Tell us about your business
Expat Insurance is a Singapore-based insurance broker who first opened its doors in 2009. We are now one of the most well-respected and recognised brokers in the Singapore employee benefits and insurance market. Whilst we first started our business, specialising in the insurance needs of expats in Singapore, we now offer a comprehensive range of insurance and consulting services. As well as individual insurance, we provide Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty solutions to some of the most recognised brands in the Singapore market.
Don’t be fooled by our name, whilst we obviously have a significant number of expat clients, both individual and corporate, we also work closely with many well-known Singaporean companies providing solutions around employee benefits, talent acquisition and retention, as well as commercial insurance from Professional Indemnity and Directors and Officers insurance to specialised risk management solutions around cyber security, fleet management and shipping and cargo.
We are able to do this because at Expat Insurance, we have an experienced and specialised team of brokers which bring a blend of local and international knowledge. This team has been recognised by Insurance Asia who have recently awarded us the Singapore Broker of the Year Award for the 6th consecutive year.
One of the things that our clients like about working with us is that we can provide both local and global solutions and advice. This is achievable because Expat Insurance is owned by MSH International making us part of the highly regarded Siaci Saint Honore global network.
What’s your role all about?
As the CEO of Expat Insurance I bring to the role of nearly 35 years of experience at insurance and financial services firms across major APAC markets including Singapore, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. My role is to run and manage this exceptional group of people and to guide them through the next level of growth in Singapore and across the region.
What’s the hot topic in your sector right now?
The answer to this question depends on whether we’re talking about companies or individuals.
If we’re talking about individuals, then clearly the hot topic is Covid and the impact that has on their personal medical and insurance plans. We are here to give advice and provide comfort to our client who want to know if they are covered and protected. Our Expat clients want to know that if they travel home to see their families and loved ones, that their medical cover travels with them.
Companies on the other hand have to balance the need to protect and cover their employees while continuing to operate their business in a fluid and unknown economic environment.
As a broker, we represent the needs of our clients and we work closely with them providing advice and support and helping them renegotiate terms and benefits with insurers based on their specific set of circumstances.
Why are you a member of AustCham in Singapore?
Through a previous role I have been involved with Austcham in a number of countries across the region over the last 9 years. I have found AustCham to be of great value whether it be the information it provides, the excellent WhatsApp chat group I am in, or the networking opportunities afforded companies like ourselves, and as an Australian living and working abroad I found it a great comfort to be able to meet and mix with other Australians so far from home. Therefore, when I joined Expat Insurance in 2020 it was a “no-brainer” and I enrolled the company at the next available opportunity.
Where are your favourite places to go to relax in Singapore?
Having worked in Singapore for over 15 years, one of the things that I dearly love about life here is its cosmopolitan nature and how it has blended east with west. From hawker centres to fine dining and from small “hole-in-the-wall” bars to international standard night clubs. Singapore offers a vibrant and eclectic lifestyle that is hard to find anywhere else in the region. My favourite pass time is to jump on my Harley Davidson and explore new eating spots around the island.
What are your predictions for the next 12 months?
The impact of Covid on the Singapore and global markets has given governments and businesses a unique challenge never before seen. There is no template or model that can be followed. Obviously the most important goal for everyone is the resolution of this pandemic, but it is up to us, the broader business community, to navigate this uncertain path to ensure the sustainability of the Singaporean economy.
The delicate challenge for all of us is in how we navigate a 2-speed resolution, balancing a move back to what might be a “new-norm” for Singapore and trying to synchronize with the “out-of-step” neighbouring countries and markets.
So what do I predict? As we move to an inevitable re-opening the Singapore economy the recovery will be slow at first as companies get confidence that there will not be another lock down and the markets both local and overseas are secured. That will then be followed by strong growth which will result in an assault on talent as companies try to get a jump on their competitors.