Hot List 2022

Hot List 2022

Driving vital change in insurance

The past year saw a continuing trend towards a hardening market. The controversy surrounding business interruption insurance made news as insurers argued their policies were not designed for pandemics. So far, it appears the arguments are standing up to court scrutiny and insurers will be able to avoid payouts in the billions of dollars.

It was a big year for changes in systems and processes as insurers prepared for October’s raft of reforms. Triggered by the findings of the Financial Services Royal Commission, the new legislation included caps on commissions, regulation of claims handling and hawking prohibitions. The anti-hawking reforms are particularly far-reaching, affecting every business that sells insurance to retail clients.

The later months were notable for the impact of the second La Niña weather event in a row. Although less severe than its predecessor, which caused widespread damage and flooding, it had already been responsible for at least 69,000 property claims by the end of the year.

Unlikely good news came in the form of class actions, with the number falling to 37 last year. A substantial drop from a record 62 in 2020, this result suggests that fears of an explosion following legislative changes in 2006 might have been misplaced.

Spurred on by demands resulting from the pandemic, insurers continued to digitise fundamentals of the insurance process such as distribution, underwriting, pricing and claims functions. The trend towards partnering with insurtech firms also continued to open up new possibilities for collaboration.

Against this background of challenge and opportunity, the 50 Hot Listers in Australia stood out for their commitment to building a fair, sustainable and relevant future for the industry.

Hot List 2022

Aimee Williams
Commercial broking manager,
Austbrokers Coast to Coast


Dale Hansen
CEO and chief broking officer,
Austbrokers Coast to Coast


Sarah Lyons
Chief executive, Gallagher Australia


Shaun Standfield
Managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Insurance Advisernet


Stefan Feldmann
Regional head, ASEAN and Australasia
Managing director, HDI Global SE, Australia


Avi Tatarka
Chief executive officer, Scott Winton Insurance Brokers


Drew Schnehage
Managing director, Innovation Group Australia


Gillian Davidson
Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers 

Adam Ware
Director, BJS Insurance Brokers (Gippsland)
Alishia Oliver
Account manager, Crucial Insurance and Risk Advisors
Amar Roomi
Chief technology officer, Blue Zebra Insurance
Annmaree Bell
Head of strategic and business insights general insurance, Australia and New Zealand
Zurich General Insurance
Anthony Pagano
Head of commercial intermediaries, Vero
Bonni Gordon
Principal, Global Risks
Blair Whittle
Chief executive officer, High Street Underwriting Agency
Brad French
Managing director, SLE
Catherine Carlyon
Country Manager, Australia, AXA XL
Chris Mackinnon
General representative in Australia, Lloyd’s Australia
Damien Coates
Chief executive officer, DUAL Asia-Pacific
David Summers
Managing director, Ausure Horizon Insurance
Elliott Hill
General manager, sales and relationship management, QBE Australia Pacific
Gary Sim
Director, CCM Insurance Group
Gavan Burke
Director, Active Insurance Solutions
Gavin Doherty
Principal, strategic risk, Marsh
Hamish McDonald Nye
Executive director, ProRisk
Jane Smith
Head of energy and power, Pacific, Marsh
Jennifer Richards
Chief executive officer, Aon Australia
Julie Mitchell
Chief general manager, personal injury, Allianz Australia
Kurt Nilsen
Chairman, Underwriting Agencies Council
Lisa Carter
Managing director, Clear Insurance
Lyle Steffensen
Practices leader Pacific, Marsh Care Solutions at Marsh Australia
Mark Cohen
Divisional CEO, Wilbur
Melanie Slack
Chief executive officer, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Australia and New Zealand
Naby Mariyam
Founder and CEO, Coverhero
Nick Hawkins
CEO, IAG
Nigel Fitzgerald
CEO, Australia, AIG
Peter Kelaher
Country president, Australia and New Zealand, Chubb Insurance Australia
Prue Willsford
Chief executive officer, Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance
Richard Enthoven
Founder and CEO, Hollard Insurance
Rhys Mills
Managing director, Solution Underwriting Agency
Robert Kelly
Managing director and CEO, Steadfast Group
Steve Johnston
Group CEO and managing director, Suncorp Group
Sue Houghton
CEO, Australia Pacific, QBE Insurance Group
Tim Scott-Young
Chief claims officer, Zurich Financial Services Australia
Tony Clark
Chief executive officer, NTI
Tony Dodd
Chief executive officer, GT Insurance
Troy Filipcevic
CEO and founder, Emergence Insurance
Wayne Tower
Chief executive, IQumulate Premium Funding
William Legge
General manager, Underwriting Agencies Council