Company News
Message From Stuart White, Managing Director
Welcome to the 25th issue of our newsletter.
What an eventful first quarter!
We launched our New Zealand broker based business in March. In entering the NZ market we aim to become a funder of choice and we look forward to building strong, long-term relationships with intermediaries in NZ, just as we did when we launched in Australia in 2001. Quenten Watkins is our NZ Country Manager (previously State Manager, South Australia) and recently relocated to Auckland to take up this role and build a strong local team.
We have also recently embarked on a new marketing campaign with the theme: "Big and small together...gives you the best of both worlds". Our aim is to highlight the benefits to you from Pacific’s personalised service combined with GE’s global strength.
Finally, there is a tidal wave of new regulation emanating from the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). We continue to be an active supporter of both IPFA (Insurance Premium Financiers of Australia) and NIBA in their discussions with government, particularly in relation to the National Consumer Credit Legislation implications for funders and brokers. We are also working with the industry in NZ seeking to secure a partial exemption to the NZ Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism and Financing Laws (AML/CTF) legislation recently introduced there.
Thank you once again for your continued support which is greatly appreciated.
All the best,
Soapbox Update
Don’t forget that The Pacific Soapbox is available on Edge for you to put forward suggestions or ideas on how we can provide better systems and services to you.
Your suggestions and feedback provide us with important information on where we need to focus our improvement efforts.
We have implemented a number of enhancements that have arisen directly from Soapbox suggestions, and we have further improvements in the pipeline.
So.....Got something to say? Get on the Soapbox in Pacific Edge.
Sydney and Adelaide office relocations
Our Sydney and Adelaide offices have relocated in the past month and are now both settled in their new locations. The new address details are noted below:
Sydney
Level 14, 255 George Street, Sydney 2000.
PO Box 3226, Sydney, NSW 2001
Tel: 02 9253 3000
Fax: 02 9253 3001
Adelaide
Level 1, 99 Frome Street, Adelaide 5000
PO Box 1467, GPO Adelaide, 5001
Tel: 08 8273 5700
Fax: 08 8273 5701
Telephone and Fax numbers remain unchanged
Pacific Opens New Zealand Office
Picture: Quenten Watkins NZ Country Manager with his wife
Nicole &
daughter Chelsea in Auckland NZ
Pacific’s Quenten Watkins recently took up a new appointment to become our New Zealand Country Manager and has now relocated to Auckland with his family.
Having settled in temporary accommodation on Auckland’s picturesque waterfront, Quenten says that along with his wife Nicole & daughter Chelsea, they are thoroughly enjoying becoming familiar with their new home city.
Quenten has hit the ground running in New Zealand and is now focused on delivering the kind of service we believe sets Pacific apart.
Industry News
Regulation Update
A wave of new legislation has been introduced for our industry recently, and it is very likely we will see further regulatory changes roll in over the coming months and years. Pacific is committed to working with other industry participants (NIBA and IPFA) and the Government to ensure that new regulations are workable for everyone involved.
Together with other funders and NIBA, we are working on the current National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP) which comes into force in July 2010 and, its effects on premium funders and insurance intermediaries. In addition to all this we are also in discussions about the proposed Phase 2 of the NCCP, which may extend the scope of the legislation from individuals to small and medium sized enterprises. Pacific will continue to monitor this proposal very closely in an effort to try and ensure that any adverse effects on our industry are minimal.
The industry has also commenced discussions with the Ministry of Justice in New Zealand to seek an exemption on the proposed Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Laws (AML/CTF) which come into effect in NZ over the next 18 months. If successful this exemption could operate in a similar way to the exemption that has been granted in Australia.
We will keep you well informed of any progress on these issues. If you have any queries, please contact your local Pacific Premium Funding State Manager.
AFMA Conference 2010
The Australian Fire Members Association (AFMA) members gathered for their 15th annual conference in Noosa from 10-14 February 2010. Pacific has been a long-term supporter of the AFMA group and was pleased to continue that tradition as a sponsor of this year’s conference.
One of the interesting events during the conference was the Medieval Dinner at Bli Bli Castle, where the Pacific team had some fun with the theme and dressed up!
Congratulations to Insure Secure Invest (NSW), and Insuranet (ACT) who, in recognition of their support during 2009, were crowned as the winners of our High Flyer Awards.
Picture: Pacific team from left: Pam Amber (SA), Phil Douglas (QLD), Amanda
Sheaves (ACT) and Stuart White in medieval costume at the Bli Bli Castle dinner
Steadfast Heads West For 2010
More than 1500 delegates attended the Steadfast Convention in Perth from 13 – 17 March 2010, for what was a fantastic convention.
Pacific was proud to continue our long standing support of the Steadfast group as a Gold Sponsor again this year.
During the convention, Pacific took the opportunity to take many of our Steadfast supporters to lunch, spending an enjoyable afternoon relaxing in a superb location by the water at Hillarys Marina.
As usual, Steadfast had some fantastic entertainment at the evening functions. However, the highlight was definitely the final night when Vanessa Amarosi rocked the “too hip to be corporate” crowd.
Congratulations to South Australia’s Samantha Yates on winning our exhibitor’s prize of a Nespresso Delonghi Coffee Machine.
Pictured above: Pacific MD Stuart White enjoying lunch with Lloyd Walker and Bill Critchley of Lloyd Walker Insurance Brokers, and Matthew Cochrane of MFP Insurance Brokers
Left: Adele Wilson and Di Phelan of BJS Insurance Brokers with Pacific Victorian Account Manager Leeanda McGregor
Pacific In The Community
Pacific Perth Cleans Up Australia
Not many people are aware that GE employees put a substantial effort into helping the community through the GE Volunteers program.
This is a rewarding process for employees, with Pacific staff alone volunteering over 2000 hours to community programs over the past two years.
Sandi Regis and Brad Dixon from our Perth office had their first exposure to the program when they along with two dozen other GE WA staff participated in a Clean Up Australia Day activity. Braving soaring temperatures courtesy of a heat wave, the group headed down to Perth’s City Beach to spend four hours collecting litter from the roadside and nearby sand dunes.
Sandi and Brad worked hard collecting a multitude of different items ranging from tennis balls to a tarpaulin, and everything in between.
Whilst both were a bit sore the next day (1,000 knee lunges will do that to you) they really enjoyed the experience.
Picture: Pacific team members joining local GE employees at a Perth beach for Clean UpAustralia Day.
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