Best Underwriting Agencies in Australia | Brokers on Underwriting Agencies  

The 2025 Brokers on Underwriting Agencies survey results show that brokers continue to rate (1 = not important; 5 = very important) them highly for their technical expertise (4.23) and ability to place niche or emerging risks (4.09). 

Responsiveness, product range and reputation follow closely, all maintaining scores above 4.0, while technology, compensation and marketing support remain the lowest-rated areas. 

Compared with 2024, performance improved across every category, with the largest gains in responsiveness (+0.16) and pricing (+0.12), signs that agencies are meeting brokers’ growing expectations for speed and value. 

• Key change in 2025: Brokers rewarded agencies for faster communication and more competitive pricing, boosting the overall performance baseline across the board. 

Both industry experts see the same trend from different angles, where more autonomy and better data are driving stronger decisions. 

Webber’s view is that agencies attract stronger underwriting talent because they offer flexibility, autonomy and sometimes equity, which lets experts run their own books and engage directly with brokers. 

That model puts better product knowledge and technical expertise within easier reach, which can be hard to access inside larger insurers. He says, “They remove a lot of the red tape you see in large companies and global businesses.” 

Van der Merwe says agencies win when seasoned underwriters engage with risk detail, act in an advisory role and tap specialist capacity to build solutions instead of pushing standard quotes. 

He wants more rigorous use of AI for climate, catastrophe and cyber modelling, real-time digital tools for endorsements and claims status and concise education that keeps brokers current on regulation and case law. 
 

After years of volatility in the cyber market, competition and capacity are back. Yet gold medallist Emergence continues to hold its position as Australia’s most trusted cyber underwriting agency, combining scale, expertise and responsiveness with a personal approach that brokers notice immediately. 

“Our team are specialists. Cyber insurance is all we do. We have a proven track record, having been in the Australian market for 10 years and continuing to provide award-winning coverage and service,” COO Colin Pausey explains.  

With the largest dedicated cyber underwriting and business development team in the country, Emergence stays close to its broker network. Its business development underwriters conduct more than 100 broker visits every month, gathering feedback to: 

• improve products and processes 
   

• promote cyber literacy 
   

• assist with placement or claims queries 

On the claims side, its in-house incident response and claims team has become the gold standard for speed and coordination. 

A recent example involved a ransomware attack on an insured just days before hosting a major event. Emergence assembled forensic, legal and crisis communication experts within minutes of notification. 

Within eight business days, the insured was fully operational. A ransom negotiator confirmed that only a small subset of data had been compromised, limiting notification requirements and reputational fallout. 

That decisive response turned a potential multimillion-dollar crisis into a controlled recovery, preserving the insured’s reputation and their ability to proceed with their high-profile event. 

What sets Emergence apart is the combination of high-touch service and outcomes-focused cyber protection. Its award-winning Cyber Event Protection (CEP-005) policy is continuously updated and includes built-in services such as cybersecurity consultations, incident response planning and dark web monitoring. These tools help policyholders reduce risk before an attack occurs. 

“Personalised, hands-on service is what brokers experience first. Our team is accessible and personable in day-to-day interactions, and we invest time in empowering brokers to understand cybersecurity, emerging threats and the value of cyber insurance,” Pausey says. 

Emergence remains focused on innovation and transparency. Its newly launched Cyber Claims Data Insight Report highlights emerging risks for SMEs and quantifies the financial impact of cyber incidents. 

The report underscores a message central to the company’s philosophy:  

• cyber insurance must deliver more than coverage 
   

• it should integrate prevention, rapid response and recovery within one coordinated model 

With that approach, Emergence continues to define what best-in-class cyber protection looks like in Australia, which is service-led, data-driven and built on broker trust. 
 

AFA Insurance, a family-owned underwriting agency, has taken gold in accident and sickness and in corporate travel year after year, as well as being broker’s pick. This success is supported by a product set that delivers exactly what brokers ask for and a service model that treats every interaction as personal.

“We specialise in the products that we’ve won, and that’s what we focus on,” says national business development manager Anthony Porter. “You’ve got to do what’s right for you and your client. We have a slogan at AFA: it’s called ‘AFA Insurance. It’s personal,’ because everything we do at AFA is personal to the broker, especially our mutual client.” 

The business was founded by Ross Porter more than three decades ago and is now led by David Porter and a team that consistently structures every part of the operation around broker needs, from technology to claims. 

AFA decided to bring all claims in-house. Today, management, underwriters, administration and claims collaborate at the table, which means claims can be resolved in real time. “At AFA, it’s a team effort; we are built to support our broker partners and their clients,” he adds. 

