Read a roundup of activities around the AILA and NZILA chapters

New South Wales

The NSW chapter is well into its social and educational offering for the year. 

The Twilight seminar committee has completed its successful series. This year's seminars were:

• Financial services royal commission: How the game has changed in a post-Hayne world
• Will cover be there when you need it? Lessons for financial lines insurers and insured
• The future of insurance
• Outside the retainer: A professional indemnity update
• Cutting-edge issues in class action claims
• Hot topics in property ISR and other first party claims: A case study

Thanks to Twilight committee members for their hard work in producing such high-quality, informative seminars. 

Thanks and congratulations to the liaison committee at CBP for hosting this year’s NSW Ron Shorter Award finals on 18 July.

Judges were NSW Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Fullerton; Rob Whelan, ICA CEO; and Diego Ascani, CEO, Sedgwick Australia. A special mention to Colin Biggers & Paisley, Dever's List and Sedgwick for their  support.

Congratulations to the 2019 NSW Ron Shorter Award winner, Claudio Trovato of Meridian Lawyers. His winning presentation Sharing is caring: Accommodating the challenges and implications of the sharing economy, secured the crystal trophy and Claudio will now be part of the national conference program in Hobart.

Congratulations  to runners up Madelaine Swan (Barry.Nilsson.) and Kristy Taylor (HDI Global SE) for their outstanding presentations.

The 2019 10th Anniversary Luminaries Dinner was on 14 August at the Sydney Opera House. The evening was attended by industry representatives from insurance and legal firms and was a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and friends while inspiring the rising stars and leaders of tomorrow.

The event would not have been possible without generous sponsors Meridian Lawyers, Sedgwick, Wotton + Kearney, Liberty Specialty Markets, Holman Webb Lawyers and Steadfast.  

South Australia

The SA committee has experienced more change, in an already busy and productive year.

Ben Tollner-Atkinson, from Barry.Nilsson., has unfortunately had to resign from the committee, due to a sooner -than-expected career opportunity. The committee wishes him all the best and thanks him for his efforts while on board.

The committee has welcomed Emma Pilkington, also from Barry.Nilsson, in his place.

SA held the Annual General Insurance Law Review in May. Topics covered included the Insurance Contracts Act, professionals and directors and officers, and the royal commission into the financial services industry. Presenters were Josephine Battiste and Leanne Larosa, from Mitchell Chambers; Tom Besanko, from Jeffcott Chambers; Sam Hurburgh, from MinterEllison; and Mariana Papalouca, from the Department of Defence.

In June, SA held a YP networking event to welcome the new financial year, jointly organised by the YIPs SA committee. Thanks to sponsors Finlaysons and Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers for their support.

A successful July breakfast briefing examined Using digital forensics in dispute resolutions, presented by Jean-Pierre du Plessis.

The dedicated YP subcommittee has planned another educational event  for September.

Queensland

This edition of Resolve includes articles about the new wisdom and perspectives learned at the 2019 Annual Queensland Insurance Intensive – Under the magnifying glass, held in May, which was a spectacular success.

The AILA Prize for Insurance Law at the Griffith Law School was awarded in May. Winners were Dakota Hallett and Elizabeth Clark who received the joint highest grade in the course. The Dean and Head of School Associate Professor Therese Wilson presented the awards.

In July, in partnership with Hemmant’s List, AILA Qld held a panel seminar, Do you want damages with that? – the inconvenient truth about the online food delivery market. The panel was Jane Fitzgerald, barrister with Hemmant’s List; Helen Brand, assistant vice-president professional & financial risks and Qld branch manager from Liberty; and Angela Brooks, from Hall & Wilcox. It was chaired by Kelli Stallard, also from Hall & Wilcox.

Attendees agreed issues raised and discussed about the evolving gig economy were particularly interesting and thought provoking.

The Qld 2019 Ron Shorter Award final was in August. Finalists were Brittany Anderson, from Barry.Nilsson.; Travis Gooding, from Herbert Smith Freehills, and Bennet Thomas, from QBE.

The judging panel was Qld Supreme Court Justice Helen Bowskill; Janine Reid, general counsel of WorkCover Qld; and Cate Heyworth-Smith QC of the Qld Bar.

Congratulations to the winner, Bennet Thomas, for his presentation Contractual indemnities and the impact on the insurance policy as a whole. 

Congratulations to the runners up who provided thought provoking and professionally delivered presentations. 

Bennet will join other state winners to present during the AILA national conference in Hobart.

Thank you to the award sponsors, Colin Biggers & Paisley, Dever's List and Sedgwick.

Also in August, a panel seminar, Litigation in north Qld – a commentary from the trenches, was presented by Andrew Philp QC and Paddy Cullinane QC, chaired by Berren Hamilton, from  Moray & Agnew.

Andrew and Paddy shared their unique insight into the nuances, issues and challenges of litigation in north Qld, where they are originally from and still practice, and where each has a loyal following. The seminar was sponsored by Wotton & Kearney.

Tasmania

Three significant events have popped onto the radar for the Tasmanian chapter.

They are the National Conference, the launch of Ladies@AILA, and a Workers’ Compensation Masterclass.

The masterclass, on 30 August at the RACV/RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel,  provided practical insights into claims management and a prevention focus, highlighting mental health in the workplace and issues about the ageing workforce.

Chief Commissioner Robert Webster was present, enabling a unique opportunity for the industry to ask him questions. It was a must-attend event for anyone whose work related to workers’ compensation claims or employment more generally in Tasmania.

The national conference starts in Hobart on Wednesday 30 October and coincides with the launch of Ladies@AILA. Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner will open the conference.  The Tasmanian chapter hopes you can attend both.

There will be presentations on cyber security; environmental class actions; the cladding crisis and its impact on insurance in the building industry; the latest on driverless cars; defamation; the Lloyd’s restructure; abuse litigation; factual investigations; and the royal commission’s impact on the insurance industry.

There will be breakout sessions about injuries arising from ATV accidents and the effect climate change will have on the future of insurance.

The social events are an essential part of a good national conference and the committee has no doubt you will enjoy the program. The social program revolves around Hobart’s famous waterfront area, with the conference dinner to be a fantastic winter feast event showcasing some of Tasmania’s best food and wines with views of the harbour.  

Join us for Off the map in October and enter the # competition by tagging photos where Tasmania has been left off the map with #offthemap2019.

We will see you at the end of the world.