Maria Repac

Specialist risk insurance company PPS Mutual has announced the appointment of Maria Repac as Business Development Manager for New South Wales. She will report to Sabrina Sequeira-Walmsley, State Manager for New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.

The appointment builds on PPS Mutual’s growth in NSW and reinforces its commitment to working closely with its accredited advisers and supporting quality protection advice for professional clients. In her new role, Repac will help drive the expansion of PPS Mutual’s accredited adviser network across the state, deepening existing partnerships and building relationships with new advisers.

Sequeira-Walmsley said the appointment reflects growing adviser demand in NSW and PPS Mutual’s focus on strengthening relationships on the ground.

“Advisers in NSW are seeing more demand from professional clients whose needs are becoming more complex, and they want a partner who understands that market. Strengthening our adviser relationships on the ground is a key focus for PPS Mutual, and Maria will play an important part in that.

“Maria brings a skill set that is particularly valuable in a life insurance BDM role. She has built strong relationships with financial advisers, and her experience across underwriting, claims and operations gives her a practical understanding on how to support advisers. I’m delighted to welcome her to the NSW team at PPS Mutual”

Repac brings more than two decades of experience across life insurance and financial services, spanning business development, operations and support roles in underwriting and claims. She joins from MetLife Australia, where she began in the underwriting team before moving into business development in 2022. As a Business Development Consultant, she worked with advisers to grow their risk businesses, establish new relationships and reconnect with previously engaged advisers. Before MetLife, she was Operations Manager at claims management software business ANCIS and an HR Advisor at Munich Re. She also spent almost 14 years with Commonwealth Bank and CommInsure, including as a Specialist Claims Support Analyst supporting the management of complex and long-term claims. Repac holds a Diploma of Financial Planning.

Commenting on her appointment, Repac said: “I’m really excited to be joining PPS Mutual and being part of a business that puts its members first. I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with advisers and helping protect what matters most to their clients.”

Repac joins PPS Mutual at a time of strong performance in the Australian market: PPS Mutual has been named Best Retail Life Insurer by Adviser Ratings for three consecutive years, and its annual lapse rate of 6.4% compares favourably with the industry average of 14.3%.*

———-

*Source: NMG Retail Advice Channel Risk Distribution Monitor as of 30 June 2026

The post PPS Mutual adds NSW BDM to meet growing adviser demand appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Ivan Werner

​Specialist insurance company PPS Mutual has announced the appointment of Ivan Werner to the role of Business Development Manager, NSW.

The role will commence effective immediately and reports to Sabrina Sequeira-Walmsley, State Manager for NSW and ACT.

Mr. Werner will be responsible for forging strategic partnerships, driving sales initiatives, and managing key adviser relationships within the NSW region. His strong sales background and deep understanding of financial advice will play a key role in driving PPS Mutual’s growth and expansion goals.

Ms. Sequeira-Walmsley said, “Drawing on his technical expertise as a Financial Planner and notable leadership experience in both financial services and competitive sports, Ivan embodies a unique blend of strategy, motivation, and sales acumen”.

“His track record of leading teams in high-pressure situations and achieving consistent sales excellence makes him an ideal fit to drive growth and innovation at PPS Mutual. I am very excited to welcome Ivan to the team and our community.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Werner said, “Coming on board with PPS Mutual is an exciting new chapter in my career. Its dedication to innovation, Member-focused approach, and support for Financial Advisers make it a standout in the industry.

“I look forward to collaborating with the team to advance PPS Mutual’s reputation as the preferred specialist partner for Advisers and their valued clients.”

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. PPS Mutual is based on the proven PPS business model that has been hugely successful in South Africa since the 1940s – sharing over $2.5 billion in profits with Members over the last 10 years. PPS Mutual is owned by its Australian professional members who will share in the profits of the products that they buy.

The post PPS Mutual expands NSW Business Development Team appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Mr Hopwood will report to PPS Mutual Director of Distribution Brian Pillemer and will be charged with managing financial adviser relationships and supporting the PPS Mutual proposition within the region.

Mr Hopwood joins PPS Mutual after five years at ANZ Wealth as Business Development Manager for Life Risk, where he was responsible for managing relationships between key stakeholders as well as providing product and technical training to advisers.

“Richard is a welcome addition to the PPS Mutual team and we are confident that his knowledge and experience within the retail insurance industry will have a beneficial impact as we continue to grow our exclusive partnerships with high calibre financial advisers,” Mr Pillemer said.

Having spent 8 years in financial services business development roles, Mr Hopwood brings to the role an insightful understanding of issues that face advisers and advice businesses in the current environment.

“I am excited to join the growing team at PPS Mutual – with their unique profit-sharing business model, and niche, client-centric approach to insurance, I believe they are just what the Australian consumer and adviser markets need at this time,” Mr Hopwood said.

The news follows PPS Mutual’s appointment of Sabrina Sequeira-Walmsley as NSW State Manager in July, with the company also currently recruiting for a State Manager in Victoria.
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.  PPS Mutual is based on the proven PPS business model that has been hugely successful in South Africa since the 1940s – sharing over $2.2 billion in profits with Members in the last 10 years.
PPS Mutual is owned by its Australian professional members who will share in the profits of the products that they buy.

The post PPS Mutual enhances team with Queensland State Manager  appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Ms Sequeira-Walmsley will report to PPS Mutual Director of Distribution Brian Pillemer and will be charged with supporting the PPS Mutual proposition amongst select financial advisers within the region.

Ms Sequeira-Walmsley joins PPS Mutual after two years at the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), where she was responsible for connecting AFA members with the services, education pathways and resources offered by the Association and its strategic partners.

“Sabrina’s knowledge of the advice market and close relationships with NSW advisers makes her a welcome asset to the PPS Mutual team,” Mr Pillemer said.

“Her career spans over 19 years in both financial services and business development, so we’re confident that Sabrina’s knowledge and experience will quickly have a positive impact as we grow our exclusive partnerships with high-quality financial advisers.”

Ms Sequeira-Walmsley brings with her an intimate understanding of advice businesses and the issues facing advisers today, having spent 13 years in business development roles with MLC, AXA/AMP and TAL.

“I feel privileged to be part of the PPS Mutual team and I welcome the opportunity to work with advisers and their teams in understanding and adopting this exciting mutual proposition for professionals in the Australian market,” Ms Sequeira-Walmsley said.

“The re-emergence of the mutual has come at an opportune time as we travel ‘back to the future’ to present advisers with a truly unique offering for their professional clients.”

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.  PPS Mutual is based on the proven PPS business model that has been hugely successful in South Africa since the 1940s – sharing over $2.2 billion in profits with Members in the last 10 years.

PPS Mutual is owned by its Australian professional members who will share in the profits of the products that they buy.

The post PPS Mutual bolsters team with NSW State Manager  appeared first on AdviserVoice.