Headquarters:
Sunshine Coast
Year founded:
2016
Number of employees:
88
Phone:
1800 979 899
Email:
josh@shieldedinsurance.com.au
Website:
shieldedinsurance.com.au
LinkedIn:
au.linkedin.com/company/shielded-insurance-brokers
“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”
Joshua Scutts
Principal
Stuart Brady
Managing Director
Douglas Strong
Managing Director
Leadership
Josh Scutts is an accomplished insurance professional and co-founder of Shielded Insurance. With prior industry experience, he quickly made his mark, earning recognition as Insurance Business Australia’s Young Gun of the Year 2020 and IBA Broker of the Year 2021. Holding a Diploma of Insurance Broking, Scutts combines technical expertise with an entrepreneurial drive that underpins Shielded’s growth.
Principal
Joshua Scutts
Stuart Brady brings over a decade of general insurance experience to his role as co-founder and managing director of Shielded Insurance. His career began at Youi, where he consistently ranked among the top performers, winning multiple sales awards, including Annual Salesperson of the Year.
Managing Director
Stuart Brady
Douglas Strong is a dynamic leader and co-founder of Shielded Insurance, recognised as one of Insurance Business Australia’s Young Guns of 2021. With a Bachelor of Business and prior experience at Youi, he combines a strong commercial foundation with hands-on industry expertise. His approach balances innovation with client-centric service, ensuring Shielded consistently delivers value and peace of mind.
Managing Director
Douglas Strong
BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs
Leadership
Leadership
Arjun Sharma
Client Relationship Lead
Arjun Sharma is the heartbeat of Fundagroup’s client engagement – always on the move, always connecting. A passionate explorer behind the wheel of his 4x4 Jeep, he travels across New Zealand to meet SME owners face to face, bringing insurance expertise with a human touch. Known for his calm, polite demeanour and gift for simplifying technical concepts, he makes coverage and compliance feel accessible – even to those unfamiliar with insurance jargon. Whether conducting inspections, compliance checks or premium collections, Sharma builds genuine rapport with business owners, employees and families alike. His presence is welcomed with warmth – young or old, clients trust him not just as a broker, but as a friend.
Client Relationship Lead
Arjun Sharma
Prakriti Garg
Office Administrator
Prakriti Garg is a dynamic professional who combines global academic achievement with everyday resilience. After earning her MBA in the United States, she relocated to New Zealand and now serves as office administrator at Fundagroup, a forward-thinking insurance and risk management firm. Working from home, Garg expertly manages administrative operations while raising her two young children. Her days are a masterclass in multitasking – balancing client coordination, internal workflows and team support with the demands of parenting. Garg brings precision, empathy and calm to every task, embodying the professionalism and adaptability that define Fundagroup’s culture and impact.
Office Administrator
Prakriti Garg
Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues.
In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has:
• experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year
• improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40%
• significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience
• expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group
Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers.
The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”
Wayne Tower,
IQumulate Premium Funding
Brett Crawley
Renewal’s Manager
Thomas Barden
Account Executive
Darren Watt
Commercial Director
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
With years of experience in insurance, Brett Crawley strives to break the stereotype of insurance salespeople. He always aims for the best result for clients, treating insurance like a puzzle – piecing together the best price and cover. Crawley explains options as if advising a close friend, ensuring clients understand their choices and feel confident in the advice given. His approach is rooted in empathy and transparency, always acting in the client’s best interests and providing honest, thorough support throughout the renewal process.
Renewal’s Manager
Brett Crawley
With over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, Thomas Barden is dedicated to making the process simple, clear and stress-free for clients. He listens carefully, explains options in plain language and ensures clients feel confident in their decisions. His goal is to build lasting relationships, always being available to answer questions and provide support. Approachable, dependable and genuinely invested in his clients’ wellbeing, Barden works hard to find solutions that fit each client’s needs – whether protecting a family, home or business.
Account Executive
Thomas Barden
Darren Watt is the commercial director at Stuartholme School, bringing over 20 years of experience in auditing, accounting and business management within the education sector. Since joining in May 2022, he has overseen the school’s commercial operations, including financial strategy, procurement and business services. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce, a Bachelor of Arts (General), a Graduate Certificate in Business, is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). As a key member of Stuartholme’s leadership team, Watt plays a vital role in supporting the school’s mission within the Sacred Heart network.
