Biography

Mercia-Anne van der Walt is a dedicated insurance professional with nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry. She currently serves as a Regional Director of the Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA), where she oversees the Northern Region, comprising the Jacaranda, Platinum, Limpopo, Cosmos, Lowveld, and Highveld Branches. She also serves on the FIA Non-Life Executive Committee, where she works closely with a passionate team of colleagues to support and represent intermediaries across South Africa. Her professional journey is rooted in her work at WICO Insurance Brokers, a multidisciplinary brokerage serving clients nationwide. WICO is built on the values of personal relationships, long-term trust, and practical advice — values that Mercia-Anne brings into every aspect of her leadership and advisory work. Through her dual roles at WICO and the FIA, Mercia-Anne has developed a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities faced by intermediaries in a fast-changing regulatory environment. She is passionate about building a stronger, more connected intermediary community — one that can adapt, collaborate, and continue to serve clients with care, professionalism, and integrity. Her leadership style is collaborative and people-focused, underpinned by a belief in mentorship, active listening, and leading by example. Mercia-Anne believes the true strength of the FIA lies in its members, and she remains grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the association’s mission. Whether it’s shaping policy, supporting branch development, or simply being available to fellow members, she approaches each responsibility with humility, purpose, and deep respect for the critical role intermediaries play in the lives of South Africans.