As a business owner, your enterprise is one of your most valuable assets. Therefore, it makes sense to take the necessary steps to protect it.

In Australia, inadequate cash flow is the primary reason small businesses fail. [1]

Which highlights the importance of having a robust risk transfer strategy in place, which may include transferring risks to insurance to safeguard against financial losses. 

“1 in 10 Australian small businesses with insurance don’t have enough cover to protect themselves.”

The importance of a comprehensive risk transfer strategy

Insurance is a risk transfer tool that businesses can use to safeguard against financial losses when the unexpected occurs, such as loss of income due to equipment breakdown or storm damage. A well-designed risk transfer and insurance program can help safeguard your business against unexpected financial losses and build resilience for your business during challenging times.

Did you know that ‘one in ten Australian businesses with insurance don’t have enough coverage to protect the business from the losses associated with business disruption, legal liabilities, or loss or damage to assets [2]? It highlights the potential risks associated with underinsurance.

Understanding underinsurance: Is it a risk you can afford?

Underinsurance refers to having inadequate insurance cover for your business, increasing the risk of severe financial strain if something goes wrong. The temptation of low premiums can lead business owners to overlook adequate insurance protection.

• Outdated Coverage: If you have not updated your insurance to reflect recent or future business growth, you may make your business vulnerable.
• Inaccurate Replacement Valuations: Underestimating the repair or replacement of equipment or other business assets can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses following a storm, fire or other claimable event.
• Inadequate Sums Insured: If financial limits (sums insured) are inadequate, it may expose the business to financial losses following management or legal liability claims, or business interruption events.

The impact of proper insurance cover

It’s been a busy time for Clear Insurance, winning the ANZIIF Small Broking Company of the Year in 2022 and being a 2023 Queensland State finalist in the Telstra Best of Business Awards. We also joined the Steadfast broker network in 2024.

Led by Managing Director Lisa Carter, a multi-award-winning risk and insurance expert with over 25 years in the industry, Lisa shares some of the team’s focuses in the fast-changing insurance broking industry.

The importance of becoming ‘risk advisers’

Using a fee-for-service model, our team views themselves as ‘risk advisers’ rather than brokers.

“That’s what we’re here to do; we are here to provide comprehensive risk advice to our clients,” Lisa says. “At the end of the day, if we’re not sitting down with our clients to understand their business and complete a risk review, we’re not doing our job properly. Through everything we do, we demonstrate our clarity, care, and competence. We have a wide range of risk tools and services at our fingertips that add value for our clients.”

Transparency and building long-term relationships 

Lisa encourages fellow brokers not to fall into the well-worn trap of selling on price.

“We haven’t looked back from our transition to a fee-for-service model. It’s one of the reasons we won the ANZIIF Small Broking Company of the Year in 2022 alongside our commitment to transparency and building solid relationships.”

“We need to create long-term relationships with clients by taking the time to understand them. Insurance has so many complexities, and it’s our job to make it simple for our clients. That demonstrates our value as insurance brokers,” Lisa says.

“I’d also encourage other brokers not to be scared of exploring the fee-for-service model.”

Supporting insurance professionals 

Beginning her insurance career as a broker in her early 20s, Lisa remembers being asked to do her colleagues’ administrative tasks all too well.

Those experiences as a young woman fuelled her passion for empowering other women and helping them excel.

Clear Insurance’s team – some of whom are working mums – are empowered to work flexibly, whether part-time or from home.

Together, we’ve created a culture where we support each other, trusting each other to do what needs to be done.

Our team focuses on holistic wellbeing – instead of going to the pub for a drink, we opt for regular group training sessions with a personal trainer, sometimes joined by underwriters and clients.

What does the future hold? 

The team aims to grow and expand as a Steadfast brokerage.

The team continues to grow and upskill to provide the best possible advice to clients.

As technology advances and the fast-changing industry continues evolving, Lisa says it’s important to grow, too.

