Shane Fitzsimmons: Lessons in Resilience
On Monday morning at the 2024 NIBA Convention, Shane Fitzsimmons, AO AFSM, delivered a powerful Keynote Address
On Monday morning at the 2024 NIBA Convention, Shane Fitzsimmons, AO AFSM, delivered a powerful Keynote Address reflecting on his leadership during the Black Summer bushfires and his extensive experience in emergency management.
Shane, the former NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner and 2021 NSW Australian of the Year, offered attendees a profound understanding of resilience—built through preparedness, leadership, and community involvement.
Shane shared harrowing details of that unprecedented period, recalling "160 consecutive days of high-intensity operations and over 200 days of local bushfire emergency declarations." He highlighted the scale of the destruction: "Just under 2,500 homes were destroyed, but the firefighting efforts saved over 15,000 homes."
Shane broadened his focus to discuss the cumulative toll of natural disasters, where, between 2020 and 2022, 639 local government areas were declared disaster zones in NSW alone. He reflected on the compounding effect of consecutive disasters—bushfires, floods, and storms—during this time, saying, "We saw extensive flooding, storm events, and even a mouse plague. Over 70 local government areas were declared natural disasters five or more times." He noted that disaster support programs during this period exceeded $10 billion.
In discussing resilience, Shane challenged the traditional understanding of the concept. He rejected the idea that resilience is about "bouncing back" to a pre-disaster state, asserting instead that resilience is about learning from disruption and emerging stronger. "Why would anyone want to go back to that state and be just as vulnerable all over again?" he asked, stressing the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation.
Shane also touched on leadership, emphasising its importance at all levels. "Leadership is fundamentally about building relationships of trust and confidence," he remarked, urging brokers to embrace their role as leaders when advising clients on navigating risk.
Shane closed with a powerful message on the responsibility insurance professionals have in disaster recovery. He reminded the audience that the industry’s role extends beyond policy; it’s about helping people rebuild their lives.
"The material elements will back up, but the human connection truly matters." He urged professionals to act decisively and build trust through transparency: “If we are perceived to be misleading people or over-exaggerating circumstances, we breach that trust, Shane said.
Following the keynote, Shane participated in a panel discussion with leading industry figures, including Jennifer Richards, CEO, Aon Australia, Andrew Hall, CEO, Insurance Council of Australia, and Ben Bessell, Chief Broking Officer, Austbrokers, AUB Group. The session provided an opportunity to delve into the key challenges facing the insurance industry today, focusing on strategies to ensure insurance remains both available and affordable for Australians.
One of the key areas explored during the panel was the need for the industry to develop and nurture new talent. The insurance industry is evolving and expanding, and talent acquisition has proven challenging in recent years. The panellists discussed various initiatives aimed at building a pipeline of skilled professionals who are equipped to address emerging risks and contribute to the resilience of the sector.
The session also covered best practices in resilience, risk management, and risk mitigation, offering practical solutions for navigating the complexities of today's insurance landscape and driving the industry forward.
Attendees left with practical takeaways and a clearer understanding of the key issues shaping the future of the general insurance sector.