Ballot to be held to elect new UAC board members

Seven underwriting agency senior executives are vying for four vacancies on the Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) board. 

The incoming directors will each serve a two-year term. 

The vacancies will be filled via a ballot at which a senior executive from every financial UAC member agency can vote on the agency’s behalf. 

The results will be announced at UAC’s annual general meeting on Thursday, 7 December 2023, which starts at 11am at Gillis Delaney Lawyers offices in Sydney. 

During the AGM there will be a presentation to celebrate 25 years since UAC was founded in 1998. 

The nominees, in the order in which they’ll appear on the ballot paper, are: 

• Michael Edmonds, Executive General Manager Commercial with NTI 
• Raj Nanra, CEO of SLE Worldwide Australia and Pacific Underwriting 
• Anthony Porter, National Business Development Manager at AFA Insurance 
• Jeanene Hill, Head of Coverholder & Delegated Authority Asia Pacific with Canopius Group 
• Troy Filipcevic, CEO and founder of Emergence Insurance 
• Tesh Patel, Managing Director at Delta Insurance Australia, and 
• Simon Ascroft, Head of Market Management, Argyle Insurance. 

Mr Edmonds, who is currently UAC’s deputy chair, Mr Porter and Ms Hill are current directors seeking re-election. 

Retiring director Kurt Nilsen, who is Managing Director of Lion Underwriting and a former UAC chair for three years, will not seek re-election after 10 years on the board. 

UAC CEO Jenny Bax paid tribute to Mr Nilsen for his dedication to UAC. “He has devoted significant time and energy to UAC while concurrently building a successful agency. We thank him for his sterling efforts,” she said. 

Ms Bax said the high level of nominees for board positions indicated the members’ desire to support UAC and their willingness to take on voluntary positions to help shape UAC’s future. 

“We’re rolling out a four-pillar strategy for UAC – connected, influential, future fit and viable – and the depth of experience among those keen to join the board shows that members want to be part of that journey. 

“UAC is here to support its members, enable them to continue to innovate, and to help create a sustainable future for the agency sector. UAC is the agencies’ voice in the insurance industry,” she said.