Young Sydney-based broker Rhys James is overcoming a major health scare, and is now setting his sights on seeing the world – from an insurance perspective.
Insurance took on a greater significance for Rhys James last November when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. For the past few years, the 26-year old had overseen a joint venture between his employer, Nadic, and Teachers Health Fund to provide insurance cover for the organisation’s 100,000 members.
Now he had to think about his own health and financial security. When doctors operated on 1 December 2010, they believed they were sending a tumour to the pathologists. They were wrong. James explains: “Post-operation pathology confirmed the growth as neurocysticercosis or more commonly a ‘pork tapeworm’ cyst. It’s an extremely rare condition for any Australian – let alone a vegetarian – but was the result of my volunteer work at an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal in late 2005."
Thankfully a surprising non-cancerous diagnosis ensured a relatively quick recovery time and James has now returned to his role as the Manager of Nadic’s Sydney branch.
“I have been thinking a lot about the concept of ‘farewell to total control’. One day we can be fine and the next we may not be. It hashighlighted to me the importance of insurance and our role in making sure people have access to appropriate financial risk protection.”
In 2008, James took up the position of Executive Manager of Teachers Insurance Services, an unincorporated joint venture between Nadic and Teachers Health Fund established to service the insurance needs of the education sector.
Going through this has renewed my focus on getting the most out of life.
Teachers Health Fund is the largest ‘restricted access’ health fund in Australia, with annual member contributions nearing $300m.
Last October, Nadic signed an agreement with Macquarie Life as the exclusive provider of Life and Health Events insurance marketed to fund members. “The agreement with Macquarie represents a significant opportunity to address Australia’sunder-insurance issue through improving distribution and access to quality advice on products such as life, critical illness and income protection insurance,” he says.
Alongside his involvement with the health fund, James is responsible for the growth and retention of a portfolio of corporate clients cascading the financial services, health, and life science sectors.
James joined Nadic in 2003, the brokering firm started by his father in 1966 under the name Newcastle and District Insurance Consultant. Having gained a Diploma of Financial Services (Insurance Brokering), James is in his penultimate year at the University of NSW majoring in Accounting and Economic Management and is considering his next step in the industry.
“Having invested so much time in this particular joint venture I certainly want to see it through,” he says. “I’d also like to work for a multinational brokerage firm overseas to gain a global perspective. I certainly have a new perspectiveon work – obviously going through what I have has renewed my focus on getting the most out of life.”
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