KEYNOTE SPEAKER - The Honourable Helen Bowskill

The Honourable Helen Bowskill was sworn in as Chief Justice of Queensland on 22 March 2022, having served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 10 July 2017, and as the Senior Judge Administrator of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 24 August 2021. Her Honour previously served as a Judge of the District Court of Queensland from 10 November 2014, in that capacity also sitting as a Judge of the Children’s Court of Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court.

Her Honour holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the Queensland University of Technology and was awarded the University Medal in 1995. In 2022, her Honour was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University by the Queensland University of Technology.

Her Honour served as the Associate to the Honourable Justice Drummond of the Federal Court of Australia in 1996 and completed articles of clerkship with Minter Ellison in 1997. Her Honour was admitted as a solicitor in January 1998, and as a barrister in July 1998. She commenced practice at the private Bar in Brisbane in July 1998. Her Honour took silk in November 2013. As a barrister, she practised widely in public, administrative and commercial law areas, with a particular focus on native title law.

Her Honour is a member and current Chair of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.

Nicole Carey
National Head of New Product Development & Senior Underwriter, Berkley Insurance Australia

Nicole has a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Juris Doctor and a Diploma of Financial Services.

She is the National Head of New Product Development and a Senior Financial Lines Underwriter in the Brisbane team at Berkley Insurance Australia.

Nicole has over 20 years’ experience in the industry with a particular focus on Life Sciences and Financial Lines Products (professional indemnity, directors’ & officers’ liability and management liability insurance policies). Nicole has 15 years’ experience working for large international insurance brokers which provides her with a unique understanding of the pressures faced by brokers on a daily basis.

Nicole enjoys working with brokers and her Berkley colleagues to create solutions for their clients.

Selous Nyakunu
Senior Casualty Underwriter, Chubb

Selous Nyakunu’s passion and drive to deliver results have put him on the path to leadership. As a Senior Casualty Underwriter with Chubb, he utilises his relationship building experience to work with key mid-mart brokers. Selous specialises in consumer and commercial lines of Insurance.

Kylie MacFarlane
Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Council of Australia

Kylie MacFarlane has extensive executive and Board experience across Wealth Management, Banking and the not-for-profit sector has fostered awareness of leadership and director responsibilities, governance challenges and risks associated with changing market conditions, regulatory reform and stakeholder expectations. This is underpinned by deep knowledge of the financial services industry and the strategic drivers, structural disruption, regulatory reform and consumer psychology that is driving change.

Ben McKinnie
Account Director, BMS Group

Ben is a Client Manager within Queensland's Global Division and services a portfolio of ASX and foreign-listed clients. He returned to Australia in 2018 after serving three years with the Aon Global Client Network based in Chicago.

Daily responsibilities include design & execution of complex international insurance programs and general account handling. Ben's experience is in global & fronted programs, captive managed programs and listed organisations, both ASX200 and small cap.

Daniel Sirone
Executive General Manager, Sedgwick

Daniel is a growth-focused professional with extensive experience in utilising broad knowledge and management skills to lead end-to-end global operations while maintaining high levels of quality and efficiency.

Throughout his career, Daniel has developed a stellar track record of success in determining client needs, expediting internal processes, and allocating available staff resources to improve operational productivity. His expertise spans several core areas, including operations management, strategic planning and execution, people and customer engagement, change management, business development, relationship building, team building and leadership, cross-functional collaboration and process improvement.

Daniel has a proven ability to lead and motivate colleagues, advancing employee engagement and developing high-performing managerial teams. Since joining Sedgwick, he has held various leadership roles, including his current position as general manager of claims and building services in Australia. In this role, Daniel oversees domestic claims management, building consultancy and repair solutions.

In addition, Daniel is the Sedgwick Australia CAT Leader with operational accountability for the response to all surges and major events which clients seek Sedgwick’s assistance on. Daniel works across all teams within Sedgwick to understand the nature of each event, determine client, regulatory, community and industry requirements and develop a response which matches. A CAT Leader for Sedgwick, Daniel has witnessed a significant shift in the way Major Events are handled in Australia.

Prior to joining Sedgwick, Daniel worked at Wesfarmers Insurance and Insurance Australia Group in various operational claims leadership and project roles. His diverse background and dedication to excellence make him a valuable asset in any organisational setting.

