How did you get into the insurance industry?
While studying philosophy at university, I attended a talk on risk management that sparked my interest in how organisations identify, assess and manage risk – and its wider social and economic impact. This led me to explore insurance as a career, and after graduating I joined the Financial Institutions team at Gallagher. I was there for around three and a half years, and this gave me a solid foundation in understanding client needs and how the market functions.
On joining IQUW in April 2025, I moved from broking into underwriting and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how both sides of the process work, gaining a broader perspective on how risks are managed and assessed.
How have you found the switch from broking to underwriting?
In broking, the focus is on providing the client with a high level of service – reviewing their policies, ensuring they have appropriate coverage and securing competitive quotes from insurers. It was a great way to learn how the insurance industry works from a client-facing perspective. Moving into underwriting has given me a broader view of how insurers evaluate risks and exposures as well as the rationale behind coverage decisions.
The volume and variety of submissions we review has accelerated my learning and has given me much more confidence in my technical understanding. I have enjoyed being able to focus on effective risk management while balancing the need for sustainable, profitable underwriting.
What do you like most about the Financial Institutions (FI) line and your role in general?
I like the variety of clients we work with, supporting a wide mix across the financial sector from banks to asset managers and insurers. They all have different structures, operations and exposures, which requires careful analysis and judgement.
There is also a range of different products within FI, including our core products of Professional Indemnity, Directors & Officers Liability and Crime. This keeps my role engaging as each comes with their own unique challenges and reinforces the importance of keeping learning and staying up to date to deliver strong and well-considered outcomes for clients.
The FI market is really collaborative, and there is a big focus on shared learning and education. A great example would be IQUW recently hosting a seminar with the US law firm Bailey Cavalieri, which explored the evolving landscape of US Financial Institutions claims.
What attracted you to IQUW?
IQUW prioritises data, which allows me to make smart and informed underwriting decisions and effectively manage our portfolio with robust insights. We predominantly operate as a primary market for FI, which is exciting because enables us to take the lead on our policies. This means we shape them from the outset, which is an excellent environment for developing as an underwriter.
Our culture is welcoming and collaborative, with emphasis on building relationships and sharing knowledge. I’m currently helping organise a ‘Women in FI’ coffee morning, alongside Sophinne in the team, to strengthen our connections with brokers and provide a forum to share insights and learn from one another.
What differentiates IQUW from other companies?
What makes IQUW stand out is our speed of service and collaborative approach, which runs throughout the business. In FI, our approach is built on four pillars: underwriting, pricing, claims and wordings. We work closely across all of them, which allows us to deliver a seamless service and reach decisions quickly.
IQUW is consistent in its messaging and appetite, giving brokers clarity and confidence when placing risks with us.
Tell us about the FI team
We’re a team of five, led by Tristram Prior, Lead Underwriter. Our broad appetite allows us to support a wider range of clients than is typical in the FI market, and to offer practical solutions for more complex scenarios. I really enjoy being part of a group with deep specialist expertise, working together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.
What are the main trends in the FI market?
Cyber risk continues to be a major focus as our clients increasingly rely on digital systems and new technologies, including AI. Data protection and operational resilience are key areas of scrutiny, and we developed a product, FortiFI – an integrated FI and Cyber solution – for our clients in the US and Australia so these risks can be considered in a more connected way.
Digital assets are attracting more attention, especially in the US, where the legislation and regulation around them is still evolving. Oversight frameworks need to keep pace with innovation, and this will continue to be a key area to watch.
Finally, private credit is increasingly on the regulators’ radar, specifically in Australia. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is monitoring how funds manage liquidity, governance and exposure to real estate-backed lending. This highlights the importance of transparency and strong oversight as the market matures.
It will be exciting to see how these developments unfold.
What are your aims and priorities?
My main priority is to continue to develop as an underwriter, taking on more complex risks within the team. I’ve had excellent support and training, both internally and externally, which has been invaluable. I’m also currently preparing for my Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) diploma exam, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
