Top left: The Zambetti family enjoy a winter holiday in St Moritz, Switzerland. Bottom left: The Zambettis in the lake district outside Milan in northern Italy. Centre: The fruits of Nick’s garden, mega-lemons. Top right: Nick embodies la dolce vita at Lake Garda, northern Italy. Bottom right: Nick and Alexander enjoy a short black and Baileys on a ski run in Corvara in the Italian Alps.

Seasoned traveller savours affogato

Resolve profiles Nicholas Zambetti, AILA’s NSW President and Chair of the AILA 2021 National Conference in Sydney.

How long have you been an AILA member?

Longer than I can remember … perhaps 20 years?

Why did you join?

To be part of the insurance law fraternity – to stay up to date with news, laws, developments and for networking with other members.

What does AILA mean to you?

It’s a true medium for quality education on insurance law topics and the best, most conducive vehicle for networking with other members from the insurance industry and service providers to the industry, including lawyers.

What is your current job?

I am the Senior Claims Executive at General Reinsurance Australia.

Some background on your career path:

I studied arts (Italian and French) and law and graduated in both, then took the College of Law course.

I was working in a private legal practice (while finishing my legal course) and considered a career move to a larger firm. Instead I was offered and accepted a role in an insurance company that was recruiting solicitors to handle large professional indemnity claims. That move, which I was initially uncertain about, shaped the rest of my career as I never returned to private practice.

Why insurance?

I fell into insurance but it has been a great career move. How did I then get into reinsurance? Always treat others well, and good will come back in some way. A call from a then-client saw me join Gen Re 19 years ago.

What do you do in your spare time?

I am a keen gardener with a highly manicured, formal garden which is time consuming but satisfying. It is my oasis where I enjoy a drink and entertain friends, which my wife, Nadia, and I do regularly. We are self-proclaimed foodies and enjoy cooking both inside and outside. We have three specialised BBQs and a pizza oven – the tools of our trade.

I also enjoy my tandem, self-propelled kayak, fishing when I’m on holiday, and dancing to hip tunes and Latin music. Many will be aware that I don’t shy away from the dancefloor.

What sports do you enjoy watching and/or playing?

I played tennis weekly for about 20 years and squash occasionally, but not since my tennis group broke up many years ago. I enjoy watching tennis and go to the Australian Open when I can. There is nothing quite like live tennis.

I played “real football” in an over-35 team for several years but decided the risk of injury was one best averted, so my head ruled over my heart and I gave it away about eight years ago. My nickname was “the butcher” and I played in defence. Don’t know why as I never received a yellow or a red card, but the opposition knew I was there. Their forwards were light and fast and I was a brick wall.

And I’m an avid skier, especially in the Italian Alps.

What's your favourite holiday destination? Why?

Wow, where do I start? We thoroughly enjoy overseas travel, so it’s been problematic during Covid-19. 

We have travelled in Asia and particularly like Thailand’s holiday areas, such as Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui and the Islands. The food and the people are wonderful and the beaches are clean.

But Italy really stands out. Being a fluent speaker and of Italian heritage helps, but it’s the sense of life, la dolce vita, which, despite being born in Australia, is instilled in my DNA. In Italy, you live life, you don’t let life live you. You can meet a stranger in a café and within 15 minutes you feel you’ve known them all your life.

Spain is also beautiful, and the food and people are wonderful – they are even more relaxed than Italians – who cares if you have dinner at 10pm señor?

Describe your family members:

Nadia is an amazingly good (and quick) cook and the reason we are so picky with restaurants. She is very artistic and our art-filled home attests to that. She is a high school teacher and, while her subjects include Italian (as a native speaker), design & technology, and art, her passion is art. That has led to her marking the HSC for the Board of Studies as well. I never need assistance in a gallery, I have my own curator.

My daughter Sabrina is a successful architect working in the commercial space and like mother, like daughter, she has an artistic streak, having created several amazing works some of which adorn our home. Our son Alexander is a mechatronic engineer (AI, robotics and automation). He is passionate about his field, a big picture thinker, and wants to change the world.  

Any pets?

A purebred whippet called Tigger. He’s cheeky, agile, and a socialite – he’d rather mingle with the crowd than eat.

Who do you admire most and why?

I admire those with true talent rather than those for whom the appearance of talent has been an inconvenient obstacle. Whether it’s a sportsman (like Federa), an opera singer (Pavarotti) or an artist (Monet), these are the people I admire.

What would you never give up?

Gourmet food. I love fine food, especially seafood, too much.

What are your favourite books/movies?

I read so much during the day that I prefer person-to-person interaction in my spare time – catching up with or entertaining friends. I enjoy good action and sci-fi films and  am a night owl.

Scariest moment?

Being swept away in a rip on an idyllic, calm beach in Thailand – who would have thought?

My favourite dessert?

It’s a dessert you have when you don’t really want dessert, an affogato, a delicious infusion of short black over vanilla ice cream, adulterated by an obligatory frangelico shot. It’s the embodiment of la dolce vita.