“We want to attract like-minded professionals and continue to grow. The industry has a lot of work to do, but I’m proud of our work so far, offering more transparency and creating more opportunities for insurance professionals,” Lisa says.

You can read more about Clear Insurance here.

Last updated: 25 June 2026

About the Reserve Bank Panel

The panel was established in 1993 to discuss the issues small businesses face when securing finance to support growth and the impact the economic environment has on small business.

The panel meets annually and comprises of small business representatives from each State of Australia across a broad range of industries to help analysts understand the issues.

After attending the first meeting in July, the contributions made by the panellists, including Lisa, are considered “invaluable in improving the Bank’s understanding of the issues confronting small businesses”, said Christopher Kent in a letter to Lisa.

Lisa says, “It’s an absolute privilege to represent Queensland and the Insurance Industry on the Panel. As an insurance adviser and small business owner, I can advocate for a broad spectrum of industries and share the issues affecting businesses and our industry because of the current economic climate.”

What’s the Outcome?

High level insights from the Panel’s discussions are presented to the Reserve Bank of Australia Board and included in the upcoming Bulletin which is due for publication in September.

The Panel is due to meet again next year.

Managing Director Lisa Carter says, “I founded Clear Insurance 12 years ago as an Insurance Advisernet Corporate Authorised Representative following an 11-year career with AON, which included being an Authorised Representative to AON for 7 years. I’m incredibly thankful for my time with Insurance Advisernet. It’s a great organisation and continues to be one of Australia’s leading Authorised Representative networks.”

“For us, it was time to step out of the AR model and continue to build Clear Insurance as a stand-alone business in partnership with the Steadfast Group. We’re delighted to have the support, resources, technologies and strength of Steadfast behind us as AFSL Holders.”

Clear Insurance remains steadfast in its commitment to providing professional advice to clients on a transparent fee-for-service remuneration model.

Lisa says, “Our focus is, and always has been, to delight clients with clear risk and insurance advice and a transparent approach to remuneration. We charge fees commensurate with our work to support our clients’ success. Our approach reinforces our value as business advisers, so we’re not interested in under-cutting our competitors or driving clients to make price-focused decisions which may risk under-insurance. It’s simply not in the client’s best interests.”

“We do it the Clear Way. We believe in transparency and nurture relationships with our people – our clients, team, insurers, and industry partners – they’re our people,” said Lisa.

Lisa remains focused on our steady growth and devoted to our goal of attracting, nurturing, and retaining the next generation of elite risk and insurance advisers.

“Our goal is not to build another AR network in an already saturated marketplace. Our goal is to meet client needs and present insurers with high-quality, reliable business by continuing to build a highly coveted and rewarding workplace for our team – from a personal, professional, and financial perspective. We bridge the gap between the big international companies and the AR networks by offering motivated professionals unique career opportunities with better work-life balance,” says Lisa.

“We’re passionate about work-life balance and actively encourage good health and wellbeing for our team members. When you feel good, you have a stronger mindset to reach your personal and professional development goals. Our supportive team environment enables us to have our cake and eat it!”, Lisa continues. “I’m delighted that Clear Insurance has the solid foundations to support a stable and transparent future. It’s clear, the transition from transactional broking to professional advice is rapidly becoming a sustainable pathway for the future.”

“We’re fortunate to have the resources to concentrate on the satisfaction of our people – clients, staff and industry partners – and attract insurance professionals that want to learn the Clear way”, says Lisa.

You can learn more about becoming part of Clear’s future on our careers page or contact Lisa Carter.

With increasing reliance on outsourcing IT services to third party providers, IT professionals are finding themselves at risk as individuals and organisations commence legal proceedings following a cyberattack.

So, what are the Duty of Care responsibilities for IT Professionals?

People and businesses of all shapes and sizes have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable measures necessary to prevent activities that could harm people and, or their property. The negligent or reckless behaviour of an individual or organisation may make them liable for any losses or harm due to that behaviour.