Sharanjit Paddam
MA MSci Tech FIA FIAA , Principal, Finity

Sharanjit is a leading expert on climate change, and awarded Insurance Leader of the Year 2022 by ANZIIF for his work on championing action on climate change, Actuary of the Year 2023 by the Actuaries Institute, and Risk Manager of the Year by the Climate Alliance in 2020.

He co-leads Finity’s perils & climate practice and advises insurers, banks, investors and governments on perils and climate risk assessment, management, strategy and reporting.

In 2023 he authored a research report for the Actuaries Institute on Home Insurance Affordability, and In 2022 he gave a TEDxSydney talk on climate change and banks and insurers.

Prior to working at Finity he was Group Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk at QBE Insurance Group, where he developed QBE’s global ESG policies, risk management framework, and reporting on climate change.

Chad Vigar
Head of Property Claims, QBE Australia

Chad is a highly experienced and driven insurance professional and leader with over 25 years’ experience across the insurance industry. He currently leads the QBE Property claims operations within Australia and has held a variety of senior supply chain, assessing and claims management roles within Australia and Asia, across the brands of QBE, Wesfarmers Insurance, IAG and BT Financial Group. While in these roles he implemented operational structural changes to align businesses to a geographical footprint empowering regional accountability and increased employee engagement. He has a deep drive for customer outcomes and has been instrumental in improving catastrophe response both within his operational businesses and the general insurance industry. Chad focuses on improving industry relationships with all suppliers by being true to his values of respect, honesty, and transparency Chad was on the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry Code Of Conduct Administration Committee for 6 years and was the Chairman for two of these years, and currently is part of the ICA’s Catastrophe committee.

Gareth Beacham KC
Barrister

Gareth’s principle areas of legal expertise, are in the building and construction law area. Included in this area are matters involving professional negligence (involving architects and engineers), and matters involving mining or engineering disputes more generally.
Gareth is also briefed in matters involving professional negligence on the part of solicitors, on behalf of Lexon Insurance.

He works generally in the area of commercial litigation, including disputes over contractual issues and other commercial disputes.
Gareth’s briefers include a number of the largest law firms operating in Australia. Gareth especially enjoys court appearance work in his areas of expertise. He is also briefed to attend mediations, and appears in arbitrations.

Gareth has been consistently featured in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading King’s Counsel in the area of Construction, most recently:

• 2023 – Leading Construction and Infrastructure Senior Counsel – Australia (leading)
• 2023 – Leading Construction and Infrastructure Senior Counsel – Queensland (pre-eminent)

He has also been featured in Chambers & Partners in the area of Construction & Infrastructure, Australia. Gareth has practised as a barrister in Brisbane since 1998.

Emma Davies
Underwriting Manager, Environmental Liability, AXA XL

Emma has more than 19 years of experience in the insurance industry, and spent a large part of her career handling complex Environmental Liability, Casualty, and Financial Lines claims at major international insurers. Emma has managed significant claims including the Brisbane floods class action, the Samarco tailings dam collapse in Brazil, Brisbane Airport PFAS claims, and was ultimately responsible for all Environmental Liability claims across the APAC region in her last claims role at a leading insurer.

Emma then went on to hone her skills as Vice President in the Environmental Practice at Marsh Australia for a number of years. In this broking role, Emma helped clients across a diverse range of sectors to navigate the increasingly challenging landscape of environmental liabilities and stakeholder interests.

In her role now as the Environmental Liability Underwriting Manager at AXA XL, Emma works with broking partners to find Environmental Liability risk transfer solutions for clients across a diverse range of industries.

James Tucker
Senior Claims Specialist and Technical Lead, Liberty Specialty Markets Australia

James is a Senior Claims Specialist and Technical Lead at Liberty Specialty Markets. He manages casualty claims including incidents under Liberty’s Environmental Impairment Liability policies. Environmental claims require a detailed appreciation of the insured’s business operations and expectations given the nature of first party clean-up costs in combination with third party liability claims. James practiced as a solicitor at an insurance law firm in Melbourne for 4 years before moving to Brisbane where he has worked in insurance for the past 12 years.

Katie Clark
Partner, Minter Ellison

Katie is a Partner in MinterEllison's Insurance and Corporate Risk team. She has been a regular presenter at the AILA General Insurance Law Review day in recent years and is delighted to be invited to speak at the national conference in 2024.

