A new niche brokerage focused on Indigenous clients will launch this week to coincide with NAIDOC Week.
First Peoples Insurance, an Austbrokers Comsure authorised representative, was founded by Biripi man Stuart White, who established the brokerage to service Indigenous-controlled organisations and businesses.
Wholly Indigenous-owned and operated, the brokerage would provide solutions for Traditional Owner and Indigenous community organisations and businesses.
Mr White said recent discussions and collaboration with various business executives on their respective Reconciliation Action Plans identified a lack of trust among Indigenous people about insurance.
"They don't understand it and mob prefer to buy from mob," he said.
Mr White said First Peoples Insurance would aim to also provide training and jobs for Indigenous people, few of whom were employed in the finance sector.
He cited international brokerages with established insurance services for native Americans and indigenous Canadians as a motive to launch the First Nations service.
As a registered entity with Supply Nation, the brokerage can partner corporate clients to meet compliance requirements for social procurement, and also reach RAP and environmental, social and governance targets.
Mr White began his corporate career in Melbourne and Brisbane after leaving school at aged 15 to work in a timber yard.
His corporate sales experience spans more than 20 years, most recently as a retail leasing executive at the Queensland Investment Corporation.
Additional training and back-end support for First Peoples Insurance would be provided by Brisbane-based Austbrokers Comsure.
Managing director Ian Garbutt said the company jumped at the chance to partner Mr White's brokerage.
"AB Comsure prides itself on promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace and supporting the communities in which we work and live," he said.
"The opportunity to support Stuart in creating a business that focuses on the Indigenous community is a natural progression."
He is currently enrolled in a master of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Queensland.
Mr White hopes to emulate the success of international brokerages with an Indigenous focus. (Image: Supplied)