Who we are

We support Australians to make informed choices about their future and help them live in a healthy, confident and secure way over their lifetime.

Our members’ products and services give people peace of mind when making important decisions and provide a financial safety net during life’s biggest challenges.

We advocate for national policy settings that expand Australians’ access to the life insurance protection that suits them when they need it most.

Our mission

Our mission is to ensure Australians view life insurance and the industry as accessible, understandable and trusted.

We do this by supporting our members to deliver the protection and certainty Australians need on their best and worst days.

We do this as the leading voice of life insurance in Australia.

Our team

Christine Cupitt, CEOChristine Cupitt is a widely respected and credible leader with a passion for ensuring fair, high-quality outcomes for consumers across the financial services sector. She is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Australian Life Insurers and has 20 years’ experience working in legal, strategic and public policy roles.

Christine is the former Chief of Policy and Strategy at the Australian Banking Association (ABA) where she led the industry’s response and submissions to the banking Royal Commission. She was instrumental in subsequent changes to the Banking Code of Practice and provided considered industry guidance that helped shape the banking sector of today. She also led the banking industry’s policy response and regulatory program for COVID 19 as well as the development of the ABA’s climate change and net zero transition program.

Christine is a co-founder of the debt relief charity, Way Forward Debt Solutions, and a Vincent Fairfax Fellow.

Keely O’Brien, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and StrategyKeely is an experienced leader who has spent 15+ years working to build and nurture successful teams across the corporate affairs, government and media sectors. As a former senior adviser to the Prime Minister and several ASX200 CEOs, she has deep experience advising C-suite executives and Cabinet Ministers on reputation, policy, media, marketing and public relations, as well as stakeholder and employee engagement.

She brings deep relationships and connections across the political, media, banking and financial services sectors. Known for her creativity and authentic communications style, Keely prides herself on delivering integrated communications, government relations and strategy campaigns that win hearts and minds.

Marija Zivic, Director of Communications and ResearchMarija is a seasoned media and communications specialist, experienced in using an evidence-based approach through research to develop impactful messaging and campaigns. Over the past 15 years, she has excelled in high performance teams as a former political correspondent at SBS and Channel Seven in Canberra, and more recently as a Senior Communications Consultant assisting top tier private and public sector clients.

Marija specialises in training executives and their teams to better connect with their audience through storytelling that inspires and lands with maximum impact. She has a finely tuned political nous, an impressive list of connections and believes in making messaging clear and understandable no matter how complex the topic.

Michael Johnston, Director of Policy and AdvocacyMichael is a senior financial services leader with more than 20 years' experience in public policy, government relations and industry affairs. He has held senior roles in the banking sector and economic portfolios in the Federal Government. He has worked closely on a wide range of regulatory issues affecting the financial services sector and led the corporate affairs strategy for Westpac’s response to the Financial Services Royal Commission.

With deep networks across Australia’s political and financial services policy landscape, Michael is known for his clear judgement and ability to put the customer at the centre of policy making.

Raluca Plohberger, Team CoordinatorRaluca is a well-rounded project and business management professional. She is passionate about stakeholder relationship management, leadership, change management, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging advocacy.

She has a strong background within both government agencies and industry associations following her previous roles with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Engineers Australia and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Richard Beamish, Company SecretaryRichard is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Governance Institute of Australia. He has worked as a Chief Financial Officer and Financial Controller in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, legal practices and the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, Richard spent nearly a decade working as the Financial Controller at the Insurance Council of Australia.

Our shared purpose

Our shared purpose across all CALI members is to help Australians and their families have peace of mind about their future so they can live in the most healthy, confident and secure way.