Maria Parry is one of the few insurance executives to have climbed the full length of the corporate ladder within the same organisation, spending more than three decades at Austcover. Starting as an office junior in 1987 and moving on to a range of increasingly senior positions – including claims assistant, operations coordinator and general manager – Parry was named CEO in 2016.
Since then, Parry has shown no sign of slowing down, claiming two prizes at the inaugural Insurance Business Awards, including the coveted title of Australian Insurance Broker of the Year.
Parry puts her meteoric rise down partly to her ardent pursuit of education – something she says has never been more important in today’s rapidly changing environment.
“Education and learning is ongoing – I don’t think people should underestimate the importance of this,” she told Insurance Business following her awards win. “The insurance world is constantly changing, and we need to keep up with developments – so professional development is absolutely crucial.”
Looking ahead, Parry is committed to facilitating the growth of Austcover while also maintaining the firm’s culture, values and behaviour.
