Celebrations planned for 40th anniversary

by Resolve Editor Kate Tilley

Happy 40th birthday to AILA.

In June 1983, AILA officially became an association and the Australian chapter of AIDA, the international association for insurance law.

National President Cameron Roberts said state and territory branches will each host events this year to celebrate and the birthday will be recognised at the welcome reception for delegates at the AIDA XVI World Insurance Congress on 30 August 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It is fitting, with AILA this year hosting the World Insurance Congress, that AILA’s genesis was at AIDA’s VI World Insurance Congress in London in May 1982, which was attended by Michael Gill and the late John Hastings.

The AIDA Presidential Council invited the pair to establish an Australian chapter, which they did the following year, with Michael as the inaugural president and John the secretary.

Unique forum

The planning committee met for the first time on 26 April 1983. Michael and John were joined by loss adjuster Syd McDonald, broker Robert Owen, Insurance Council of Australia representative Chris Henri, broker Frank Hoffmann and insurer Stephen France. Margaret Roberts from MLC was invited to join the committee to ensure life industry representation.

The early meetings identified two areas in which AILA could be unique. As the Australian chapter of AIDA, it provided entrée to the international insurance law network. It also provided a forum for people with an interest in insurance law to discuss and debate issues.

Membership grew quickly and Sydney-based AILA then began establishing state and territory branches.

AILA’s success, and with encouragement from AIDA’s Presidential Council, saw AILA members assist in forming regional AIDA chapters, including in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Zealand. 

Cameron says AILA has maintained its relevance across its 40-year history by continuing to evolve. Its initiatives include achieving an online presence early (a new website will be launched in 2023), establishing the AILA Young Professionals and, prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, segueing from face-to-face events into webinars.

Major achievements

AILA achievements include an annual conference, the Geoff Masel lecture series, the Ron Shorter public speaking award and mentoring programs for YPs, the Gill Award, the annual general and life insurance reviews, and an array of face-to-face and online events hosted across the nation.

“We focus attention externally to ensure AILA can better service the industry,” Cameron says. Helping YPs build their careers and encouraging inclusion and diversity are key goals.

“We need to bring along the next generation. AILA YPs get access to industry luminaries who can help them advance their careers.”

AILA is proudly not just an organisation for insurance lawyers, but reaches far beyond to embrace brokers, adjusters, insurers, reinsurers and other industry service providers.

Michael Gill pays credit to the people who assisted in AILA’s establishment. “It wasn’t a one-man band,” he told Resolve. “Those involved in the planning group already had reputations for volunteering for professional organisations.” They set the groundwork for AILA over lunches and a few bottles of good wine.

Michael says the intent was not to be a political lobby group but to provide a meeting place for all those with an interest in insurance law. With educational events, the goal was to do a deep dive into insurance law issues and AILA has always lived up to that, which is why it enjoys such a good reputation.

Focus areas

Michael identified three focus areas for AILA as it continues to develop. Behavioural science is one.  “We need to be more conscious of behavioural science in developing the best law.”

Artificial intelligence is another. “It’s here to stay and will change the face of insurance. It has the potential to remove a lot of cost in underwriting, policy drafting and other facets of insurance law.”

Globalisation is the third. “The nature of risk is changing, for example, financial, climate change and pandemic risks are global. The cost of risk goes beyond the laws of any one nation. We must measure risk globally, think more broadly and harmonise laws and behaviours globally.”

Pam Madafiglio, AILA’s first female president, says there was a gap in insurance law education when AILA was born. “ANZIIF covered insurance. NIBA covered broking matters. But nobody specifically covered insurance law.”

Pam says AILA’s success lies in its ability to provide increasing numbers of events, different events to suit different categories of members, broader coverage of industry sectors, collaboration with other industry bodies, national and international collaboration and support, and constantly responding to and adapting to the times.

Encouraging women

Kelli Stallard, the second female president, recalls the industry being very male dominated when she became an insurance lawyer but credits AILA with being ahead of its time in encouraging women into insurance and into leadership positions.

“AILA has kept to its core values but also grasped technical opportunities, like its move into webinars,” she says.

Embracing diversity has also been evident in AILA’s encouragement of YPs. “AILA provides opportunities for YPs to show how they can contribute.”

Kelli says AILA’s educational offer is “absolutely excellent” and AILA gives members opportunities to deepen relationships between insurance lawyers and the industry, and for insurance lawyers with each other, which is beneficial when navigating through litigation.

Life member and former national president Steve Knight, who established the Tasmanian branch in 1995 and spent more than 20 years on the national board, says he cherishes the time he spent being heavily involved with AILA. He continues to be active in attending AILA events whenever possible.

“AILA has broken new ground with its annual conferences and other events. It did an outstanding job in responding quickly when Covid-19 occurred, providing remote access to seminars.”

Steve values the international connections AILA has enabled, enjoying opportunities to share knowledge. He expects AILA to continue to prosper and grow as it embraces new technology.

AILA’s past presidents: