5 minutes with Elders Insurance Newcastle Agent, Brett Sutherland

Brett Sutherland and his wife Kirsty head up Elders Insurance in Newcastle, Maitland, Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens. With a staff of 17, the agency has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 years.

“It’s the old adage - what you put in is what you get out”, said Brett.

Before they got into insurance, Brett and Kirsty managed pubs in the bustling city of Sydney. When their son was born in 2002, they decided enough was enough, and quit the pub scene the very next day.

A move to the Hunter Valley gave them a fresh start, where Brett started his career with Elders Insurance. A people person through and through, there’s no doubt Brett’s hospitality skills have served him well when dealing with customers. In fact, he cites working with clients as his favourite part of the job. He also loves the variety.

“I could be presenting in a boardroom in the morning, visiting a hardware store owner at lunchtime, and standing in cow dung with a farmer in the afternoon,” said Brett.

Kirsty manages the marketing side of the business, which is centred around the local community. Her robust marketing strategy includes local radio advertising, rugby club sponsorship and fundraising events.

Brett and Kirsty have seen Elders Insurance evolve over the past 18 years, while staying true to their reputation of personal service, local knowledge and commitment to community. When it comes to running a multi-location business, time management is a big factor. Handling client requests, managing staff and staying at the forefront of regulatory changes means they always have plenty of wheels spinning. But the clients are always front of mind.

Brett elaborates, “I like to think we always go above and beyond. We’re ingrained in our clients’ businesses. We’re so close that friends become clients and clients become our friends.”

With this unprecedent time during COVID-19 Brett and Kirsty have strived to do all they can to assist their valuable clients where possible.

“The last couple of months have demonstrated how nimble and responsive we are. We've helped our clients by offering payment deferrals and policy reviews” stated Brett.

Brett is a strong believer in doing what they say they’re going to do. It’s only when clients have to make a claim, that they understand the value of Elders Insurance.

“The advantage of Elders Insurance is it’s driven by
local business owners.
No matter what happened the day before, we go to work today.
There’s more dedication ­– it’s not a 9 to 5 job. We’re here whenever our clients need us, day or night” stated Brett.

Brett believes in the mantra of not leaving anything in the tank. Judging by his worth ethic, it’s clearly something he lives by.

If you live or work in the Newcastle, Maitland, Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie or Port Stephens area and would like to discuss your insurance needs, you can email Brett here.