Real Outcomes.
Real Clients.
From hard-to-place risks to market validation, these case studies showcase how we've helped businesses across different situations. Finding better pricing, navigating complex requirements, or securing cover others couldn't.
Block of Units
Property insurance for multi-unit residential buildings
Sydney Block, $4M Sum Insured
6-unit block requiring $4M cover when online insurers cap at $2M
16-Unit Block, Lake Macquarie
16-unit block in bushfire zone with 5 insurer declines
Albury Block, Portfolio Client
3-unit block consolidated with portfolio management
Bondi Coastal Metro Block
Eastern-suburbs coastal block placed with CGU when portals couldn't price corrosion and short-stay exposure
Western Sydney Dual Block Owner
Two separate-title blocks on one street consolidated onto aligned renewal dates after Hutch and SGUA declined
Coffs Harbour Coastal Regional Block
SMSF-owned coastal NSW block 30% underinsured. Rebuilt submission on current replacement cost and placed with CGU
SEQ Block: Cyclone & Flood Cover
Coastal Queensland block in cyclone and flood zones - placed with CGU on full-sum-insured flood cover and 52-week loss of rent
First-Time Block Owner, Regional NSW
Four landlord policies on a single-title block consolidated into one block policy after a mainstream direct insurer refused to renew
Professional Indemnity
PI cover for professionals and consultants
Medical Centre Group
Multi-location healthcare group with PI cover in 3 days
Petroleum Engineer: Six Declines, International Operations
Petroleum engineering consultancy with 100% international operations declined by six insurers on occupation alone. Placed through a specialist underwriter - the only market willing to quote.
Waterproofing Consultant
Construction consultant who couldn't get cover anywhere
Solo Bookkeeper, New Business
Sole-operator bookkeeper sourced combined PI and PL at around $935, then re-placed at renewal for around $675 as the practice evolved
Bookkeeper & Tax Agent Startup
Budget-conscious startup compared PI quotes across five insurers and multiple limit options
Solo Beauty Therapist with Lash Education Services
Solo owner-operated therapist offering treatments and eyelash extension training on live models. The education component made PI essential. Placed combined PI and PL at ~$575 against quotes up to ~$1,100.
Established Day Spa - PI, PL & Business Pack
Established day spa with 3 insurer declines on occupation. PI quote spread of 240% between lowest and highest. Full programme placed across PI, PL, and Business Pack.
NDIS Occupational Therapist - Dual Occupation Placement
NDIS-registered OT with a 50/50 dual occupation split between occupational therapy and disability care work. Getting the risk description right was key to avoiding underinsurance.
Design Consultancy - Retail & Townhouse Projects
Interior design and architectural consultancy working on retail centres and townhouse developments. QBE and Berkley declined on occupation. Vero placed at roughly half the next cheapest quote.
Early-Stage Residential Practice with Heritage Work
Young sole practitioner launching a residential architecture practice with heritage consultancy. Retroactive cover was the deciding factor across three quoting insurers.
Newly Registered Architect, First Year
Newly registered sole practitioner in their first year of trading. Four insurers quoted for $1M PI. Same-day turnaround from call to confirmation.
Architectural Lighting Design - Three Declines, One Market
Specialist architectural lighting design consultancy. Three insurers declined on occupation. Woodina was the sole market willing to provide terms for this niche. Same-day urgent placement.
Construction Project Manager - Five Insurers, Competitive Placement
Construction project manager placed at $2,050 across five insurers, with two declining on occupation. Renewed at 40% lower premium the following year.
New Project Manager - Navigating Limited Experience
Project manager with one year of experience placed after three of six insurers declined on trading history. Woodina provided terms when others wouldn't.
Legal Researcher PI: Getting the Right Cover in Place
Sole operator legal researcher needed $2M PI to be appropriately covered. 'Legal consultant' occupation created complexity at underwriting. Five insurers quoted with comparable terms. Placed with Chubb at best price.
International Marketing Consultant: Four Declines, Same-Day Placement
Marketing consultant with 40% international revenue from FinTech and eCommerce clients. Four PI insurers declined on jurisdiction. Full programme placed same day through Brooklyn (PI) and Coalition (Cyber).
Sole Trader Draftsperson, New Business
New sole trader civil draftsperson placed after 3 insurer declines. Renewal market comparison revealed a 3.3x price spread across five insurers.
Facade Glazing Engineer: Five Declines, One Market
Queensland facade glazing engineer with 18 years' experience. Five insurers declined or quoted unworkable premiums due to the 'structural' label. One specialist underwriter found.
Fire Protection Consultancy PI: What the Market Covers and What It Doesn't
A NSW fire protection consultancy needed $1M PI for their advisory work. Three insurers declined on occupation. Competitive terms obtained through Woodina.