Technology has been a long-term play. AFA was an early mover in the digital placement for accident and health, launching its eBIND system more than 25 years ago so brokers could quote and bind accident and health and more online at any time of day.  

That platform has evolved into a multi-product engine that supports: 

• individual accident and sickness 
   

• corporate travel 
   

• journey cover and voluntary workers 

Porter describes eBIND as “brilliant for brokers” because it turns client risks and needs into quick, predictable transactions. The system is continually updated, which helps AFA’s broker partners stay on a familiar platform even as new products are introduced. 

“We are built for you, the broker,” he says. “We don’t go direct; we go through you, the professional broker.” 
 

The Queensland-based underwriting agency has once again earned its place among Australia’s top performers. The company secured four medals, including gold in both product liability and public liability for another consecutive year, silver in D&O and bronze in financial services. 

For brokers, this consistency reflects strong products and a service model that remains distinctly personal in a market where interactions can feel automated. “We have a portal that creates efficiency, but that’s not who we are. Who we are is the human touch,” CEO Blair Whittle says. 

That philosophy is built into everyday broker interactions. High Street’s service clock starts the moment a risk enters its system, with underwriters working to provide answers within six working hours or better. A visible countdown on the portal reinforces accountability. If a file sits too long, the team moves quickly to resolve it. 

Brokers also benefit from access to underwriters, not just BDMs. Whittle’s team has made face-to-face contact a priority, sending senior underwriters into broker offices when product knowledge gaps appear. 

One recent example involved a Melbourne brokerage where High Street recognised an opportunity to provide more direct support. Two senior underwriters travelled to Victoria and worked on-site with the brokerage’s team. 

“People generally don’t take the time to do that,” Whittle says. “We’ll go to rural areas as well. The big guys don’t always show that level of attention.” 

This personal approach is backed by products that brokers rely on year after year. Strong underwriting in liability lines, competitive pricing and reliable outcomes have earned High Street a reputation for consistency. 

Brokers see that in the: 

• speed of responses 
   

• quality of communication 
   

• willingness to engage directly on difficult risks 

The growth outlook reflects more of the same disciplined expansion. Whittle notes that new products are set for release in the coming year, complementing the company’s established lines. 

He also points to the strength of broker relationships as a key driver, reinforced by ongoing visits, open communication and a service model built around accessibility. 

High Street calls its approach “shockingly human service,” and brokers confirm that the experience matches the claim. In a market where technology continues to speed up processes and standardise interactions, High Street stands out for delivering the efficiency brokers expect without losing the personal connection they value most. 

The result is a model that blends the best of both worlds, including tools that speed up placement and service and a team that shows up in person, on the phone or wherever brokers need them. 
 

Even with capacity returning, Australia’s brokers aren’t walking away from underwriting agencies. Nearly all say they’ll continue working with them, a loyalty shaped by a decade of sector growth, new prudential discipline and more advanced technical expertise. 

In a softer market, the advantage no longer lies in price alone but in trusted partnerships built on agility, insight and staying power. 

That loyalty has grown year over year, with “very likely” responses rising from 84.7% in 2024 to 87.7% in 2025. 

 

Australia now has 301 underwriting agencies writing approximately $10.8 billion in GWP, representing about 20% of the general insurance market. The sector has expanded 470% since 2014–15, with a 12.3% uptick in the last financial year. 

That growth has shifted the balance of power. Underwriting agencies are no longer peripheral; they’re integral. When nearly 99% of brokers say they’ll keep placing business with agencies even in a soft market, it suggests recognition that agencies now underpin capacity, product innovation and niche risk expertise at scale. 
 

The CPS 230 operational-risk regime (effective July 2025) and the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) (effective March 2025) are driving stronger governance and operational resilience. 

These frameworks compel insurers to tighten oversight while requiring agencies to formalise risk management, data security and continuity planning. Brokers see this as a net positive. 

Greater discipline means increased confidence that their partners can withstand shocks. The loyalty numbers suggest brokers are rewarding that progress. 

Van der Merwe has seen real progress in strengthened governance under frameworks such as FAR and CPS 230, tighter data security and more automation in underwriting and operations. 

To build on that, he advocates for the following initiatives: 

• operational resilience by design: clear onboarding/exit plans for capacity partners, tested continuity and transparent incident reporting 
   

• thorough climate readiness: better peril mapping, pricing discipline and innovative structures for high-exposure regions 
   

• scaled use of generative AI: for submissions triage, coverage comparisons and faster endorsements, paired with robust human oversight and auditability 
   

Macquarie Equity Research forecasts a wave of M&A among smaller agencies as CPS 230 takes effect, with 45 privately held firms identified as likely acquisition targets. Larger groups such as Steadfast and AUB are already expanding their ownership stakes and capital backing. 

