Headquarters:
Sydney
Year founded:
1965
Number of employees:
200
Phone:
0403 969 680
Email:
courtney.brennan@helia.com.au
Website:
helia.com.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/helia-2
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Jeremy Francis
Chief Operating Officer
Kynan Fraser
Director, Technology Strategy
Neil Rodgers
Director, Digital Solutions
Leadership
Jeremy Francis joined Helia as COO in April 2021. With over 20 years of experience in technology, banking and finance, he is passionate about delivering digital business strategies to create new opportunities for customers, drive new business growth, and deliver cultural, technology and operational change.
Francis holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Technology Sydney.
Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy Francis
Kynan Fraser is the technology leader and responsible for the Helia technology strategy. With over 18 years of industry experience, he is passionate about the power of technology to transform businesses, empower individuals and advance society.
Fraser has been deeply involved in Helia’s technology transformation with the lending ecosystem to realise a seamless digital journey for home ownership. He holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from the University of New South Wales.
Director, Technology Strategy
Kynan Fraser
Neil Rodgers is the digital solutions director at Helia, which involves being immersed in shifting mindsets and enabling teams to achieve ambitious goals by leveraging agile methodologies. He has over 18 years of experience in risk management, DevOps, project and product management across many industries, including construction, consultancy, financial advice and insurance. He is passionate about finding opportunities where technology can help achieve customer success.
Rodgers holds a degree in risk management and economics from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Director, Digital Solutions
Neil Rodgers
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
Anisha Mukherjee
Senior Product Owner
Anisha Mukherjee is a senior product owner at Helia. Since joining in 2021, she has been a member of the digital solutions team, driving growth for Helia’s business and customers. Mukherjee has 16 years of experience in the software industry, working across the insurance and financial services sectors. She is passionate about the Agile framework and loves working on product strategies and interacting with stakeholders to create product roadmaps.
Mukherjee holds a bachelor’s degree in computer applications from BIT Mesra and a master’s degree in computer applications from SASTRA University, India.
Senior Product Owner
Anisha Mukherjee
Damian Percy
General Manager, Securitisation
Damian Percy is a creative, lateral-thinking and outcomes-driven senior leader with over 20 years of experience in financial services and a deep and broad understanding of the Australian home loan market. He is a highly respected commentator and advisor to the industry, with practical expertise across all facets of the sector, including distribution, operations, product design, technology and regulation.
Percy understands that, ultimately, all business is problem-solving, and he applies his rare blend of industry expertise and innovative thinking to build strong businesses and great customer outcomes.
Percy is a past director and fellow of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, holds degrees in arts and law and was a founding member of the nation’s leading Elvis parody act between 1992 and 2004.
General Manager, Securitisation
Damian Percy
Helia exists to accelerate financial wellbeing through home ownership, now and for the future. As Australia’s first lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) provider and a specialist in the field, Helia has played a pivotal role in the property market since 1965.
Helia’s vision is to be the unparalleled leader in LMI. Helia strives to achieve this through innovative digital solutions.
Building a culture of continuous innovation has been a strategy for Helia to embrace the regular and rapid change that characterises the modern world. This includes developing an operating model that normalises change and enables frequent and rapid experimentation.
Through mortgage broker and customer research, Helia has identified that efficiencies are critical to drive business success and help home seekers navigate the complexities of the home ownership process.
By simplifying data needs, utilising industry-standard technologies like APIs and providing delegations to some lenders, Helia has made it easier for its customers to help more home buyers accelerate financial wellbeing and get into the property market with LMI.
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Tony Bird
Chief Risk Officer
Mark Hewitt
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Brad Wearn
Chief Technology Officer
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Tony Bird has been working in the banking and finance industry for 25 years, predominantly in credit risk, collections and portfolio management. His strength is bringing creative, data-driven solutions to safely grow retail portfolios. He develops strong relationships with internal and external partners to maximise profit after capital charges. Bird’s management style is collaborative and focused on achieving ambitious targets.
Chief Risk Officer
Tony Bird
Mark Hewitt has a wealth of knowledge and industry experience, with 40 years of experience in financial services. He is a member of the executive team at aggregator Australian Finance Group (AFG), which he joined in 2006 as general manager of broker and residential and is currently AFG’s general manager of industry and partnership development.
Prior to joining AFG, Hewitt spent 20 years with ANZ, including four years in ANZ’s third-party distribution area, and later became national manager of key broker relationships. He has also recently been co-chair of the Combined Industry Forum and has played a key role in the industry reform process.
Hewitt’s significant skills encompass operations, communications, relationship management, credit management, asset finance, human resources, contract and sponsorship negotiation, and sales. He was named on the MPA’s Global Mortgage 100 list in both 2020 and 2021. He is also a director of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), Think Tank Group and Mortgage Processing Services.
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Mark Hewitt
Brad Wearn, serving as the chief technology officer, brings extensive expertise and forward-thinking approaches to the evolving landscape of IT services procurement and management. With a keen eye on industry trends and organisational needs, he recognises the shift toward purchasing IT capabilities “as a service,” acknowledging both its agility and potential security risks.
In his role, Wearn navigates the challenges posed by “shadow IT” and the impact it can have on organizational spending and security. Embracing an IT delivery model focused on flexibility and efficiency, he champions the adoption of “as a service” platforms. This approach ensures transparency in usage and enables the implementation of necessary controls to safeguard critical data and systems.
By spearheading this transformation, Wearn moves away from defending a large IT budget toward facilitating the adoption of tailored technology solutions aligned with evolving business needs. With an unwavering commitment to driving innovation and maximizing value, he sees himself at the forefront of an exciting journey as a CIO, navigating the ever-changing landscape of technology with enthusiasm and expertise.
Chief Technology Officer
Brad Wearn
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
“Despite the challenging claims environment, QBE’s coverage and risk appetite have remained consistent. Brokers and customers know and understand our risk appetite and the cover we offer, providing them with certainty for the future,” says Erica Kofie, head of cyber proposition. “We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions.”
Kofie adds, “Through 2022, QBE successfully delivered significant growth in the cyber sector, reflecting the depth and strength of our team. We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations.”
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BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business