Katie leads the general insurance team in MinterEllison's Brisbane office. Her practise includes both front-end advisory and claims/disputes work. On the advisory front, she regularly supports commercial insurers, corporate clients and government clients in relation to project and contractual risk, contractual terms and insurance arrangements.

On the disputes and claims side, Katie is particularly sought after to advise clients in relation to matters that are sensitive due to content, public interest, precedent value or quantum. This includes catastrophic injuries or losses, cladding recovery claims, service interruption, property damage (including fire), and a variety of casualty claims (including institutional abuse and dust diseases).

Ken Horsley
Barrister

Ken is a Brisbane-based barrister who has practised in the area of insurance law for more than 30 years.  Prior to transitioning to the bar, he was head of insurance practice at Minter Ellison.

His practice has included almost all areas of insurance.  He has focused primarily on defence work involving third party claims for most classes including Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Construction Risks, Directors and Officers, Statutory Liability, Marine, Aviation and Product Liability.  His extensive front-end experience includes drafting policy wordings for Australian and international insurers and advising corporate clients in relation to insurance programs as they relate to contractual indemnities, insurance obligations and limitations of liability.  He regularly presents on these issues at insurance industry events.

He has extensive experience in relation to coverage issues including fraud and arson.  He acted for the insurer who successfully defended a major arson claim in Cassa Bedding Pty Ltd v Insurance Australia Ltd [2022] QSC 001.

Patrick Mead
Construction, Infrastructure And Projects Insurance Parnter, Carter Newell Lawyers

Patrick has acted for insurance industry clients for over 30 years in the areas of property insurance (construction & ISR), professional liability and public and products liability for construction industry participants.

Patrick has developed recognised expertise over the past decade in the complex area of Contractors Environment Liability cover and Environmental Liability Impairment insurance more generally, particularly in relation to contamination arising through Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) and associated Pollution Conditions. He is often called upon to consider the potential interface between Environmental Liability cover and other species of potential applicable insurance.

In July 2024 Patrick was named ‘Litigation Partner of the Year’ at the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards and was the prior year’s winner at those Awards in the category of ‘Construction and Infrastructure Partner of the Year’. Patrick is recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific Guide 2024 (without submission) in the area of Insurance Law and is the author of two leading insurance industry publications [Carter Newell Press] ‘First Party Insurance in Australia: Legal Essays’ and ‘A Legal Guide to Contract Works and Construction Liability Insurance in Australia’ (3rd edition).

Dallas Campbell
Manager Legal Injury, Strategic Partnerships Strategy & Performance, Suncorp

Dallas has worked in legal industry for over 22 years, starting as a lawyer at a private law firm prior to commencing with Suncorp in 2014. Dallas is a senior lawyer and was the manager of strategic partnerships & performance having recently moved to the role as Manager Legal Injury at Suncorp leading a team of personal injury lawyers.

With key experience in the Australian Market as an in-house lawyer and manager, Dallas has a wealth of knowledge of insurance including client relationships, customer outcomes, personal injury claims and litigation as well as regulatory and legislative changes . In the position of manager of strategic partnerships, Dallas focussed on the importance of maintaining and building strategic partnerships with stakeholders and external service providers and creating value for Suncorp and its customers.

Nicola Mason
National general lines claims leader, Willis Towers Watson (WTW)

Nicola(Nicky) is responsible for overseeing Construction, Property and Casualty claims. Nicola will provide strategic claims support, coordination, and escalation where required, as well as being connected with current issues, challenges, and needs, to ensure that WTW provides the highest quality claims service and tailored claims solutions.

Nicola has exceptional customer service skills and claims management offering and has worked with Direct Insurers, Loss Adjusters and Third-party claims administration teams.

Nicola has extensive claims leadership and insurance claims management experience across a wide variety of insurance programs, and access to a large network of insurance contacts.

Nicola is responsible for claims leadership on WTW general lines claims.

Pete Diskin
Chief Client Officer and Deputy CEO, Gallagher Bassett

Pete has worked in insurance for 26 years, starting as a licensed Surveillance Operative and Factual Investigator before joining the Gallagher Bassett Australian team as a claims officer in 2000. His experience spans across client service, claims management, team management, product, and sales management roles; and he was Gallagher Bassett’s National Business Sales Manager (General Insurance) in Australia for 8 years.

