Episode 20
Maria Parry
“I’ve had some life challenges and whilst I don’t think they’ve changed me, I would definitely have to say that they’ve shaped me!”
Very few people commence with an Organisation in 1987 and 35 years later are more passionate and driven than they were back then. Maria Parry the COO of QIB Group is just such an individual! In fact, she says that, “(after) getting into the insurance industry, I have to say I’ve never been disappointed”.
A process and procedures driven leader, she set her business and life goals at the age of 16 and has rarely deviated from what she saw as her future. That’s not to say Maria has not faced challenges along the way – her major one being serious life-threatening health issues not once but twice in the last 15 years.
Maria is a strong believer in and proof that a positive attitude really is everything.
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About Maria Parry:
Having first entered the insurance industry in 1987, Maria initially joined Austcover as an office junior and receptionist. Feeling the lure of the industry, in 1989 she started her insurance qualifications at TAFE to achieve her Certificate in General Insurance – her first qualification of many to come.
After gaining many years of insurance broking experience working as part of the Austcover team, in the early 2000’s Maria moved into a compliance role to prepare the business for the impending Financial Services Reform. Since then, she has pursued professional development opportunities with relentless zeal, holding increasingly senior roles within Austcover until she was named CEO in July 2016.
In 2021 Austcover merged with Regional Insurance Brokers to form what is now known as the QIB Group. Maria is Chief Operating Officer for the QIB Group and works alongside other Executive team members to provide support across 22 offices to a team of 192 people servicing more than 38,000 clients.
Over her career, Maria has been awarded the Warren Tickle Trophy, the Frank Earl Scholarship and in 2016 was presented with the NIBA Student of the Year award due to her high achievement in completing the Graduate Diploma of Financial Services. Following this, Maria went on to claim two prizes at the 2018 Insurance Business Awards including the coveted title of Australian Insurance Broker of the Year.
Maria is a Fellow member of the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) and a Senior Associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).