Voula Makris
Specialist risk insurance business PPS Mutual has appointed Voula Makris as Senior Business Development Manager for Victoria, effective 14 September 2026. She will report to Shadia Kouzma, State Manager for Victoria.
The appointment strengthens PPS Mutual’s presence in Victoria at a time when the complexity and cost of Australia’s financial advice framework continues to influence how advisers operate and clients access quality advice – a trend that has seen adviser numbers tighten across the industry, even as demand for specialist protection advice grows.
In her new role, Voula will drive growth across Victoria, working with PPS Mutual’s accredited adviser network to strengthen risk insurance capability, support sustainable practice development and help advisers deliver high-quality protection outcomes for professional clients.
Shadia Kouzma, State Manager for Victoria, said the appointment was about more than expanding PPS Mutual’s distribution capability; it reflected the insurer’s commitment to supporting a strong and sustainable risk advice profession.
“The long-term health of Australia’s life insurance sector depends on a strong and sustainable advice profession. Insurers have a role to play beyond designing and distributing products. “Advisers need business development partners who can help them address the practical, technical and commercial challenges they encounter every day. Voula brings extensive market knowledge, deep relationships across the advice channel and a thoughtful, solutions-focused approach to supporting advisers and helping them strengthen their businesses and deliver better client outcomes.
“I’m thrilled to have someone of Voula’s calibre and experience joining PPS Mutual. She’s a fantastic addition to our growing team, and I’m really looking forward to having her on board.”
The appointment builds on PPS Mutual’s broader investment in the risk advice profession, alongside initiatives such as their Risk Practice of the Year Awards, which recognises specialist practices demonstrating excellence in life insurance and provides practical insights to strengthen their operations.
Voula brings more than three decades of financial services experience spanning business development, adviser relationships, distribution and client service. She joins PPS Mutual from Acenda, where she served as Business Development Manager.
She previously held senior distribution roles at iExtend and Integrity Life, following almost 12 years as a Business Development Manager at CommInsure. Earlier in her career, she worked at Colonial First State and AMP.
Her commitment to supporting advisers and delivering strong client outcomes has also earned her industry recognition, including the Money Management BDM of the Year award for Victoria and Tasmania.
Commenting on her appointment, Voula said: “Business development is often discussed in terms of growth, but for me it starts with being useful to advisers. That means understanding how their practice operates, getting across the technical detail and being a reliable partner as they support their clients and grow their business.
“Ultimately, there is a client behind every policy. The better the support we give advisers, the better placed they are to recommend protection that reflects each client’s circumstances and gives them confidence in the protection they have in place, should they need to rely on it.
“PPS Mutual’s specialist focus, accredited adviser network and member-owned model provide a strong foundation for that partnership. That combination really appealed to me, and I’m looking forward to getting out and working with advisers across Victoria,” Makris concluded.
PPS Mutual offers life insurance products exclusively to professionals through a select network of accredited advisers. Since launching in Australia in 2016, the company has earned a reputation for disciplined underwriting, high-quality service, and strong member retention – with a lapse rate of just 5.1%, well below the industry average of 14.1%.
PPS Mutual is supported by PPS South Africa, the largest multi-disciplinary group of professionals in the world and the largest mutual company in South Africa since the 1940s – sharing over $3 billion in profits with Members over the last 10 years. PPS Mutual is owned by its Australian Members who share in the profits of the products that they buy.