and comprehensive cover in the long term.”
She has good negotiation skills which come in handy when fighting on a client’s behalf regarding claims with the insurance companies. She values all her clients equally and is understanding of their needs and concerns.
BACKGROUND: Ashley worked for four years as a Loans Consultant with Auswest before joining Ausure. She’s also worked with Proud Jewellers as a sales consultant for five years, a role she continues to play part time over weekends as she enjoys the people contact.
QUALIFICATIONS: Ashley has all the necessary qualifications including a Cert. IV in Financial Services and a T1 qualification in Insurance Broking as well as various certificates in Sales Training.
INTERESTS: Ashley enjoyed doing ballet, tap and jazz for 10 years before she hung up her dancing shoes to focus on her chosen career in insurance. When she’s not working over weekends she enjoys gardening, watching ballet at the theatre, spending time with her Jack Russell and Dalmatian and is currently renovating her house. She and her husband Dean have travelled to Bali a few times with Dean’s family who import furniture to stock their two shops in Nelson Bay – Kem Bali Imports.