Commercial Director
Darren Watt
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view.
IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance.
“We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.
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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future?
“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur.
“Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share.
“As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead.
“We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
Claire Watson
Product Manager
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Claire Watson
Product Manager
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
“For Shielded, growth = innovation + marketing. We are a business that is strong in both areas, so we will continue to do what we do best, which is grow”
Joshua Scutts,
Shielded Insurance
“We stand out by combining highly personalised service with in-house technology and efficiencies that give us an edge in an industry that has been slow to evolve”“We stand out by combining highly personalised service with in-house technology and efficiencies that give us an edge in an industry that has been slow to evolve”
Joshua Scutts,
Shielded Insurance
Ivan Verescuk
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Shaun O’Brien
Head of Underwriting
Emily Walker
Head of Strata and Development
Rex Oakman
Head of Operations and Risk
Sandy Newton
Head of Underwriting
Andrew Mitchell
Manager – NSW
Michael Prokopis
Manager – Southern Region
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Jeffrey Valdivia
Manager – Commercial Strata
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Born from a simple idea that insurance should be fast and easy for everyone involved, Shielded Insurance bit of challenging the status quo in broking.
That ethos, reinforced by collaboration and innovation, helped the firm rank No. 1 on Insurance Business’ Top Brokerages 2025 list for Australia and New Zealand. What’s more, Shielded also achieved the Fast Brokerage designation for demonstrating significant growth.
Rather than accept legacy processes, Shielded leans into technology to streamline the work. Insurance broking can feel outdated, yet the firm positions itself on the side of change by simplifying processes and keeping service responsive without losing the personal touch.
As principal Joshua Scutts puts it, “We stand out by combining highly personalised service with in-house technology and efficiencies that give us an edge in an industry that has been slow to evolve.”
With a focus on depth before breadth, specialisation has been another growth engine. The team has built expertise across SMEs, trades, professionals and select niche sectors while remaining accessible to clients of any size who want tailored advice and quick turnarounds. Mastery of chosen segments has strengthened insurer partnerships and supported steady revenue gains.
When it comes to building the team, recruitment is designed to reflect the same ambitions that drive the business. Campaigns highlight a growth mindset and a commitment to developing the next generation of broking talent, and an internal referral program rewards staff who bring strong candidates into the business. These choices reinforce collaboration and pride in the workplace and have helped Shielded become an employer of choice.
IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company.
“We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.”
Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate.
“Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”
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Compensation
Culture
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Innovation
Reputation
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Overall
On the client side, structured routines keep relationships strong. Every client receives at least a half-yearly check-in, creating defined moments for policy reviews, risk discussions and transparent updates. Those regular touchpoints help clients feel informed and supported and have boosted retention even with a portfolio weighted to SMEs.
Behind the scenes, disciplined use of digital tools underpins delivery. Streamlined onboarding and service platforms reduce delays for clients and long-term relationships with insurers and referral partners provide stability. A strong online presence and more than 9,000 online reviews have amplified word of mouth and reinforced trust.
As for growth, the firm ties momentum to method. Strategy comes first, followed by short sprints that capture demand and respond to gaps in competitor offerings. The result is a brokerage that moves quickly without losing execution discipline or cultural cohesion.
Looking to the next phase, investment is aimed at widening capability and deepening service. Shielded is ramping up its online presence, exploring strategic acquisitions to broaden expertise and focusing internally on uncovering more opportunities within the existing portfolio so clients see the full breadth of solutions available.
That focus on momentum is summed up by Scutts in a single line. “For Shielded, growth = innovation + marketing. We are a business that is strong in both areas, so we will continue to do what we do best, which is grow.”
Recognition as a Top Brokerage underscores how those pieces fit together. Personal service sits alongside digital efficiency. Accountability and professionalism sit alongside a bias for action. By keeping processes fast and transparent for clients and for the team, Shielded has shown how a modern brokerage can scale while staying true to its promise of making insurance quick from first contact to cover.