With key expertise in the London Market and Underwriting Agency sectors, in 2018 Pete moved to UK and was promoted to the role of Chief Client Officer as well as taking on an Executive Steward role for Lloyd’s of London. His expertise lies in helping clients minimise risk exposure, drive down claims costs and get the best outcomes through outsourcing and strong partnering. Pete works actively with professional groups including the Lloyd's Market Association DCA Committee, where he has piloted new advancements and been part of thought leadership groups tackling industry issues.

During his time in Australia Pete was a founding Committee Member of Australian & New Zealand Young Insurance Professionals (2011-2014) and a Queensland Committee Member of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) (2012-2014).

In 2022, Pete returned to Australia to take on the role of Chief Client Officer - Australia with a wealth of international experience and knowledge to lead the Australian Client Solutions team, while retaining the Executive sponsorship for the Lloyd’s of London market.

Kylie Horton
Executive Manager Qld CTP Claims, Suncorp

Kylie Horton, Executive Manager, Suncorp QLD CTP Claims, has worked within the personal injury industry for over 20 years holding executive positions in both the private and government sectors. Kylie possesses an effective combination of industry knowledge and expertise, interpersonal skills, and strategic thinking to achieve great outcomes for injured claimants and her people. Kylie has been an advocate for the introduction ofartificial intelligence (AI) technologies within the claims process to optimise operational efficiency, reduce workload for her people and enhance the overall value delivered to injured customers. With the increased prevalence of secondary psychological claims, it has become even more apparent that early intervention and monitoring is necessary to ensure genuinely injured claimants gain access to the appropriate rehabilitation and treatment.

Janine Reid BLaws, MBA, GIA (Cert), GAICD
Chief Claims Management Officer & Company Secretary, WorkCover Qld

anine has worked in personal injuries for over 20 years. Her knowledge and experience in personal injuries support her ability to manage our common law strategy and legal panel.

She is also responsible for providing legal advice and strategy to the business, the WorkCover Board and engaging with external stakeholders. Janine is also the company secretary.

Rebecca Jancauskas
Director, JGA Saddler

Rebecca Jancauskas is a passionate and innovative litigator with more than 20 years of experience running complex, multi-party litigation in Australia and the United Kingdom.

She has represented thousands of individuals who have suffered harm and loss in a number of high-profile group and class actions against global corporations and governments and has secured judgments and settlements in excess of $600 million. Her class action expertise spans several practice areas including defective products, financial mismanagement, environmental damage and human rights.

In 2011 Rebecca was named the Young Australian Lawyer of the Year in the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards.

Amanda Beattie
Partner, Wotton + Kearney

Amanda Beattie is the Head of Class Actions. She is an outstanding class actions defence lawyer and commercial litigator. In class actions, she has acted for financial institutions, professional services firms and government departments, including in multiple actions being heard concurrently. Her broader litigation experience includes large-scale commercial arbitration and litigation, ASIC investigations and Royal Commissions.

Amanda is known for her ability to run novel, large-scale litigation through to trial in multiple jurisdictions on any subject matter, particularly where managing teams, processes, voluminous documents and reputational risk is essential. She has particular experience in the highly regulated financial services sector and the public sector, having defended the Department of Defence, Multiplex, Westpac, Citibank, Colonial, Suncorp and NAB.

Amanda has also worked in both Australia and Hong Kong, and has a passion for supporting the people around her through formal mentoring, development and welfare activities.

Peter Dunning KC
Barrister

Peter is a barrister in private practice, appearing and advising predominantly in commercial, constitutional and appellate matters throughout Australia.
Peter has been the President of the Australian Bar Association since 2022.
Peter was the Solicitor-General for Queensland between 2014 and 2019.
Peter took silk in 2005. He was admitted as a barrister in 1992, and for 18 months prior to that worked at the Brisbane law firm Morris Fletcher & Cross (now Minter Ellison).

Dr Katrina Kluss
Barrister

Katrina has a broad commercial practice, specialising in the areas of estate and trust litigation, professional and medical negligence, defendant insurance, and public and product liability (including related insurance law matters of policy, contractual interpretation, indemnity and contribution).

She regularly appears in contested applications, trials, mediations and conferences. She is a member of Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Australian Insurance Lawyers Association, and the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy.

Katrina holds undergraduate degrees in Law (Hons) and Psychological Science, an LLM (Applied Law), and a PhD in Law.