Since CFC joined forces with Solution Underwriting to enter the Australian market, Anita Lane has led the business with a clear focus on underwriting quality and broker partnerships.
Recently named Underwriting Agency of the Year at the 2026 Insurance Business Australia Awards, along with winning the Woman of Distinction Award, Anita reflects on her career to date and the opportunities created by CFC’s growing local presence.
How did your career lead you to CFC in Australia?
Seeing insurance from different sides of the market has been one of the most influential parts of my career, particularly in understanding what brokers need to succeed.
I began my insurance career broking in Melbourne, before moving to London to gain international experience at Lloyd’s and later in underwriting. That time shaped my perspective, giving me a strong appreciation for the pressures brokers face and reinforcing the value of good underwriting, responsiveness and trust.
After returning to Australia, I moved into senior underwriting and leadership roles, including establishing and managing the southern region for a national underwriting agency. That experience gave me the confidence to co-found Solution Underwriting.
Solution was built around strong culture and genuine broker partnerships. From a single binder, it grew into a national underwriting agency with nearly 60 people across multiple locations. When CFC approached us, it felt genuinely different – we were both underwriting agencies at heart, with no product overlap and a culture that was remarkably aligned.
Becoming Managing Director of CFC has allowed me to take what we built at Solution and scale it across our region, while keeping decision making local and relationships central to how we operate. Anita Lane, Managing Director
How does the integration of Solution into CFC make it easier for brokers to support their clients in Australia?
The integration has been about removing friction for brokers. They now have access to more than 30 specialist product lines without needing to navigate multiple markets, different processes or offshore time zones.
What’s critical is that this access is still delivered locally. Brokers are dealing with Australian underwriters, in their own time zone, who understand local risks and can have real conversations when things are urgent or complex. Behind that sits the strength of a global business with specialist expertise, data, technology and product development that wouldn’t have been possible for us as a standalone agency.
We’ve also focused heavily on making it easier to trade day to day, with clearer trading pathways, faster turnaround times and strong digital platforms like Connect and Generate for brokers who want to transact online.
Importantly, this integration has made specialist cover more accessible. SME clients who previously couldn’t access certain products now can, with Australian decision makers supporting those placements locally.
What’s one thing you’d love Australian brokers to understand about CFC?
That we are genuinely investing in Australia for the long term.
We’re continuing to expand local teams, bring more products onshore and design trading pathways specifically for Australian brokers. While we’re part of a global organisation, decisions here are made locally by people who understand the Australian market and the realities brokers face every day.
We don’t see ourselves as just a capacity provider. Our focus is on being a long term partner that’s accessible, consistent and easy to deal with, especially as risks become more complex and specialist cover becomes increasingly important for SME clients. Anita Lane, Managing Director
What are you most excited about this year – for the business, the market or the team?
For me, it always starts with the people. Seeing our team grow, step into leadership opportunities and take on new products is incredibly rewarding, especially when many of them have been part of this journey from the early days.
From a business perspective, I’m excited about the innovation we’re now able to bring into the Australian market. Being part of CFC means Australia doesn’t have to wait for access to emerging risks, new product ideas or data driven underwriting approaches. We can introduce that capability locally in a way that genuinely supports brokers and their clients.
What’s something about you that might surprise people?
People are often surprised by how much I value curiosity over having all the answers. One of my favourite sayings is, “you don’t know what you don’t know,” and I genuinely believe asking good questions is more important than trying to be the smartest person in the room.
Outside of work, I love travelling, going to concerts and staying active, and I’m a big believer in lifelong learning – which is why I completed my MBA later in my career. I’m also very passionate about creating workplaces where people can thrive, not just perform.
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