Headquarters:

Level 11, Brookfield Place, 10 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Year founded:

2000

Number of employees:

Phone:

+61 2 8219 3256

Email:

enquiry@harrisswagner.com

Website:

harrisswagner.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/1125063

“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”

Brett Bastow, IQumulate Premium FundinG

Robert Wagner

Managing Partner

Amanda Harriss

Client Services Partner

Kristy Pownall

Head of People and Communications

Leadership

Robert Wagner is the founder and managing partner at Harriss Wagner Consultants and Advisers. His responsibilities include managing the firm’s business portfolio, developing professional disciplines and maintaining service excellence to ensure the firm is continuously improving and evolving. Having worked across a diverse range of industries at both managerial and executive levels, this experience has enabled Wagner to introduce practices designed to drive high performance and commitment across the firm. The key areas of focus include developing the firm’s strategic direction, growing a team of high-calibre business consultants, developing the firm’s profile across our target markets and managing the firm’s operations.

Managing Partner

Robert Wagner

Amanda Harriss is the founder and client services partner at Harriss Wagner Consultants and Advisers. For over 25 years, she has been providing strategic and unbiased advice, along with planning and directing business and systems change projects. She has a wealth of expertise in facilitating diagnostic reviews, systems evaluation, business process transformation, program management, and delivering change management programs. Harriss has been engaged by private law firms, patent attorneys, public prosecution agencies, in-house counsel teams and new law entities within Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, North America, Singapore, Thailand, the UK and Vietnam.

Client Services Partner

Amanda Harriss

Kristy Pownall has operated at director level for over 13 years in the position of head of people and culture/HR director. She has experience across multiple regions, covering Australia, APAC, the UK and Europe, across a range of sectors, including professional services, media, technology and insurance. Pownall is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Head of People and Communications

Kristy Pownall

BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs

Leadership

Anirudh Kakulapati

Chief Customer Officer

Anirudh Kakulapati is the CCO at CHU. He has rapidly progressed in his career since joining the insurance industry in 2008, relocating three times in pursuit of his goal to be an exceptional leader. His previous roles were head of distribution, head of customer service and state manager for QLD and NT for CHU.

Chief Customer Officer

Anirudh Kakulapati

David Gow

Head of Claims

David Gow has over 30 years’ experience in handling property, public liability, employers’ liability and motor third party or personal injury claims. Along with his extensive experience, he is a senior associate of ANZIIF and a chartered loss adjuster for AICLA. Gow’s previous role was head of property claims at QBE Insurance.

Head of Claims

David Gow

Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues. In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has: • experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year • improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40% • significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience • expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers. The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.

“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”

Wayne Tower, IQumulate Premium Funding

Steve Tchepak

National Underwriting Manager

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Steve Tchepak became the national underwriting manager at CHU in June 2019. He has over 13 years of experience in strata management and strata insurance. He has held various positions, including commercial underwriter, team leader and NSW and ACT branch manager.

National Underwriting Manager

Steve Tchepak

Thierry Pascal has over 13 years of experience in business and corporate banking in various financial/credit analytical and relationship management roles with the NAB and CBA. After a career break to undertake postgraduate studies, he joined GE Capital as a senior risk analyst in premium funding in 2010. Following the divestment of the premium funding business to the Macquarie Group in 2015, he joined Macquarie Premium Funding and was promoted to credit risk manager, where he led the credit underwriting team. Following the re-branding to IQumulate Premium Funding, Pascal was recently promoted to head of credit and legal, a role that sees him manage the credit underwriting team as well as oversee IQumulate’s in-house legal function. Pascal holds undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary qualifications in accounting and law.

Head of Credit and Legal

Thierry Pascal

Cemal Akgul sees the head of risk and collections role as pivotal in guiding and influencing business decisions. He has more than 15 years of experience across financial and government services, most recently with the NDIS, where he was the leading consultant driving the Risk Management process’ nationwide. Prior to that, he served various roles at BMW Finance across the United States, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia. During Akgul’s tenure at BMW Finance, he predominately worked in risk management, guiding the organisation through seismic changes between 2016 and 2018. In his time prior, he was based out of New York, leading BMW Finance’s American subsidiary's market risk and data analytics teams between 2011 and 2016. Akgul values a balanced approach to business, encourages a positive work culture and is passionate about teaching and guiding the business and individuals at IQumulate.

Head of Risk and Collections

Cemal Akgul

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view. IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance. “We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.

