The Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) witnessed a host of developments during its recent annual general meeting (AGM), where three board members were re-elected, and a new director was appointed.
The re-elected board members include:
The latest addition to the board is Troy Filipcevic, CEO and founder of Emergence Insurance.
Meanwhile, Heath Amber, Austbrokers partner development director, retained his role as the board chair, and he was not required to stand for re-election.
During the AGM, the UAC acknowledged the outstanding contributions of retired general manager William Legge, presenting him with a UAC lifetime achievement award.
Legge, who served for 11 years as general manager, played a pivotal role in overseeing the growth of UAC membership from 65 to 135 agency members. Additionally, agency gross written premium (GWP) witnessed a substantial increase from $2 billion to over $7 billion under his leadership.
Amber, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to the directors for their voluntary contributions, specifically acknowledging outgoing board member Kurt Nilsen, CEO of Lion Underwriting, who served for a decade – including chairing the UAC in 2019 to 2012, navigating through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with dedication.
The AGM marked the celebration of the UAC’s 25th anniversary as an industry organisation.
Amber outlined the organisation’s new strategic plan, emphasising it as a roadmap for future growth and development. He also welcomed the appointment of the UAC’s first CEO, Jenny Bax, and highlighted the plan’s core pillar, which focuses on enhancing visibility for the UAC and its members within the industry. The organisation aims to foster relationships with sponsors and strategic partners to achieve its objectives.
In 2023, the UAC made significant strides, with more than 2,500 brokers attending 10 industry expos nationwide. The organisation is set to further expand its regional presence, with Launceston, Tasmania, slated to be added as a new expo venue in 2024.
Reflecting on the growth in the past year, Amber announced that the UAC welcomed 13 agencies and 24 business service members to its fold in 2023.