This consolidation delivers what brokers value most, giving them stable capacity and access to specialist underwriting talent. Even as direct capacity re-enters the market, trusted agencies remain brokers’ most reliable route to tailored coverage. 
 

GlobalData projects Australia’s general insurance market to grow 8.9% in 2025 and average 9.2% annual growth through 2029, with agencies benefiting directly. Nearly half of brokers already place 30% or more of their business through them. 

That sustained commitment shows brokers now expect agencies to turn growth into better responsiveness, digital capability and product depth, echoing recurring industry themes of agility, specialisation and service quality. 
 

According to Insurtech Insly’s February 2025 blog post with Australia’s Underwriting Agencies Council CEO Jenny Bax, agencies have boosted investment in platforms that reduce referrals and speed up quote and bind. 

Streamlined intake, external data prefill and tighter wording logic cut administration and freed up underwriters to work on complex risks. AI supports triage, comparisons and portfolio analysis, with a human review that keeps decisions accountable. 

Referral rates in personal and SME lines are falling where automation is mature, which gives brokers faster answers and steadier service. Governance is catching up. Teams are building controls for model use, audit trails and data security to meet new prudential expectations.  

The aim is not to replace underwriters but to improve judgement by removing busywork and surfacing better signals. As this matures, agencies that pair speed with accuracy will hold broker loyalty in a softer market. 

Webber welcomes online platforms but treats them as tools, not replacements. He prefers systems that feel intuitive, build in real underwriting steps and apply full consideration so brokers get better answers faster while underwriters stay involved. 

He says, “What I would like is some smarter online platforms, rather than just your usual select a category, drop down, put your fee in.” 
 

Most brokers now place a substantial share of their business with underwriting agencies. Nearly 60% of brokers report that agencies underwrite more than 30% of their total book, while only 15% place less than 10%. 

Compared with 2024, the share placing more than 30% rose from 46.8% to 59.7%, pointing to a clear uptick in reliance. That distribution suggests underwriting agencies have become an embedded part of brokers’ operations, not just for niche or hard-to-place risks but as a regular, mainstream channel for capacity and service.

• Key change in 2025: A move towards higher agency placement, up 12.9 percentage points in the over 30% bands, which signals day-to-day use.

 

Brokers continue to prioritise coverage above all else, followed closely by claims turnaround times and overall service levels. Speed and communication remain critical, with new business turnaround times and broker support rounding out the top five. 

Premium stability sits mid-tier, while commission structures are far less important, which signals that brokers value product strength and service performance over financial incentives. 

Compared with 2024, claims performance has moved up the order, while overall service levels and new business turnaround times slipped slightly. 

• Key change in 2025: Claims turnaround rose to second from fourth, showing a heightened focus on how quickly issues are resolved. 

Webber points out that exceptional coverage stands up to or rises above the competition and includes providing bespoke coverage to meet contractual obligations. 

For Van der Merwe, excellent coverage is fit for purpose. In practice, that means: 

• comprehensive scope that addresses core and emerging exposures such as cyber, supply chain, ESG, contractual liabilities and natural disasters 
   

• customisation aligned to actual operations and contract requirements with endorsements that are responsive, not boilerplate 
   

• plain wording with minimal ambiguity and exclusions that do not undercut intent 
   

• proactive maintenance through the year, including mid-term changes, sublimit tuning and claims trend feedback, so the policy keeps pace with the client’s business

 

Broker feedback in 2024 centred on access, speed and system improvements. The focus was tactical and included faster turnaround, clearer appetite, better portals and stronger claims handling. 

This year’s responses show a more mature set of expectations. Brokers still want speed, but they now link it to trust, stability and long-term partnership. The conversation has moved from fixing process gaps to reinforcing the qualities that make underwriting agencies essential, even as capacity returns. 

Van der Merwe says, “I’m looking for fast, unambiguous answers and a clear appetite from day one.” 

For him, that means: 

• speed with certainty 
   

• rapid, well-reasoned quote 
   

• quick declines with alternatives when the first path doesn’t work
   

• strong claims advocacy with defined escalation paths and measurable service standards 
   

• frictionless digital processes, from data capture to COCs, so the team can focus on client strategy 

In 2025, brokers define exactly what they want from underwriting agencies. It comes down to responsiveness, transparency and the balance between technology and human service. 
 

