Arch Insurance Australia has expanded its professional indemnity team with the appointment of Carey Sturgiss (pictured) as senior underwriter for the Southern Region.
The move is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its underwriting capacity amid an increasingly complex regional risk landscape.
Based in Melbourne, Sturgiss will focus on underwriting professional indemnity risks across construction, legal, architecture and engineering, and financial services sectors. She reports to Aisling Hegarty, Southern Region underwriting manager for professional indemnity.
Sturgiss brings more than 20 years of experience in financial lines underwriting, spanning a range of professional risks, including cyber. Prior to joining Arch, she held a senior underwriting position at Chubb Insurance.
The appointment comes as new data highlights shifting business risks across Asia Pacific. The World Economic Forum’s “Executive Opinion Survey,” conducted in partnership with Marsh McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, found that economic uncertainty, talent shortages, and climate threats are top concerns for regional leaders.
Drawing on input from more than 11,000 executives in 121 countries, the report noted that recession risks are prominent in Oceania, Southern Asia, and Southeast Asia. In contrast, labour market constraints have emerged as the top concern in East Asia, indicating challenges in securing skilled workers.
Inflation remains a persistent issue, particularly in Oceania and Southeast Asia, where businesses are navigating rising input costs and weaker consumer demand. Climate-related risks, including floods and heatwaves, are also escalating, especially in Oceania, where the frequency and severity of such events continue to disrupt operations and supply chains.
Social and economic inequalities, especially in employment and income distribution, were cited as ongoing risks in Southern Asia and emerging concerns in Oceania. Meanwhile, trade frictions and policy-driven investment barriers are contributing to risk volatility in East Asia, complicating business continuity planning and risk transfer decisions.
Commenting on the new addition to the team, Hegarty said Sturgiss’s experience and technical knowledge in financial lines will support the company’s strategy and service to the broker network in the Southern Region.
“I’m delighted to welcome Carey as our senior PI underwriter. With a wealth of experience and a strong reputation in the market, Carey brings exceptional expertise that will further strengthen our underwriting capabilities,” she said.
