Midweek Interview with Craig Morrison

We chat to the CEO of Southern Cross Travel Insurance.

The challenge for the industry is… to educate travellers that a cheap travel insurance policy may not cover you; go for a comprehensive policy at a reasonable price, without paying middlemen a commission for which they have not added any value

The things I like about my job… the great staff at SCTI. I work with some of the most dedicated and motivated people who make it a pleasure to come to work every day. Equally, it’s very satisfying to help someone who’s had a terrible event happen to them while overseas.

And the frustrations are… complaints from people who don’t understand why we need to see proof of purchase and proof of ownership on property claims.

If everyone was 100% trustworthy, we wouldn’t need a policy wording! Property claims are the biggest area of fraud, so we need to ask everyone a similar set of questions. We’re not questioning your personal integrity!

If I didn’t work in travel I would be… sailing around the world!

Favourite airline? Singapore Airlines, by far. Spectacular, especially on long haul to Europe.

My proudest moment was… winning the ‘Best Places to Work’ top award in 2008.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was… you can imagine that, like most people, I’ve done some things I’m not proud of in hindsight…

I try to relax by… going sailing…cruising… get the sails up, the motor off, and grab a cold brewski!

The last time I feared for my life was… when I was caught in a cyclone while at anchor in a bay, with my three kids on board!

If I can, I always try to avoid… being defensive. Listen to the feedback. Take time to reflect. We’re wired to defend…so I work hard to resist that temptation. I try and understand first.

I really wish I had… hmmmm, I’m very grateful for what I do have. I don’t want for much.

The best advice I’ve ever received was… enjoy the passing of time. We’re lucky to be here on this planet; try and treat every day as a gift. It’s hard to do when things are going bad, but keeping perspective is important. Time heals most wounds.

I don’t understand why people… are getting so much more intolerant these days. Have you ever seen anyone ‘win’ a road rage argument? Why do people care so much about what other people are doing?

My greatest weakness is… pumpkin pie, covered with whipped cream. This is a Halloween Jack O Lantern pumpkin, of course!

And my greatest strength is… my passion. Generally speaking, I don’t know how to do things half way, and pretty much go all in most of the time.

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would… fund my kids’ university and their retirement funds.

If I was prime minister I would… work hard to compromise with the other side, to admit it when I made a mistake, to show some humility, and be very tolerant of different ways of life.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be… an astronomer and have a clear night on one of the world’s best telescopes.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… Micronesia, and go scuba diving on WWII relics.

My favourite holiday was… with my kids in the USA at the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Yosemite National Parks.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Agent Zone midweek interview Southern Cross Travel Insurance