When Sharanjit first came to Australia from the UK in 2002, he pinned a newspaper clipping of a young and promising rugby star next to his desk.

‘Early in his career, this young rugby star was severely injured, but due to the folding of HIH, he was left without insurance cover,’ Paddam shares.

Tragically, the young man decided to take his own life rather be a burden to his family. For Paddam, then a reserving actuary, the picture remained a salient reminder that insurance is not just about numbers and policies. ‘It’s actually about people and their lives,’ he says.

Climate change expert

Named the 2022 ANZIIF Insurance Leader of the Year, Paddam is a distinguished climate change expert. Having spent the last 10 years raising awareness about the importance of climate change considerations in insurance, he admits it’s been quite a challenging conversation.

‘These days, I’m much more optimistic about talking with insurance companies about climate change,’ Paddam says. ‘Things have changed very rapidly over the last few years, especially in Australia.’

Premium

You need to login to access this

Login

What are CIP Points? About ANZIIF Membership