Reassuringly, many industries and professions have long-established codes of practice and standards that serve as a guide for legal decisions.

Industry Standards

Believe it or not, there are no widely accepted industry standards that protect clients from cyber-attacks. As such, much debate remains on whether service providers should bear any liability for cyber-attacks.

So, therein lies the challenge. At what point does the Duty of Care responsibility begin or end for an IT service provider?

A common practice for IT service providers is the use of contract disclaimers or detailed service level agreements that exclude liability for cyber breaches. However, without clear industry guidelines, the disclaimer may not stand up to scrutiny in a court of law.

Thus, while IT Service providers can clearly define their terms, limitations and their actions to protect against cyber breaches, the contracts may not offer complete protection from liability.

However, there are steps IT professionals can take to manage their risk.

Here are 7 actions IT Professionals can implement today based on recommendations by Brooklyn Underwriting:

1. Check you have Cyber Insurance

General business or professional insurances often exclude cyber insurance. Talk to your insurance broker about your insurance program and risk exposure. They can advise on the most appropriate policies for your business needs and guide you through the options for mitigating or transferring risk to insurance.

2. Ensure your IT systems are secure

While you may not be able to make your IT Systems iron-clad, you must take all reasonable steps to ensure they are secure and cannot be accessed via client networks. Segregate your networks where possible. Alert clients to new threats and record any conversations or emails.

3. Implement an update schedule

Implement regular software and anti-virus updates to detect malware using an endpoint detection and response tool. Ensure you have a critical and non-critical patch management program, plus secure backups that you test annually.

4. Implement strict password management

Set multi-factor-authentication and a regular password change schedule for all access to your network and client networks. Additionally, schedule regular team training to ensure staff can identify and report phishing email scams or other potential cyber threats.

5. Clearly define your terms of engagement and responsibilities

Detail and agree your terms, terminology and responsibilities for cyber security in all contracts and service agreements. Where you have responsibility, invest in training to ensure your team possess the skills to meet your duty of care. Be diligent in reporting system issues to clients and agree the actions, costs and timeframes required to fix any issues. Be sure to respond promptly to any service complaints and keep a record of all events, conversations, and emails.

6. Mitigate cyber risk

With uncertainty on liability, it is critical to mitigate the risk of cybercrime. Therefore, take all the necessary steps to reduce the risk of a cyberattack for you and your clients. Afterall, it may reduce the impact on customers, suppliers and other affected parties and may reduce the likelihood of a claim against you or your client.

7. Prioritise training

No matter the appeal, if a new or existing client requests work that is beyond your expertise, it is advisable to consider whether to undertake the work.

Equally important is ensuring your team maintain and regularly upgrade their skills. Ensure your team stays up to date on regulatory requirements and how to tackle emerging cyber threats.

Transferring cyber risk to insurance

Clear Insurance helps businesses identify, understand, and manage business risks, including cyber security risks. Our risk and insurance review assesses your risk exposure and recommends the most appropriate ways to transfer risk to insurance.

Contact Clear Insurance today for advice.

This article is based on an original article titled ‘Where does it end? An IT professional’s duty of care responsibilities’ by Brooklyn Underwriting, a division of AXA XL.

We’re excited to welcome Tiahna McDonald to the team as our new Clear Assistant.

Tiahna is the proud Mum to three children (11, 3 and 9 months old). Following the birth of her third child, she sought a brokerage that offered the work-life balance she desired.

An experienced risk and insurance adviser, Tiahna holds her Diploma in Financial Services (Insurance Broking), and NIBA Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker status.

She brings over 15 years of experience in general insurance client service experience, including advice and claims management. During her 15 years, Tiahna gained extensive experience at regional and city-based brokerages by servicing a varied portfolio of commercial clients.

Tiahna McDonald, Clear Assistant at Clear Insurance Brisbane.