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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, with the potential to allow IQumulate to capture a larger market share, whilst continuing to deliver service excellence to clients.” “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”

What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share. “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Similarly, brokers can expect:

top-in-class service fast response times competitive financing options annual re-marketing of policies to get the best deal hassle-free claims experience dynamic brokers eager to impress who do not take the business for granted

“Our brokers understand their clients’ business needs and pair them with the right product and appropriate level of cover for any foreseeable risk or contingency”

Cynthia Yap, Dynamic Insurance Services

“Our brokers are encouraged to ‘specialise’ in a market niche because it allows them to negotiate an insurance scheme with the underwriters for the most competitive insurance premiums”

Cynthia Yap, Dynamic Insurance Services

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In the dynamic landscape of the legal industry, Harriss Wagner Consultants and Advisers has emerged as a formidable force, driven by the vision of its founding directors, Amanda Harriss and Robert Wagner. Over two decades ago, Amanda and Robert, dissatisfied with the prevailing mediocrity in their professional journeys, established a firm that embodies the principles of integrity, discipline, quality and value. Today, Harriss Wagner is a testament to their unwavering commitment to these values. The firm’s culture is deeply rooted in the founding principles, creating an environment that fosters innovation, trust and excellence. Amanda and Robert have meticulously built a team of like-minded individuals committed to delivering quality output and value to clients. This cultural alignment has been pivotal in positioning Harriss Wagner as a team of trusted advisers and transformational specialists dedicated to the legal industry. “We have developed the capability to effectively transform the operations of the legal industry into modern, higher-performing businesses,” says Amanda. “We have an agnostic view of technologies and focus on determining the functionalities best suited to our clients, and they value our unbiased approach.” Harriss Wagner is at the forefront of modernising legal practices, with a client footprint spanning Asia-Pacific, North America, and the United Kingdom region. The company was bestowed with a Service Provider Award for 2023 by Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer for its outstanding achievements in its field. The firm delivers on its mandate to assist global, top-tier and mid-tier private law firms in achieving operational efficiency and profit margin improvements by blending modern technologies, process automation, business intelligence and change management disciplines. Renowned for her strategic insight, Amanda plays a crucial role in interacting with clients and developing solutions to modernise their practices. Her emphasis on understanding the needs of clients lays the foundation for building authentic relationships, essential for fostering trust in the firm’s ability to deliver on clients’ objectives. Complementing Amanda's strategic focus, Robert brings a wealth of business management skills garnered from his executive leadership background. From strategy and finance to human resource management, marketing and technology, Robert ensures continuous improvement and evolution within the firm. His diverse industry experience, spanning finance, insurance, technology, semi-government and recruitment, has enabled the introduction of practices that drive performance and commitment from the team. Since 2015, Harriss Wagner has also been developing digitised solutions that integrate practices between law firms and major banking systems. At the heart of this client-centric approach lies its brand promise, assuring clients value for money and visible benefits. The firm adopts a commercial yet relationship-based approach, where shared risks contribute to developing valued relationships. “This often means both our clients and Harriss Wagner share anticipated and unknown risks throughout our projects; when both parties share the risks, valued relationships develop,” Robert says. The commitment to excellence extends to the recruitment and development of employees. Once part of the team, employees undergo formal and informal training, benefiting from structured competency-based career paths and performance reviews. Innovation is ingrained in its culture and is an ongoing endeavour, as evidenced by the following key metrics and benefits for clients: • improved profitability • revenue growth • lower operating costs • more significant market share • enhanced service delivery As the legal industry continues to evolve with advancements in AI and robotics, Harriss Wagner remains agile, adapting its insights and capabilities to align with technological progress. With a commitment to value, a global perspective and a forward-thinking approach, Harriss Wagner is poised to continue offering clients a path to sustained success in an ever-evolving industry.

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the best mentorship and support for whatever stage of their business or clientele one of Australia’s most attractive commission rates

Ms Yap’s own experience drove her to devise a viable broker model and commission structure that can support many startup brokers with a fast-growing clientele. This allows for a greater number of authorised representatives who are incentivised to target particular industries to maximise economies of scale, while a robust IT and support system ensures that brokers can offer the best possible service 24/7. “Our clients never have to wait longer than two hours for a response, and our brokers are contactable over the weekends for urgent claims,” says Ms Yap. “Our brokers understand their clients’ business needs and pair them with the right product and appropriate level of cover for any foreseeable risk or contingency.” The firm has made extensive efforts to refine its offering, and in 2019, it commissioned a comprehensive competitor review of the broker network market and found several gaps in the support for smaller independent brokers. This resulted in a significant investment in IT infrastructure to onboard brokers from anywhere in Australia. The tiers in the commission structure were simplified to make it more attractive for the smaller independent brokers to join while providing them Steadfast member benefits.

Dynamic Insurance Services is also continuing to boost its growth with initiatives such as:

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a 12-month branding and marketing campaign investment in digital assets and content that can support the marketing efforts of brokers strengthening their stable specialised insurance schemes to offer even better value for money for clients

Ms Yap says, “We have a supportive work environment with an emphasis on mentorship and wellbeing. This is especially helpful for female insurance professionals, who often have to balance professional goals with family duties. We actively encourage brokers to break new ground by establishing market niches and insurance schemes that best leverage their experience and contacts.”

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Ivan Verescuk

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Shaun O’Brien

Head of Underwriting

Emily Walker

Head of Strata and Development

Rex Oakman

Head of Operations and Risk

Sandy Newton

Head of Underwriting

Andrew Mitchell

Manager – NSW

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims