Rene Swindley
CO-Founder & director
Rene is a pioneer in the New Zealand insurance industry. From a young age he has led change in the sector including New Zealand’s first fee-for-service full disclosure commercial insurance brokerage, and New Zealand’s first on-demand, online house insurance tech platform. Rene is vocal about the importance of technology and automation for the benefit of the customer.
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Management from the University of Waikato, Rene is well versed in the technical aspects of financial risk and insurance.
Rene has always maintained that technology can significantly improve the insurance experience for clients. Rene is the co-founder of Initio, an InsureTech that provides digital, on-demand access to residential insurance, including real time underwriting, live policy management and smart claims. The process automation success of the Initio technology has been such that a number of insurance broking firms (including Frank) utilise the platform for benefit of their clients. Major insurer NZI (IAG NZ) has recognised the value in a digital approach for personal insurance and has invested in Initio to deliver a compelling digital experience for all brokers and their clients.
Rene also lead out New Zealand’s first digitally distributed, on-demand cyber and management liability insurance site, Frankie.
In his spare time, Rene plays representative golf and has numerous community interests. He was a founding trustee of the Kaitiakitanga Trust; a charity that provides youth with the skills to pursue ecological endeavours.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Laws (specialisation; commercial law, insurance law) - 2009 - University of Waikato
Bachelor of Management (Major; accounting) - 2009 - University of Waikato
Awards
Australia and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) - Finalist Innovation of the year (2019) - Initio
Winner Young Insurance Professional of the Year (2018) - Rene Swindley. Learn more
ANZIIF Finalist Underwriting Agency of the Year (2018) - Initio
ANZIIF Winner Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year (2017) - Frank Risk
ANZIIF Winner Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year (2016) - Frank Risk
Speaking engagements
Address to the Insurance Council of New Zealand annual conference 2019 - Meeting the expectations of tomorrows insurance buyer
General Practice Conference & Medical Exhibition 2018 - Cyber risk management in the medical sector
ANZIIF Insurance Conference NZ 2017 - how insurance needs to change - technology lead insurance
Various client conferences and expert panels 2014-2024 on topic of risk management, technology in insurance, and process
automation.
