The Association of Average Adjusters (AAA) has acknowledged several members for attaining advanced status following the recent examination outcomes.
These exams assess participants’ proficiency in adjusting, insurance, and legal matters.
During the association’s annual conference held in London on May 9, 2024, Burkhard Fischer, the 2023-24 chairman, announced the addition of two new fellows. These are:
Fischer said both individuals come from firms where in-depth average adjusting knowledge complements other marine specialities.
Fellowship represents the pinnacle of achievement within the association. Candidates must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of their subjects, with a required pass mark of 75%. The Practical Adjustment paper tests candidates’ adjusting skills over a duration of up to seven hours.
Varrier started his maritime career as a cadet in 1990, achieving the rank of master mariner by 2002. He transitioned to a shore-based role in 2006, managing technical operations for a fleet in Jakarta. In 2011, he earned a master’s degree in maritime law from the University of London.
He joined BP Singapore in 2012, became an associate member of the Association of Average Adjusters in 2013, and later advanced to senior associate. He is among the few master mariners and non-practising adjusters to pass the adjusting exams.
Reflecting on his achievement, Varrier said: “Thanks to my acute interest in the subject and sincere efforts, I have been able to attain this gold standard in marine insurance claims, despite earlier failures in various modules. I believe that failure in exams is an opportunity to learn more – I continued my studies and passed the fellowship examinations.
“I appreciate the kindness and willingness of the fellows of our association to mentor people like me to progress and become a part of the association.”
Sasegbon is a senior associate solicitor at Campbell Johnston Clark in London. With over 12 years of experience in the shipping and insurance industries, he has worked with leading international professional services providers and International Group P&I clubs.
He regularly advises on coverage issues for various marine insurance policy forms and represents clients in disputes related to charterparties, contracts of affreightment, and bills of lading, among others. He is an experienced litigator, focusing on English High Court proceedings and London arbitration. Additionally, he is a former chairman of the Lloyd’s Marine and Energy U35s Insurance Group.
The AAA has also recognised three members who have recently qualified as senior associates:
Drège is a director at Albatross Adjusters in Limassol, Cyprus.
With over 25 years in the marine insurance field, he has significant experience in handling complex general average and salvage cases. He graduated from the Naval Military Academy in Buenos Aires and has served with the United Nations Argentinian Task Force in Cyprus.
Drège is also a member of the AMD (Association Mondiale de Dispacheurs/International Association of Average Adjusters).
Duncan is an average adjuster at Richards Hogg Lindley, London. After graduating from UCL with a degree in chemistry, she travelled extensively and took a working holiday in Australia.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, she developed an interest in the marine industry and joined RHL Liverpool as a trainee average adjuster, where she passed two senior associate level exams before moving to the firm’s London office.
Kafka is a senior claims executive at the Swedish Club in Piraeus, focusing on claims handling and adjusting for various hull and machinery cases. She holds an MEng degree from NTUA, Athens, and an MSc degree in technical ship management from Strathclyde University, Glasgow.
She has worked as a naval architect consultant and marine surveyor in various locations, including London, Southampton, Singapore, and Piraeus.
Fischer also mentioned that seven members qualified as associates in the past year. They all passed Module A1 (Marine Insurance Act, Insurance Act, and related principles of insurance) and Module A2 (hull and cargo claims).
Associates who pass Fellowship Module F1 (General Average, salvage, and Carriage of Goods by Sea) and one additional Fellowship module are awarded senior associate status.
The announcement of the Association of Average Adjusters’ new fellows and associates follows the appointment of Ann Waite as its 2024-25 chair, making her the first woman to chair the association since its 1869 founding.
