A day in the life of Andrew Gill is…
Focused and hectic – co-coordinating, orchestrating and working collaboratively towards achieving Pacific Life Re’s strategy.
The biggest change in my life since my last ReB interview in 2015…
Moving from a company with a handful of people to a 50+ person company! Back then my focus was on hiring talented people – interviewing 80+ people (I lost count after 80!). Our culture has changed as have we. We still have a great culture – but my focus is different, managing bigger teams and managing growth.
What most excites me about reinsurance in the Australian Life insurance…
There is so much, where do I start?! These are exciting times for us in Reinsurance in Australia. There is so much potential for reinsurers to drive change in the market in lots of different areas. As an example on the technology side our sister company, UnderwriteMe is a claims system that we expect will transform the way claims are managed in the industry. This tool can run in conjunction with the UnderwriteMe pre-assessment system and the full URE giving insurers true end to end automation.
What excites me the most about PacificLife Re….
There’s never been a better time to be in Reinsurance in Australia as I said earlier. At PacificLife Re we are lucky in that as a new player we don’t have material legacy issues so we have a unique opportunity to look forward. We also have a very supportive parent who fuels our appetite to use technology and research to drive positive market change.
Four words to describe the culture at PacificLife Re…
Energetic, Engaged, forward-looking, technically-focused.
Four words to describe me…
Passionate, Strategic, Ambitious, Thoughtful
The most recent film I saw was…
“Hidden Figures” – highly recommend it.
My favourite dish…
Beef Stroganoff – yum!
I’m most passionate about…
The Bulldogs
What most annoys me… .
People either not delivering on their promises or providing sub-par work.
A little know fact about me that not many people know…
I used to work at Michel’s patisserie whilst studying at University
What makes my job interesting…
Working and collaborating with all of the great people here with their energy, intelligence and enthusiasm – makes for a great culture and a great place to work.
My role’s greatest challenge…
Growth/Growing pains – the pace of change here and keeping people energized and engaged
My proudest career achievement to date is… .
Taking PacificLife Re from a start up with no people (other than myself) – to an APRA licensed reinsurer writing $200m+ annual premium with 50+ people and a great culture.
5 years from now, PacificLife Re will be…
Be seen as a leader in the life insurance in terms of innovation based on cutting-edge technology and superior research. We will have leveraged off these strengths to provide genuine comparative advantage to our insurance partners with regards to their offering to the end customer.
The most valuable skill an underwriter can possess is…
Pragmatism balanced with technical ability. By pragmatism I mean having excellent judgment, customer service skills, a wider understanding of the business outside of their field of expertise.
The most valuable skill a claims executive can possess is…
The same advice as I gave about an underwriter – pragmatism balanced with technical ability
As an actuary what gets under my skin the most….
How historically as an industry we have been poor at collecting data (especially when it comes to claims). With greater data available, we would be able to provide greater insights which in turn will result in more sustainable product, pricing, underwriting etc. which is in the best interests of the end customer.
My best advice for young underwriters and claims managers…
Do whatever you can to broaden your understanding of the business and industry. Get out of your comfort zone, talk to others from different areas of the business to really open up your thinking and business acumen.
If I were Chair of ALUCA, one thing I would improve is…
I’d look at enhancing the profile of ALUCA beyond Claims and Underwriting – and collaborating more with other associations like the Actuaries Institute, FSC – broadening ALUCA’s perspectives.
If I could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why..
South America – an amazing continent that I’d love to explore – rich culture, history, heritage and natural beauty as well as it being home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations. Then of course I’d love to travel to Antarctica……
A parting word of advice to ALUCA members…..
As I said earlier do as much as you can to understand the business you are in, think more broadly then just underwriting and claims. Get as many different perspectives as you can.
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