Episode 12
Robert Kelly
“If you’re not conversant with moving into the digital age, then you should get out of this Industry.”
Robert Kelly opens up about life before Steadfast and the watershed moments that led him to the general insurance profession. He shares with us his passion for learning and why that is so important for anyone seeking to progress in their business careers.
In his inimitable way, the MD and CEO of the Steadfast Group explain what has driven him over the years and what continues to drive him to this day. He speaks about those who influenced his personal life and career and why those influences were so important to him.
Accredited for 0.75 CIP points per episode
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About Robert Kelly:
Robert Kelly has been a practicing insurance professional since 1969, with more than 45 years’ experience in the insurance industry. Robert has vast industry experience and an active interest in all facets of the Insurance Industry.
Robert co-founded Steadfast Group Limited (Steadfast) in April 1996, with a vision to band together non-aligned insurance brokerages and adopt a unified approach to the market.
He is currently the Managing Director & CEO of Steadfast. In 2013, Robert led the company to a successful listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:SDF), now an ASX 200 Company with market capitalization of over $4.8 billion. Robert is also a director of various subsidiaries of Steadfast and a Director of Steadfast Foundation and the Charity KidsXpress and sits on the board of publicly listed John Lyng Group.
Robert was named Insurance Industry Leader of the Year at the 2011 Annual Australian Insurance Industry Awards and Equal First Most Influential Person in the Insurance Industry in 2014, by Insurance News Magazine. Robert is Chairman of ACORD International Board, based in New York. In March 2014, ACORD awarded Robert their prestigious Rainmaker Award. In 2015, Robert was listed as one of the Finalists in the CEO Magazines CEO of the Year Awards and NIBA’s Lex McKeown Trophy in 2016.
With expertise in policy drafting, claims management, risk analysis and a thorough understanding of distribution both within Australia and the world markets including the Lloyds binder and broker market. Robert’s involvement in the insurance industry is varied and current.
During this period, he has attended the following industry qualifications:
- Lloyds tribunalised to place non-marine risks
- AFSL – Responsible Officer
- Academically credentialed with the following:
- QPIB (Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker)
- CIP (Certified Insurance Professional)
- AAIRM (Associate Australian Institute of Risk Management) University of Technology
- DOH&S (Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety) Australian Institute of Management
- Senior Associate ANZIIF
- Diploma Insurance Broking ANZIIF
- Fellow NIBA
Robert has been for the last 16 years and continues to be the claims manager on the Steadfast Professional Indemnity program working on risk management for the groups professional indemnity program. This includes claims mitigation and claims payments with authority from the insurers to settle the first million on any claim. The approach the scheme takes is non adversarial – and if the broker makes an omission we explain this to the brokers client and settle the claim as quickly as possible. The scheme provides coverage for up to $100 million dollars in any one claim and there are 357 brokers in the scheme across Australia and New Zealand. As a result of his involvement in professional indemnity claims his knowledge of FOS and currently AFCA makes him understand the complexity of providing advice, initiating policies and claims execution on behalf of consumers and insurance intermediaries.