Tiahna’s focused on growing her insurance knowledge with continuous training and development. She’s looking forward to extending her network and embracing the new challenges of an ever-changing insurance industry.

We’re so happy to have you on board, Tiahna.

Careers at Clear Insurance

At Clear Insurance, we have career pathways to suit your experience and career aspirations. With experienced mentors on hand, our advisers receive the help and support they need to upskill. Over time, staff gain the knowledge and confidence to advise commercial clients on their risk and insurance needs.

Subject to experience, you can start as a Clear Assistant and work towards becoming a fully qualified risk and insurance adviser or sub-authorised representative of the Clear Insurance brand. It’s your career, your way.

We encourage all staff to work towards their Diploma of Financial Services (Insurance Broking). Naturally, we support the team through that journey.

Learn More

If you are interested in a career in insurance broking, contact us today to learn more. Alternatively, head over to our careers page.

We’re delighted that Clear Insurance is one of six State finalists in the Accelerating Women category. Whether we win on the night, being a finalist is an outstanding achievement. It’s special recognition of our commitment to creating sustainable insurance broking careers for women.

Our Story

Clear Insurance founder and managing director Lisa Carter said, “Thirteen years ago, I took a leap of faith. I left the corporate arena and launched Clear Insurance as a solopreneur with a clear vision. To provide client-centric risk and insurance advice and to help other women in my sector build successful careers while balancing family life.

“Many, like me, come into the industry through an administrative role at a brokerage or because they know someone in the industry. I joined the industry at 17, working as a receptionist and account assistant at a brokerage before moving to a large international brokerage. Still today, there are no clear pathways into or within the insurance broking industry. That makes it difficult to attract school leavers and graduates into the industry.”

“I’m proud to have built Clear Insurance into a thriving multi-award-winning business. We have a talented all-female crew of nine committed to making complex or hard-to-place risk and insurance easy for business leaders. Together, we combine over 70 years of corporate insurance and claims management expertise,” said Lisa.

Career Pathways

After strategically deciding to move to a fee-for-service remuneration model, Clear Insurance attracts clients that value professional risk and insurance advice. As the client book grows, so do the career opportunities for new and experienced advisers.

“Our business model enables us to use our risk and insurance expertise in several ways. Firstly, we tailor our advice to support the client’s business goals and safeguard business stability. And secondly, we mentor new and experienced risk and insurance advisers to build the next generation of professional advisers,” explains Lisa.

“We structured Clear Insurance to provide roles that suit your industry experience and qualifications. Staff can progress from a Clear Assistant to a fully qualified Clear Adviser or Sub-Authorised Representative of the Clear Insurance brand. My team are at different stages, from parents returning to the industry to experienced advisers looking for greater autonomy and flexibility. They’re now achieving career goals they never thought possible,” explains Lisa.

The all-female team at Clear Insurance

Staff Stories

“For example, Jen Bettridge joined Clear Insurance two years ago as an account executive with 25 years of experience. She’s now our Clear Leader responsible for the company’s daily operations. She’s also the reigning winner of the Insurance Business Australia Awards, National Broker of the Year,” reveals Lisa.

“And Sue Pereira. Sue joined Clear Insurance two years ago with 13 years of experience as an assistant insurance broker. Since joining, she’s gained her Diploma in Financial Services (Broking), and status as a National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker. She now services a book of clients as a Clear Executive,” said Lisa.

A big part of our company’s success is its culture. We have built a culture that values personal and professional well-being. One that encourages the team to thrive collectively and individually.

“When women have access to the mentoring they need to succeed, it can make an extraordinary difference to their career success,” said Lisa.

Since joining Clear Insurance Sue has gained many qualifications.

Learn More

You can learn more about our career pathways and unique approach to risk and insurance on our website.

The start of the year is the perfect time to look back and reflect on our successes and learnings before diving into the year ahead with the same gusto we started the last.

For Clear Insurance, 2022 was quite the year. We had many positive highlights and learnings that stand us in good stead for the year ahead.

