A new insurance broker academy in Auckland’s North Harbour could not have come at a better time says one of Australia’s top stockbrokers, Li Cunxin (pronounced “Lee Schwin Sing”) at the official opening in Auckland’s North Harbour today.

“This academy has been founded at a time a lot of professionals particularly in the investment, mortgage broking, banking or accounting industries really need it. It provides a fresh set of options and could open new doors for those who may have found themselves surplus to requirements, or need greater security or better prospects in today’s uncertain market.”

He said there was a real need for industry to rally to support skilled but displaced or vulnerable people in their ranks who needed to upskill or retrain. Companies also needed to encourage the pursuit of higher standards in the current recession, he said.

Li Cunxin has been invited to speak to some of the most successful companies and influential business, presidential and national leaders of our times, and impressed a largely business audience at the Brokers’ Independent Group (BIG) networking breakfast at the Ellerslie Convention Centre this morning. Li Cunxin extracted himself from poverty, became a world acclaimed ballet dancer then retrained himself as a stockbroker so he has some experience in retraining to invest in himself.

His autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer, immediately hit the top of the Australia bestsellers list and is now in its 45th printing, having been published and sold in over 20 countries. There is a feature film in the pipeline.

As the economy continues to contract, Brokers’ Independent Group (BIG) CEO Kevin Smee says they have brought Li Cunxin to New Zealand to open the new academy and address their networking breakfast as part of a long-term plan to inspire and educate the industry.

The Broker Academy offers three programmes: an intensive six-week full-time programme for those new to the industry, a part-time cross-selling programme for five weeks for those with an industry background and a part-time evening programme that runs for three months that caters for those who want to retrain at night so they can keep their day jobs.

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About Brokers’ Independent Group (BIG)

BIG is a newly founded industry group set up by independent brokers for independent brokers (and like-minded industries – like accountants and lawyers), with the aim of working together for the benefit of clients, mutual prosperity and the success of the insurance industry in New Zealand.

Its two key aims are to support independent brokers through the sharing of knowledge in training, case studies and industry updates and in terms of the general public, ensure the insured get paid at claims time.

BIG has a world-class recruitment and training programme of inspiration and information lined up for brokers and businesses including major events with International speakers, national road-shows, 2-day knowledge boosters and online video link seminars.