NATA-Accredited Geotech: 5 Business Pack Declines
NATA-accredited geotechnical firm in Western Sydney. Five out of six insurers declined a basic business pack on occupation alone. Full PI, PL, and business pack suite placed through specialist markets.
Startup Geotech Firm: $5M to $10M PI
Senior geotechnical engineer with 20 years' experience and over 70 completed projects needed to double PI limits to $10M. Multiple declines navigated. Placed at $15K.
Geotech PI for Infrastructure Megaprojects
Victorian geotech consultant on landmark tunnelling and rail projects. PI quote exceeded $100,000 for $5M cover. Megaproject exposure drives pricing, not revenue.
Engineering Geologist: Policy Wording Gaps Exposed
Sole-trader engineering geologist compared three PI wordings. Cheapest excluded pre-purchase reports and building certificates - core weekly services. Only one policy matched the actual scope.
HVAC Mechanical Firm: Dual PI + PL, Six Declines
HVAC and mechanical services firm with dual PI + PL risk. Project management activities required separate PI - six insurers declined on initial placement. Placed through Woodina. Four further declines navigated at renewal. Active multi-renewal client.
Sole Trader Developer: Two Declines, Three Renewals
Senior sole trader software developer declined by two insurers on an aggregator platform. Placed through Woodina and renewed three consecutive times, with a mid-cycle revenue change resolved through direct underwriter contact.
Cross-Border Consultant: GBP Contract Requirements, Additional Insured Endorsement
Sole operator software consultant with cross-border revenue needing PI and PL that met specific contract requirements from a FTSE-listed client. GBP minimum thresholds, additional insured endorsement, and indemnity to principals clause confirmed. Renewed cheaper than aggregator pricing from the same insurer.
Forensic Structural Engineer: Two Declines, Full Suite Placed
A Queensland sole-practice structural engineer combining standard design with forensic and rectification work. Two insurers declined on occupation. PI $5M, PL $20M, and Cyber $1M placed across three specialist markets.
Structural Engineer: Pool Inspections, Four Declines, One Market
WA sole-trader structural and civil engineer needing a higher PI limit at renewal. His own insurer declined. Four further insurers declined on occupation. Best available terms obtained from the only market willing to quote.
Structural Engineer: Increasing PI to $10M, 2.6x Price Spread
NSW structural and civil engineer wanted to increase his PI to $10M to pursue larger project work. His existing insurer couldn't accommodate it. Two workable quotes obtained from specialist underwriters at a 2.6x price spread.
Civil Engineering Consulting PI — 7x Pricing Spread
Gold Coast civil engineering consultancy. Four underwriters quoted identical $2M PI cover — cheapest at $1,500, most expensive at $11,000. The 7x spread explained.
Design & Construct
D&C insurance for builders with design responsibilities
Modular Construction Builder
QLD builder with 93% construction, 7% design work secured PI in 72 hours
HVAC & Fire Safety Engineering
Sydney mechanical services firm after 5 major insurer declines
Solar & Electrical Services
Renewable energy firm viewed as high-risk by standard insurers
Electrical Contractor PI Validation
Market validation confirmed existing cover was already competitive
Public Liability
Liability cover for contractors and high-risk operations
Edge Protection Installer: Nine Markets, One Placement, Renewed
Sole trader installing perimeter rail and edge protection on residential builds. Nine markets approached - most declined on occupation or turnover. $20M PL placed and renewed in year two.
Earthmoving Contractor, Tier 1 Projects
NSW earthmoving contractor secured $20M PL with comprehensive terms after 5+ insurer declines
Life Sciences
Insurance for biomedical, medical device, pharmaceutical, biotech and consumer chemical product businesses
Biomedical R&D Consultant, Implantable Device Experience
A biomedical R&D consultant advising on biocompatibility for implantable medical devices. Combined PI and PL placed through a specialist underwriter after a handful of occupation-based declines.
Scientific & Data Consultancy, Metro Brisbane
A sole-trader scientific and data consultant supporting medical research teams in Australia, the US, Germany and South Africa. PI placed through a specialist market at around $900.
Maternity Therapeutic Device Hire Business
A specialist maternity support business hiring low-voltage therapeutic devices to expectant clients. PL and Product Liability placed after multiple standard insurer declines.
Early-Stage Australian Baby Skincare Brand
A new Australian AICIS-registered baby skincare brand with overseas manufacturing. Product Liability placed through a specialist market after all standard markets declined.
Children's Consumer Products Importer, Metro Sydney
A Sydney importer of children's mealtime goods compliant with Australian mandatory safety standards. $20M Public and Product Liability placed at around $1,200.
Medical & Healthcare
Medical malpractice, medical indemnity and business insurance for healthcare practices, medical centres and allied health professionals
Medical Centre Group, $20M Limits in 3 Days
A healthcare group running three medical centres needed Medical Malpractice PI cover urgently. Lapsed policies, incorrect occupation codes and critical gaps sorted in three days.
