Honesty, Integrity, Understanding and Service
Get in Touch
Let us know if you have any general enquiries or comments. We'll get back to you quickly.
Honesty, Integrity, Understanding and Service
Managing Director
T: 02 8052 3997
Ag Guard was founded in 2013 by Alex Cohn who has been involved in the agricultural finance and insurance markets since 2000. Alex’s affinity with agriculture started with his degree in Agricultural Business at Gatton College. He has since lived in numerous country towns and appreciates the day-to-day challenges facing the agricultural community.
After cofounding one of the largest insurance underwriting agencies in 2006, Rural Affinity, Alex saw through his exposure to the insurance broking market, an opportunity to deliver rural insurance products via smarter and more efficient technology platforms and in 2019 he partnered with Ben Ko and private equity partners BP Marsh to convert Ag Guard from a brokerage into a specialised underwriting agency vehicle. In 2021 Ag Guard signed a long term partnership with Elders Insurance and QBE and is proud to be working with 2 of the leading providers of agricultural insurance in Australia.
Other than the responsibility for the overall business, Alex manages our relationship with QBE and Elders Insurance and heads up the crop and farm underwriting teams.
Director - Finance & Operations
T: 02 8052 3997
Ben is a qualified Actuary with an MBA from MGSM and has actuarial pricing experience at IAG, Allianz and Suncorp across a range of GI products.
He has also provided consulting services for analytics (data science), finance, strategy and marketing in aviation, e-commerce and technology companies.
In addition to actuarial services to Ag Guard, Ben supports operation and finance functions.
Non-Executive Director
Dan Topping is the Senior Executive with overall responsibility for the portfolio and investment strategy for B.P. Marsh, working alongside the Board and the Investment Directors to find, structure, develop, support and monitor the portfolio.
Dan was appointed as a Director in 2011 having joined B.P. Marsh in February 2007, following two years at an independent London accountancy practice. In January 2016 Dan was appointed Chief Investment Officer of B.P. Marsh.
Dan graduated from the University of Durham in 2005 and is member of the Securities and Investment Institute and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
Rural Underwriting Manager
T: 02 8052 3997
Nigel has a family farming background in southern NSW. With 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, broking for 11 years and 9 years as a Business Development Manager providing farm insurance.
Nigel will be responsible for underwriting all products.
Crop claims & Operations Manager
T: 02 8052 3997 F: 02 8088 3879
Ingrid graduated in 1997 from University of Sydney with an agricultural economics degree. Ingrid has a very strong understanding of both agriculture and insurance and she is well regarded in the agricultural insurance industry.
Ingrid manages claims and operations while continuing to ensure that Ag Guard’s reputation for service and quality is second to none.
Crop Claims Officer
T: 02 8052 3997
Richard has an associate diploma in farm business management and a diploma of financial services (insurance broking). He has been involved in the insurance industry for the last 15 years as a broker and handling insurance claims.
Richard works with Ingrid in managing claims.
Product Analyst
T: 02 8052 3997
Pia grew up on a sheep and cattle property west of Goulburn. Graduating from the University of Sydney in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science and Double Major in Food Science and Agricultural Economics. She has worked in the Agricultural industry throughout her degree, completing an agricultural research internship and working in the input finance space. For the last two years Pia has worked in asset backed finance specifically for grain and cotton.
Pia works closely with all members of the team to provide systems, underwriting and administration support across our entire product range.
Technical & Underwriting Officer
T: 02 8052 3997
Originally from Sydney, Rhiannon has a family back ground in Dairy farming based in Palmerston North, New Zealand where she has been based for the last 10 years. Rhiannon has been involved in many different aspects of the Agribusiness sector from Agri sales to Insurance. She has been selling, providing risk advice and underwriting farm insurance to farmers for the last 5 years across New Zealand before deciding to relocate home to Sydney.
Rhiannon is involved in the technical management and underwriting of the Farmstyle Insurance product.
Assistant Accountant
T: 02 8052 3997
e.rojek-prochon@agguard.com.au
Ewelina did her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in Europe and after relocating to Sydney in 2016 she completed her Master’s degree in Professional Accounting. She has more than 10 years of experience in banking, investment insurance and finance. She is keen to utilise her Agriculture background and experience in Australian farming industry.
Ewelina assists with financial management including budgeting and management accounting.
Administration Officer - Underwriting and Claims
T: 02 8052 3997
Angela began her Insurance career in 1985 as one of the first intakes for Suncorp when they acquired SGIO. Originally placed in the claims department, she has gone on to specialise in this area.
Angela has a strong administration and sales background and is also a JP (Qual) and civil celebrant.
She has hobby farm and fully understand the unique challenges and benefits that are associated with this lifestyle choice.
Rural Underwriting Officer
T: 02 8052 3997
Tamara has been in the Insurance Industry for 30 years. Insurance Broking for most of her Career in Echuca and Melbourne. She has a Diploma in Insurance Broking and has specialised in all classes of Insurance, Including Industrial, Commercial, Rural and Domestic Products.
Tamara is involved in the underwriting of the Farmstyle Insurance Product.
Let us know if you have any general enquiries or comments. We'll get back to you quickly.