John O’Leary, the 2019 National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) WA Broker of the Year, has died at the age of 62. NIBA confirmed O’Leary’s passing on November 4, 2026, describing him as a well-known figure in the Western Australian insurance broking community.
O’Leary was executive director and national manager of health and disability care at Resolute Insurance Broking, where he managed a portfolio of commercial and corporate clients across Australia. He held an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services (Broking) and a Diploma in Financial Services (Underwriting).
His career in financial services began in the early 1990s as a home loans manager with National Australia Bank (NAB). He joined Wesfarmers in 1996 before moving into insurance broking in 2000, where he spent nine years with Interlink Insurance Brokers and 13 years with Zenith Insurance Services before joining Resolute.
Read more: NIBA names 2026 WA Broker of the Year winners
NIBA WA director Brett Piggott said the loss would be felt across the state’s broking community.
“John was a beloved member of the WA broking community. He was always willing to share his knowledge and time with others in the profession. Our thoughts are with his wife Kyla, Shannon, Jack and Jessica, and with everyone who knew and worked alongside John,” Piggott said.
Mike Moriarty, general manager and executive director of Resolute Insurance Brokers, said O’Leary would be missed by everyone at the firm.
“John was a valued colleague and friend to everyone at Resolute. He brought deep expertise to his work and genuine care to every client relationship, and he gave his time generously to the causes he believed in. We will miss him greatly, and our thoughts are with his family,” he said.
O’Leary’s death comes at a time when the Australian broking profession faces mounting pressure from an ageing workforce and a lack of formal succession planning.
NIBA’s June 2026 Data to Direction report found that brokers aged 60 and over make up 11% of the national workforce, the same share as those aged under 30. The median age of an Australian broker is 44.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has flagged similar concerns. In its September 2025 submission to the Productivity Commission’s Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce inquiry, the ICA estimated that approximately 30% of the current insurance workforce will reach or exceed retirement age by 2030. ICA CEO Andrew Hall said the industry needs to act, noting that “with 30 per cent of the sector set to reach or exceed retirement by 2030,” talent attraction and retention must be a priority.
The ICA submission also noted that 90% of insurance employers report a shortage of skilled staff, with specialist roles in claims, workers’ compensation, and underwriting among the hardest to fill.
Read more: Insurance broking confronts an ageing workforce and thin talent pipeline
O’Leary’s specialisation in health and disability care illustrates a broader challenge for the profession. That segment requires detailed knowledge of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding structures and complex care liability. It is the kind of expertise that takes years to build and cannot be transferred quickly.
NAB research published in 2026 found that 58% of professional services firms, including insurance brokerages, have no formal succession plan, even though 75% of business owners expect to exit their business within the next decade. For brokers managing specialist books in complex lines where client relationships are built over years, the absence of a documented transition plan puts continuity at risk.
Australia’s broking channel now manages approximately $35.6 billion in intermediated gross written premium, according to NIBA, with 38% of that written for clients outside capital cities. Experienced brokers in state markets like Western Australia are central to maintaining that reach, and the loss of a senior practitioner in a specialist segment raises practical questions about how that knowledge and those client relationships are preserved.
NIBA extended its condolences to O’Leary’s wife Kyla, his children Shannon, Jack, and Jessica, and his extended family, friends, and colleagues. O’Leary was involved in community causes including Kids Are Kids, the Therapy & Education Centre, Solaris Cancer Care, and the Red Sky Ride initiative.