However, it’s remiss not to share a few of our highlights from 2022, so here we go.

In 2022 we grew the business in more ways than one. Yes, we had financial growth, however, we grew our greatest asset too – the team. In fact, we welcomed 2 new team members, Maree Pickering and Tara Burke. All of whom bring distinctive skills. Whether it’s Maree’s outstanding organisational and customer service skills or Tara’s strategic marketing prowess – we’re building capacity to kick our 5-year growth strategy goal.

In early 2022, we sailed straight into the head wind by moving to 100% fee-for-service. It was no easy task, however, we secured our existing clients and welcomed new clients that value professional risk and insurance advice. It’s a ground-breaking achievement for a small brokerage.

That said, the absolute pinnacle of the year, was winning Small Broking Company of the Year at the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) Awards. And being a State finalist for the Telstra Business Awards in the Accelerating Women Category.

For an all-female, Brisbane-based brokerage it’s fantastic recognition of our dedication to providing professional risk and insurance advice with exceptional customer service. We’re dedicated to helping corporate organisations achieve business growth by ensuring they have the most appropriate insurance programs for their business needs and risk profile.

The Telstra Business Awards recognise our long-term commitment to providing supportive career pathways for women within the insurance industry. We are working hard to provide education and mentoring support to team members so they can successfully progress their careers and industry qualifications whilst balancing family commitments.

Team & Family Life

Whilst we work hard, life is all about balance and we love a challenge, especially a fitness one.

So, in 2022 year the entire team joined me on the Bridge to Brisbane, with Tara running her first ever 10km and beating us all! It was wonderful to see the entire team participate and achieve personal fitness goals.

There were individual and family successes for our team members too.

Jen Bettridge

Jen took out the crown for Australian Broker of the Year and Broker of the Year – Authorised Representative at the Australian Insurance Business Awards. We’re so proud of Jen! It’s fantastic to see her gain the recognition she deserves for her 25+ years of service to the industry.

Sue Pereira

Sue completed her Diploma of Financial Services (Broking).  She’s eagerly awaiting official confirmation of her status as a NIBA Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker. To top it off Sue’s daughter graduated Kindy and is ready to ace her first year at primary school.

Stacey Turner

Stacey welcomed her second child into the world, a bouncing baby boy named Eddie. As his Auntie, I can officially say he’s adorable! Stacey’s refreshing her industry qualifications and hopes to continue this year when she’s back on board.

Maree Pickering

Maree joining the team was a blessing. She keeps us organised and her work ethic is second to none. She’s been embracing our workout Wednesday’s so much; she’s kicked off the new year with Pilates to get her fitness back on track.

Amy Lukritz

Amy rounded out two years of fantastic service as a valuable member of our marketing team, with many more to come we hope. Her two boys are embracing the life lessons of primary school and on the right path for a successful transition from boys to men.

Tara Burke

Tara finished her first year with us and her eldest son successfully graduated high school and received his first choice of Uni courses at QUT. She even finished off the year with a long-awaited visit to the UK to reconnect with her extended family and friends following the Covid-19 border closures.

Lisa Carter

And for me, I’m super proud of my 3 daughters and their individual achievements. The most significant was seeing my eldest daughter, Pixie, head off on school exchange in the US. She handled the whole experience with grace and composure. She made fabulous new friendships and experienced family life from another perspective. In fact, I’d like to make special mention to our US exchange visitor, who is a beautiful addition to our family for the next 2 months.

The Year Ahead

On reflection 2022 was an awesome year for us all, professionally, and personally. We were so fortunate to have the ongoing support of our valued clients and insurer partners.

Looking ahead, we are delighted to kick off 2023 in great company.

We will continue to encourage and support team members as they work towards achieving their personal, professional and health goals.

And, above all, we will continue delivering exceptional advice and customer service to our new and existing clients under our fee-for-service remuneration model.

Lisa Carter | Clear Insurance MD