Born in Manila in the Philippines, Egbert emigrated with his family to New South Wales when he was just 16 and entered the working world with no clear career plan. An amateur boxer, kickboxer, and Brazilian jujitsu practitioner, he had a job in administration at an Australian life insurer when he was transferred suddenly to the Claims department to relieve overstaffing.
“It was a blessing in disguise. I enjoyed working in Claims mainly because of the people I worked with and the culture. The Claims team was very kind and accepting. I was young and inexperienced. They made me feel part of the team.”
That warm welcome and feeling of inclusion would prove decisive, and when a vacancy for a claims assessor opened, he applied and was accepted. That’s when Egbert learned to appreciate the true value of inclusion.
The Claims team was very kind and accepting. I was young and inexperienced. They made me feel part of the team.”
Years later, Egbert is still in Claims, having proven to himself that he was more than up to the challenge. He has accumulated experience in assessment, dispute resolution, and technical claims, and he learned an important lesson along the way.
“An inclusive culture embraces differences in experience, backgrounds, and ways of thinking,” he notes. “Sometimes, in life, we achieve things because there are generous people who choose to help others selflessly and give them opportunities. During my working life, I try to remind myself of how I was helped, and whenever possible, I work to help others to progress in their careers.”
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