Healthcare Company, Bundled PI/Cyber/D&O
A healthcare company managing three separate policies across three insurers. Consolidated into a single PI, Cyber and D&O package at $1,400 total annual premium.
Multi-State Pharmacy Group, Full Programme Review
A large pharmacy group across the eastern seaboard came to us for a second opinion. Full programme placed across medical malpractice, business packs and liability through specialist and major market underwriters.
Commercial Property
Insurance for commercial buildings, retail strips, warehouses, and industrial properties
Flood-Zone Retail & Accommodation Complex, Northern NSW
Multi-tenanted former hotel in a flood-prone area. 10 insurer declines. Placed as ISR at around $80,000 including flood cover.
Multi-Tenanted Industrial Building, Western Sydney
Industrial building with high-risk tenant mix. Only quote was over $44,000. Placed at around $15,000 - saving $29,000.
Commercial Strata with Difficult Tenancy, QLD
Small commercial strata centre where premium and excess tripled due to a difficult tenant. Six underwriters declined.
Vacant Commercial Warehouse, South Melbourne
Vacant warehouse with no active tenants. Seven mainstream insurers declined. Placed through specialist underwriter.
Owner-Occupied Warehouse, Melbourne West
Owner-occupied warehouse in a multi-property portfolio. Multiple declines. Placed at $2,400 vs $9,000+ alternative.
Commercial Strata
Strata insurance for commercial, retail, industrial, and mixed-use buildings
Commercial Shopping Precinct, Five Tenancies
Five-unit shopping centre with 10+ insurer declines. Placed at ~$7K after resolving a difficult tenancy, saving $13K+ against competitor quotes.
Mixed-Use Strata, Six Units
Six-unit mixed strata with a tobacconist and commercial kitchen. Two compounding difficult tenancies. Formal terms secured from a specialist insurer.
Mixed Commercial-Residential Complex, Ten Units
Ten-unit mixed-use complex where the incumbent insurer refused to re-quote. Specialist market pathway pursued for a $3.3M building sum.
Mixed-Use Property
Property insurance for buildings combining residential and commercial tenancies
Heritage Mixed-Use with Hospitality Tenancy
1920s heritage building with cafe and residential tenants. Came to us uninsured after 8 declines.
Mixed-Use with Medical Tenancy
1910s double-brick building with allied health practice and residential units. Non-renewed by previous insurer.
Three-Tenancy Mixed-Use with Boarding House
1910s building with food retail, apartment, and boarding house. 11 insurers declined.
Dual-Occupancy Commercial/Residential
1920s timber/weatherboard building with creative studio and residential. Prior storm claim and 11 declines.
Multi-Level Mixed-Use with Wellness Tenants
Beauty and wellness retail with residential above. Non-renewed. Placed at ~$5,900 vs around $22,500 from another insurer.
Owner-Occupied Heritage Office/Residence
1880s double-brick heritage building used as professional office and residence. Came to us uninsured.
Four-Tenancy Retail and Residential
1990s building with retail shop and 3 residential units. Placed at ~$3,900 vs around $7,000 from another insurer.
Allied Health Mixed-Use, Owner-Occupied
Late 1990s mixed-use with allied health tenancy and owner-occupied residential. 5 major insurer declines. Quotes ranged from ~$4,000 to $9,000+.
Management Liability
ML and D&O cover for directors, officers, and businesses
Travel Scale-Up: 50 Staff, Enhanced EPL Cover
Growing travel business with 50 employees needed comprehensive ML with strong EPL limits to protect against employment-related claims during rapid scaling
Financial Services Firm: Active ML Claim Managed
Financial services firm with an active Management Liability claim needed a broker to manage the claim process while securing renewal terms
International Bank: ML in a Heavily Regulated Sector
International bank operating in Australia needed ML cover reflecting unique APRA and ASIC regulatory exposure
Law Firm: Affordable D&O for a Smaller Practice
Smaller law firm secured standalone D&O cover at $500 annual premium after being quoted only expensive bundled packages
Healthcare Company: Bundled PI, Cyber & D&O
Healthcare company consolidated three separate policies into one bundled PI, Cyber, and D&O package at $1,400 total premium
Insurance Scenarios
Detailed placement walkthroughs showing how we navigated difficult markets for specialist professions.
Facade Engineer Declined by 5 Insurers
How we placed PI cover for a facade engineer after five insurer declines in a hard market.
New Construction Manager - 3 Declines Overcome
First-year construction manager with no claims history placed after three insurer knockbacks.
Geotech PI for Megaprojects
Placing high-limit PI for a geotechnical engineer working on major infrastructure projects.
Struggling to Find Cover?
If you've been declined elsewhere or your current broker says it can't be done, we'd like to hear from you. We specialise in placements others won't touch.