Forging a new path: A 21-year career journey

In recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we’re celebrating the remarkable women across our company whose journeys show resilience, reinvention, and the courage to build new futures. Catch up on a story we've already shared this week - Cevriye's career journey. 

Today, we share the remarkable 21‑year journey of Mel Moran, Compliance Counsel at Intact Insurance. Mel started her career in claims and went on to qualify as a solicitor, all with the support and encouragement of people across Intact Insurance.

Starting out in insurance

“I have been at Intact Insurance for almost 21 years. I think for me, like many people, I kind of fell into insurance rather than planned it. I had completed my law degree and done my LPC with the intention of becoming a solicitor, but then I struggled to find a training contract which would enable me to finish my qualification. I needed a job and when I saw the roles advertised for Intact Insurance, I thought it would give me an opportunity to gain some experience working in the corporate world and use some of the skills that I had learned through my studies. I was offered a role in the third party claims team in motor and the rest, I guess, is history!”

The people and opportunities that made Intact Insurance feel like home

“I think everyone who is asked a similar question would say the same. It is definitely the people that keeps you at the company and I am no different. 

"Throughout my career journey, there have been countless people who have supported me on my way. I have done many different roles and everyone I have worked with has played a part in some way throughout my career. I genuinely don’t think I would be where I am if it wasn’t for three people though. Elaine Clough, who was the first person to really encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and try something different. Julie Butler, who gave me that opportunity to try that something different. And Kurt Rowe, who for the last four years has seen what I am capable of achieving and really encouraged me to do just that.

"From an opportunity perspective, it was just about keeping an open mind and being willing to try something that might push you out of your comfort zone, not 'shoe-horning' myself into a specific career path and willing to take a sideways move before progressing upwards.”

A career timeline: From claims to becoming a solicitor

• 2005: "Started in third party motor claims"

• 2006: "I applied for a job in personal injury claims. I wasn’t successful but I learnt that agreeing to an interview three days after you get married is not perhaps a good idea, I should have said no!"

• 2007: "I moved into our internal fraud department investigating first party motor claims, and then to third party motor claims"
• 2015: "Joined Elaine Clough’s technical quality team - this was the first time I took a role that was not actual claims handling, although I was reviewing claims. I also had Elaine as a leader who saw my potential as a leader
• 2016: "Moved to home claims as a team leader – I had always been a handler and never considered a leadership role over a technical role. Julie took a chance and offered me a secondment. I absolutely loved my time in home claims, so many great memories and so many amazing people. I learnt a lot about myself in this role and my capabilities of manging people."
• 2021: "I decided that I didn’t want to look back and only have worked in an operations role, so I applied for a job in the incident management team. I was successful and the team were great. But I quickly realised that this role wasn’t for me. I was very dubious about applying for anything else so soon after joining the team but my current leader was very supportive that it was the right thing to do."
• 2021: "Successfully applied for a role in the data protection team as a data protection manager. The role would allow me to get back to the legal aspect of my studies, much more than I ever thought. Knowing my background, Kurt suggested that I might be able to qualify as a legal executive. After some research, I found out that my law degree and LPC would still count towards my qualification and I would be able to qualify."
• 2024: "Qualified as a legal executive – I could actually practice law! 20 years after I had intended but I got there!"
• 2025: "I was able to complete my professional skills course and apply for application into the solicitor’s regulation authority. I received my admission in June 2025 as a fully qualified practicing solicitor, and I was promoted to Compliance Counsel."

"Intact Insurance have supported me throughout my journey, both allowing time for studies but also from a financial perspective too. It has been so rewarding to complete such an important qualification at a company that I have loved working for over the last 20 years.”

Overcoming challenges when moving into the legal profession

“I think the biggest thing was realising how much we do as a company. In my little claims bubble, I just didn’t realise what different departments were out there, the roles in the company and all the different products we actually insure. It has definitely been an eye-opener and every day is a learning day. Having to help support the business on projects that you never actually knew existed was tricky.

"Imposter syndrome was a thing. I felt like all of a sudden I was expected to know everything and put myself under too much pressure to be perfect. I have learnt that people are more than happy for me to say let me take that away and think about it or do some research before I give an answer - no one expects me to have the answer straight away.”

Advice for anyone aspiring to make a similar transition

“Never give up on your aspirations, you might not take the 'normal' route but it is never too late. I would also say, don’t be afraid to go sideways to gain skills and experience that will eventually help you get that promotion or progression. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, lots of them!”

Giving back: Supporting others on their journey

“I am currently supporting a colleague who is following a similar path and helping them with their progress and portfolio as much as I can. I also think stories like this and sharing peoples career journeys can really help showcase what is possible to achieve, and how supportive Intact Insurance is."