Business networking and career development group Young Insurance Professionals (YIPs) will launch a New Zealand branch in July.

The expansion has been planned since the group’s formation, President Sampath Soysa says.

“It recognises the trans-Tasman nature of the insurance industry and the movement of younger insurance professionals between New Zealand and Australia,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

It also acknowledges that insurance transactions flow between the two countries, he says.

YIPs already has an Auckland committee and a sufficiently large Australian base to expand further.

“That base includes a lot of expat New Zealanders such as myself who are living and working in Australia and still have close ties to New Zealand,” Mr Soysa said.

The group hopes to hold its first New Zealand event in Auckland on July 4. This will coincide with a series of events across Australia to mark the new financial year.

YIPs also aims to launch events with certified insurance professional and continuing professional development points, plus new website sections featuring mentoring resources and profiles of women in insurance.

The group is recruiting new members, who can join for free online here.

Members gain early-bird registration for events, discounted tickets and access to YIPs’ full range of online career development resources.