Business Made Personal

What does modern leadership in insurance actually look like?
In Episode 144 of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira speaks with Lorelle Hillman, General Manager of Distribution at QBE Australia, about resilience, mentorship, gender equity, and the future of the insurance industry.
Lorelle shares her journey from Brisbane tennis courts and corporate travel into a 25-year insurance career spanning underwriting, broking, sales leadership, and executive management. She reflects on balancing motherhood with executive leadership, the lessons learned through personal loss, and why women must advocate for themselves in leadership conversations.
The episode also explores:
 Women in insurance leadership 
 AI and the future workforce 
 Mentorship and experiential learning 
 Industry evolution and innovation 
 Building resilient leadership cultures 
 Work-life balance and executive growth 
Lorelle also shares a passionate perspective on why insurance professionals should feel proud of their work and the impact they have on society.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
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For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Leadership in insurance isn’t built in boardrooms — it’s forged through resilience, relationships, and real-world experience.
In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Steven Hill, NIBA Director, board member, and 2018 Queensland Broker of the Year, to explore a remarkable 40-year journey in the insurance industry.
Steven’s story begins in suburban Brisbane, shaped by sport, discipline, and strong mentorship. From a chance opportunity at 18, he entered the world of insurance — not through a structured career path, but through relationships and instinct. What followed was a career defined by adaptability, leadership, and a deep commitment to people.
In this conversation, we explore:
 How sport and mentorship shaped Steven’s leadership philosophy 
 The role of resilience in overcoming setbacks and career pivots 
 Why relationships — not transactions — drive long-term success 
 The biggest challenges facing the insurance industry today include affordability and talent shortages 
Steven also shares powerful reflections on balancing career and family, maintaining respect in business relationships, and why the industry must rethink how it attracts future talent.
If you’re building a career in insurance or leading within the industry, this episode offers grounded, practical insight from someone who has lived it.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Insurance leadership and resilience are at the heart of this powerful conversation with Greg Fisher, chairman of Nautilus Marine and chairman of the Steadfast Foundation. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with one of the insurance industry’s most respected leaders to explore a journey shaped by hard work, humility, adversity and purpose.
Greg shares how growing up on a sheep farm in rural Victoria during drought taught him resilience early. From there, he opens up about the mentors who helped him enter insurance, the career moves that took him from Ballarat to Melbourne, Sydney and London, and the leadership lessons he learned along the way. He also reflects on the life-changing accident that forced him to rebuild not only his health, but his sense of identity and purpose.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
 How Greg’s early life and family values shaped his leadership style 
 Why mentorship and work ethic mattered so much in his rise through insurance 
 What his recovery journey taught him about balance, perspective and asking for help 
 Why collaboration, data sharing and human relationships still matter in the future of insurance 
This is a conversation about much more than career success. It is about what happens when life interrupts the plan, and how strong values, community and purpose can help you build again.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

The road to insurance leadership isn't always via traditional underwriting roles. Damien Gallagher's journey from financial planning to executive leadership at CGU shows how curiosity and cross-industry experience can boost career advancement in ways that remaining within insurance silos cannot.
From Financial Planning to Insurance Strategy
Gallagher's career shift started at Perpetual Trustees, where he specialised in personal injury financial planning for clients receiving compensation from medical negligence and motor vehicle accidents. This focus required building strong relationships with personal injury lawyers and understanding complex financial needs. His success in developing new market opportunities for Perpetual led to leadership ambitions that the organisation couldn't support internally.
I wanted to be a leader. I wanted to be more than just the individual. I wanted to be leading people, setting the strategy for the business.— Damien Gallagher, Ep. 141
The Value of Outsider Perspective
Moving to Zurich as State Manager Queensland without a traditional insurance apprenticeship brought fresh thinking to established teams. Gallagher recognised that Zurich already had exceptional technical expertise and focused on enhancing existing strengths while introducing strategic approaches from financial services. This blend of respecting institutional knowledge while incorporating external perspectives proved valuable for both individual career growth and organisational development.
What This Means for Your Career
Insurance organisations are increasingly recognising the value of diverse career backgrounds that bring innovative strategic thinking to traditional operations. Gallagher's progression demonstrates how professionals can transition successfully by identifying transferable skills and understanding where they contribute unique value to established teams.
Curiosity and willingness to expand role boundaries lead to faster advancement opportunities than staying within defined job parameters
Cross-industry experience becomes a competitive advantage when combined with respect for existing institutional knowledge and relationships
Leadership aspirations require strategic career moves when current organisations cannot offer growth pathways that align with professional ambitions.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Leadership in insurance isn’t just about strategy; it’s about culture, people, and execution.
In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Stuart Brown, CEO of The Bridge International, to unpack a career that spans some of Australia’s most influential insurance organisations. From launching Coles Insurance to leading a consultancy focused on bridging strategy and execution, Stuart shares the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy.
This conversation goes beyond traditional leadership narratives. Stuart explores the realities of transitioning from technical roles into relationship-driven leadership, the importance of building trust, and why culture must come before commercial outcomes.
You’ll learn:
 Why the “triple play” of culture, customer, and commercials is critical for sustainable success 
 How a growth mindset drives innovation in insurance 
 The real challenges of leadership, including sacrifice, uncertainty, and resilience 
 Why the future of insurance depends on attracting and developing the next generation 
Stuart also reflects on navigating COVID-19 as a business leader, the importance of mentorship, and how saying “yes” to opportunities can shape a career in unexpected ways.
If you’re an insurance professional, business leader, or someone looking to grow your impact, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]