KeyNotes – Quarter 1 2026
April 10, 2026
Celebrating our People
Keystone was thrilled to announce expanded roles and updated titles for many of our valued team members this quarter. These updated titles are an acknowledgement of the dedication our team has to the lines they know best.
Kelly Ross-Howard – Head of Life Science and Allied Health
Felicity Sheppard – Head of Specie
Ben Gray – Head of Financial Institutions and Management Liability
Jessica Kettle – Head of Professional Indemnity
Jon Willmott – Head of General Liability
John King – Head of Keystone Specialty (more on Keystone Specialty below)
Congratulations to all on the well-deserved recognition!
Keystone was excited to launch Keystone Specialty in May. This is a dedicated team focused on helping brokers navigate complex risks.
Keystone Specialty is built around specialist expertise and strong global market relationships and provides solutions across multiple product lines. The insurance marketplace is becoming an increasing challenge for complex placements, and Keystone Specialty’s focus is simple: help brokers unlock solutions and deliver confidence to their clients.
This team brings together:
John King — Director, Head of Keystone Specialty
Ben Gray — Head of Financial Institutions and Management Liability
Georgia Brown — Specialty Underwriting Assistant
Welcome Hayden
Keystone welcomed Hayden Finney as an Administration Assistant in May. Bringing talented people into the business remains a key priority as we continue to grow. Hayden supports our teams across a range of administrative functions, helping us continue to deliver efficient and responsive service to our broker partners. We’re delighted to have Hayden join the Keystone family and look forward to the journey ahead.
Events and Expos
UAC 2026 Market Exchange in Canberra
Ben Gray had a fantastic time representing Keystone at the Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) 2026 Market Exchange in Canberra. He took full advantage of the opportunity to connect with peers from across the industry, strengthen relationships, and soak up the forward-thinking energy for which the event is known.
Brisbane Team attends the CQiB Young Professional Social
Keystone’s Brisbane team, Jessica Kettle, Susann Rosenthal, and Mandy Manson, had an incredible time at the Council of Queensland Insurance Brokers Inc. (CQiB) Young Professionals Social. It was a great way to connect, chat all things insurance, and put some faces to names. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with the team, it was wonderful to connect, and chat about broker needs and what Keystone can offer. We are proud to have sponsored such a fantastic event and we look forward to the next one.
Melbourne for the UAC 2026 Melbourne Market Exchange
Our Melbourne team thoroughly enjoyed their time at the UAC 2026 Melbourne Market Exchange, taking full advantage of the chance to network with industry peers, deepen current relationships, and build some great new connections. The event was a very worthwhile experience, delivering fresh market perspectives and no shortage of engaging discussions with some of the industry’s sharpest minds. It served as a timely reminder of just how valuable face-to-face catch-ups can be, and the team came away feeling motivated and energised. Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to say hello, it was great catching up with so many familiar faces.
Culture and Community
International Burger Day
From Melbourne to Brisbane, the Keystone team celebrated National Burger Day for the second year running (and in true Keystone style!). We had simple classics to fully loaded favourites to make the day a straightforward celebration of delicious food across both offices. There was no shortage of friendly debate over whose burger choice reigned supreme, with plenty of laughs shared along the way. It’s these small moments that go a long way in bringing the team together, no matter which office you’re in.
International Take Your Dog to Work Day
Move over humans, for one day, the office belonged to the dogs. Keystone celebrated International Take Your Dog to Work Day, and while we couldn’t have the full cast of four-legged friends present, the team took the time to show appreciation for all the pups that have come in to shadow their owners!
End of Financial Year
It’s been a big push at Keystone as the team worked hard through End of Financial Year to support our broker partners, and it certainly showed. Everyone pulled together to make sure brokers had what they needed when it mattered most. The team wound down with an evening of pizza and a quiz night to celebrate a job well done, because nothing says “well earned break” quite like trivia and a few slices. A great way to close out EOFY, and an even better reminder of what a good team effort looks like.
