New South Wales

By Dan Robinson, President

It has been a busy start to the year for the NSW committee.  

On 7 March 2024, we held the AILA 40th anniversary celebration at the offices of Norton Rose Fulbright in Sydney. The event was well attended by AILA members and friends, including past national presidents and life members. 

We were fortunate to have Michael Gill, a founding member of AILA, speak at the event, together with life member and past national president David Lee. 

On 14 March 2024, we delivered our first TecHub face-to-face seminar of the year at the offices of Colin Biggers and Paisley. The event was titled Cyber insurance: emerging issues and trends in 2024 and involved a panel discussion with key industry figures commenting on all things cyber insurance. 

On 20 March, the 2024 Annual General Insurance Law Review was held in Sydney at the offices of Ashurst. The event was well attended by insurance lawyers and those working in the insurance industry. Leading insurance lawyers delivered presentations on key decisions and regulatory developments in insurance law. We were privileged to have Catherine Osborne, Chief Claims Officer of Marsh Pacific, provide comments as industry commentator on the day. 

Recently we held a webinar on Defamation cover within liability policies, with contributors from industry and the legal profession, including the NSW Bar. 

There is plenty planned for the rest of 2024, including the annual Twilight events (tickets are now on sale), a networking event in the ACT, and upcoming young professional soft skills and networking events. I hope to see many of you there. 

Vale Alan Conolly

A great friend and supporter of AILA, Alan Conolly, died on Monday 13 May, after a long illness.

Alan, born in 1943, was the founder and Senior Partner of AR Conolly & Co; a life member of the Law Society of NSW; a member of the Sydney Male Choir; founder and chair of Folklorico Australia; a  life member of Tattersalls Club NSW; chair of Sydney Oil Ltd, Bio-Act Ltd (Australia and Philippines) and Blue Ring Productions; co-founder of Benchmark and BenchTV; co-trustee of the Keys-Arenas Dance Trust; president of Normanhurst Old Boys’ Union (1970-1975); and a boy chorister at St Andrew’s Cathedral.

Alan is fondly remembered by all his colleagues at AILA.

Victoria

by Lucy Terracall, President

It is a great pleasure and an honour to take on the presidency of the AILA Victorian branch.

I have big shoes to fill, taking over from Darren Ferrari who has so ably performed the role for the past few years. He is now busy representing Victoria on the national board.

On Wednesday 27 March, AILA Victoria hosted the annual general insurance law review to a great crowd in Melbourne. Many thanks to Lander & Rogers for generously hosting the event.

AILA Victoria will hold a session in July on the new Financial Accountability Regime and what it means for insurers, plus a session to guide the industry on managing legal and interpersonal conflicts between insurers.

The Victorian committee also plans to host an education session to address the CIMIC Group Ltd v AIG Group Ltd appeal decision, once it is handed down.

Tasmania

by Lisa Rankin, President

We are midway through the year and the Tasmanian committee has been busy planning two masterclasses.

On 24 May 2024, AILA joined forces with NIBA to present a general insurance masterclass at Crowne Plaza. The line-up of speakers was first class and included legal and industry professionals.

Planning is in progress for the Workers’ Compensation Masterclass, now in its 9th year. This is always the highlight of the AILA calendar in Tasmania.

In early April we hosted an abridged version of the Australian General Insurance Law Review at the Law Society. Thanks to Kate Cuthbertson SC and Jennifer O’Farrell for giving up their time to present.

David Farmer, who has been a Tasmanian representative on the national board for several years now, has decided to resign from the board. We thank him for all his time and the valuable experience he has brought to the role.

Queensland

By Alexandra King, Secretary

AILA Queensland is full steam ahead on its cracking season of events and education.

On 15 March 2024, AILA welcomed 70 guests to the Luminaries Dinner at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. The keynote speaker, Karni Liddell, spoke about their incredible experience as a Paralympian, which was awe inspiring.

Ms Liddell is a diversity trainer and clinical social worker, the NDIS Adviser to the Dept of Communities and Disabilities, a member of the Premier’s Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council and a member of the Minister for Women and Child Safety’s Sexual Violence Roundtable.

On 28 March 2024, 64 attendees joined AILA Queensland at the Australian General Insurance Law Review. Guests heard from Katie Clark (Minter Ellison), Paul Baxter (Hall & Wilcox), Nola Pearce (Counsel), Ken Horsley (Counsel) and Jacinta Long (Meridian) on the latest decisions impacting the insurance landscape in Australia.

On 8 May 2024, Shelagh Bock chaired a webinar with Michelle Taylor (Sparke Helmore) and Andrew Kidd (NTI), called Navigating the waves and the casualties: marine insurance in Australia and the impact of the Baltimore incident.

Applications for the Ron Shorter awards are open. Queensland always has an excellent raft of applicants, and we expect 2024 to be no different.

Otherwise, AILA Queensland continues its preparation for the AILA 2024 National Conference on the Gold Coast, Sunny Side Up.