Business Made Personal

Insurance Industry Reform in Australia is no longer a “nice-to-have” conversation; it’s becoming a community necessity as affordability tightens and natural disasters become more frequent and severe. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with James Still, founder and managing director of Still Insured Insurance Brokers, to unpack a career shaped by unexpected pivots, personal resilience, and a deep belief that insurance should be accessible to everyone.
James shares how he moved from psychology (and even a path toward veterinary science) into insurance, initially to help his father wind down a business, but quickly discovered a people-first industry where relationships, empathy, and real-world impact matter. He also opens up about major life challenges: grief, injury, and the pressure of building a business while raising a young family, without the safety net of stable income.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
Why empathy and “reading the room” can be a competitive advantage in broking and leadership
What it really takes to go self-employed (and survive the first 6–12 months)
How resilience is built through hard seasons and why acceptance is a turning point
James’s vision for reform: affordability, clarity, and products that better fit how people actually live
If you care about the future of insurance or you’re a young professional wondering where you can build a meaningful career, this episode will expand your view of what’s possible.
Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.
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Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

Resilience in insurance leadership is not a personality trait; it’s a practice built through hardship, self-awareness, and community. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Emily-Rose Srbinovska, Senior Account Manager at AEI Insurance Broking Group and ACT President of Young Insurance Professionals Australia and New Zealand.
Emily shares a powerful journey from a challenging childhood in country New South Wales to becoming a standout leader in the industry, grounded in grit, discipline, and a deep commitment to client advocacy. Along the way, she opens up about neurodivergence, emotional regulation, and what it really takes to build a career you’re proud of while staying aligned with your values.
Key takeaways include:
How early hardship can become a foundation for resilience (and how to build it without “hardening” yourself)
The practical reality of neurodivergence at work, focus, emotional regulation, and communication strategies that help
Why broking can feel like a “true calling” when you’re driven by relationships and business curiosity
What “collective progress” means in a competitive industry, and why collaboration scales careers faster than ego
A clear-eyed view on women’s equity in insurance: representation, sponsorship, leadership pathways, and pay equity
If you want a real conversation about resilience, leadership, and building meaningful client relationships in insurance, this one delivers.
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]

Climate risk in insurance is no longer a future problem; it is a present-day leadership test.
In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Sharanjit Padam, Principal Climate Analytics at Finiti, to unpack the human story behind a career spent translating complex risk into real-world decisions. Sharanjit shares his journey from Zambia to boarding school in Wales, then into actuarial consulting in the UK, before building a leading career in Australia across consulting, insurance, and ESG risk. Along the way, he reflects on cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the sacrifices families make to create opportunity.
You will hear practical, values-driven lessons that apply well beyond climate work, including:
Why trust is the real product in insurance, and how it can be lost quickly even when you are “mostly right”
How mentorship accelerated Sharanjit’s career, and the workplace culture rule that promotions should require teaching others
What “healthy disdain for authority” means in actuarial and boardroom decision making, and why it matters for innovation
Why insurers are still moving too slowly on climate risk, and how scenario analysis plus mandatory disclosure is shifting boardroom behaviour
If you care about the future of the industry and the role insurance must play in protecting families and communities, this conversation will challenge and equip you.
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]

Mentorship in insurance isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s how you build an industry that lasts. In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira sits down with Brett Piggott, Executive Director at Willis Temby, to unpack a 25-year journey defined by resilience, empathy, and a refusal to compromise on integrity.
Brett’s story begins far from boardrooms: in remote WA communities, shaped by his father’s gold prospecting and logging work, and by an early lesson in how deeply events can affect small towns. Those experiences became the foundation of Brett’s professional philosophy — be interested, be interested in people, and don’t lose your sincerity.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
Why Brett believes clients deserve 100% of your time, no matter the size of their account
The role mentorship played in his growth — and why he now prioritises developing future leaders
What “professionalism” really means in insurance, and why Brett advocates for higher minimum education standards
How integrity shows up in real decisions — including moments where Brett chose values over convenience
If you’re building a career in insurance (or leading a team), Brett’s perspective is a masterclass in playing the long game, centred on relationships, standards, and people.
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 and mentorship in reinsurance are central themes in this discussion with Stephen Brunker on Business Made Personal. With more than 25 years in both international and local reinsurance markets, Stephen shares the personal story behind his professional success – from a disjointed childhood and frequent school moves to finding stability through his grandparents’ wisdom and the family values that continue to guide him today.
Stephen shares how a detour through hospitality and completing a Bachelor of Business at UTS led him into NRMA Reinsurance. He reflects on how those early days in underwriting and claims shaped his views on risk, relationships, and responsibility. He explains why the customer service discipline he picked up in hospitality has become one of his greatest assets in reinsurance and broking – and why listening well continues to be more important than ever.
You’ll hear honest reflections on the trade-offs that come with senior roles, the realities of travelling when you have a young family, and how Stephen has learned to maintain work–life balance without losing ambition. He discusses his passion for mentoring, the surprise many mentees feel when they understand the size of the reinsurance market, and why the industry needs to do a better job of telling its story if it wants to attract young talent.
Along the way, Stephen shares lighter moments too – including teaching himself guitar, playing in a pub rock band, and his love of boxing, yoga, and mountain biking as outlets beyond the office.
Listen in to rethink leadership and mentorship in reinsurance, and walk away with practical insights on career paths, transferable skills, and staying true to your values.
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]