Brokers continue to judge agencies by how quickly and directly they respond. Delays and overreliance on portals erode confidence, while simple, human contact strengthens it. 

• “More proactive engagement rather than relying on platforms for process requests. Pick up the phone!”
   

Stable pricing, dependable claims handling and steady service build long-term loyalty. Brokers reward agencies that stay predictable when market conditions fluctuate. 

• “Consistency in product, pricing and especially turnaround times. Service, I would suggest, is one of the main driving reasons for using UW agencies, and relationships are critical” 

 

Brokers want to know an agency’s appetite before quoting. When parameters shift midstream, efficiency and trust suffer. 

• “Clarity in appetite. It’s frustrating to get told, ‘We want to see everything,’ only to get told it’s not in their appetite time and time again” 

 

• “Think outside the box to find solutions for hard-to-place risks” 
   

Digital tools are welcome when they reduce referral times and manual entry, but brokers still want easy access to real people for complex cases. 

• “Improve tech or provide direct, easy-to-reach contacts per product” 

This year’s medallists embody the survey findings, delivering the responsiveness, reliability and partnership brokers expect. 

 

• The broker and agency relationship now works as a partnership, not a niche fix. 
   

• Fast systems plus accountable underwriters define trust in a soft market.
   

• Broker expectations are rising faster than many agency systems, with consistency on appetite, clear communication and claims delivery driving business. 
  
   

Best Underwriting Agencies in Australia | Brokers on Underwriting Agencies 

• 
  AFA Insurance
   
  
• 
  CHU Underwriting Agencies
   
  
• 
  Emergence Insurance
   
  
• 
  FTA Insurance
   
  
• 
  High Street Underwriting Agency
   
  
• 
  MECON Insurance
   
  
• 
  Pen Underwriting
   
  
• 
  Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA)
   
  

Accident and health 

• 
  AFA Insurance
   
   
  

• AHI Insurance
  Silver
• DUAL Australia
  Bronze

Commercial motor 

• NTI
  Gold
• GT Insurance
  Silver
• 360 Underwriting
  Bronze

Construction 

• 
  MECON Insurance
   
   
  

• ATC Insurance Solutions
  Silver
• SURA Construction
  Bronze

Construction (mobile plant and machinery) 

• 
  Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA)
   
   
  

• NTI
  Silver
• 360 Underwriting
  Bronze

Cyber and information technology 

• 
  Emergence Insurance
   
   
  

• DUAL Australia
  Silver
• Coalition
  Bronze

Directors and officers 

• DUAL Australia
  Gold

• 
  High Street Underwriting Agency
   
   
  

• Community Underwriting Agency
  Bronze

Financial services 

• DUAL Australia
  Gold

• 
  FTA Insurance
   
   
  
• 
  High Street Underwriting Agency
   
   
  

Hospitality 

• G.O.A.T. Insurance
  Gold

• 
  Pen Underwriting
   
   
  

• Axis Underwriting Services
  Bronze

Management liability 

• DUAL Australia
  Gold

• 
  FTA Insurance
   
   
  

• Solution Underwriting/CFC Underwriting
  Bronze

Marine 

• NTI
  Gold
• NM Insurance
  Silver
• Allianz Marine & Transit
  Bronze

Not-for-profit 

• Community Underwriting Agency
  Gold
• DUAL Australia
  Silver
• Keystone Underwriting
  Bronze

Product liability 

• 
  High Street Underwriting Agency
   
   
  

• Keystone Underwriting
  Silver
• Miramar Underwriting Agency
  Bronze

Professional indemnity 

• DUAL Australia
  Gold

• 
  FTA Insurance
   
   
  

• Solution Underwriting/CFC Underwriting
  Bronze

Property 

• The Barn Underwriting Agency
  Gold
• Axis Underwriting Services
  Silver

• 
  Pen Underwriting
   
   
  

Public liability 

• 
  High Street Underwriting Agency
   
   
  

• DUAL Australia
  Silver
• Epsilon Underwriting Agencies
  Bronze

Strata cover 

• 
  CHU Underwriting Agencies
   
   
  

• Strata Community Insurance
  Silver
• Hutch Underwriting
  Bronze

Travel 

• 
  AFA Insurance
   
   
  

• AHI Insurance
  Silver
• 360 Underwriting Solutions
  Bronze

Broker’s Pick 

• 
  AFA Insurance
  Accident and health
   
  

• Epsilon Underwriting
  Combined liability
• Coast Insurance
  Business insurance/package