uac.org.au
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Read on
Sponsor
UNDERWRITING AGENCIES COUNCIL
Leadership
Headquarters:
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Year founded:
1998
Number of employees:
2
Phone:
+61 (0) 409 302 423
Email:
williamlegge@uac.org.au
Website:
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/underwriting-agencies-council
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
Glenn Ross brings over 30 years of experience to his role as CEO at MECON Insurance.
Prior to founding the company in 2003, Ross spent 15 years underwriting engineering risks in both Australia and New Zealand and 10 years as an insurance broker, specialising in construction, plant and engineering insurance. He was also a risk manager for one of the top 20 multinational construction companies.
His technical expertise and experience empower MECON Insurance to become one of Australia’s leading providers of insurance. Ross’s knowledge is often sought after to help shape the future of the industry, both locally and nationally.
Chief Executive Officer
Glenn Ross
Milos Skopljak joined MECON Insurance in 2010, prior to which he held senior claims roles with two other large general insurers.
He has many years of experience across multiple insurance classes, including, but not limited to, construction, heavy machinery, property and liability. A result- and service-driven professional, Skopljak is highly regarded within the industry and is a valuable member of MECON Insurance’s team.
Skopljak holds a university graduate diploma in financial services and is an NSW Justice of the Peace. He is also an affiliate with multiple industry-related groups and associations.
National Claims Manager
Milos Skopljak
Jon Denney has been working in the insurance industry since 1995.
Originally from the UK, Denney relocated to Australia in 2013 and joined MECON Insurance in 2016 as its Victorian state manager before his appointment as general manager at the beginning of 2022.
Denney’s experience spans various product lines with global insurers and underwriting agencies, with responsibilities including underwriting, distribution and management positions.
General Manager
Jon Denney
Howaida Nakhla has been in the insurance market for over 35 years, with the past 25 years specialising in underwriting and managing engineering and casualty portfolios.
Prior to joining MECON Insurance, Nakhla held senior underwriting management roles in Queensland and New South Wales.
Her service ethic to her clients is outstanding, and her passion for underwriting is well recognised in the market.
National Underwriting Manager
Howaida Nakhla
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/underwriting-agencies-council
Website:
uac.org.au
Email:
williamlegge@uac.org.au
Phone:
+61 (0) 409 302 423
Number of employees:
2
Year founded:
1998
Headquarters:
Sydney, NSW, Australia
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
The Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) is the peak body representing Australian underwriting agencies, many of which are Lloyd’s coverholders.
UAC was formed in July 1998 by six agency heads who were concerned about the ramifications of legislative change on the future of underwriting agencies in Australia.
Initially, the legislative regime ignored the existence of agencies within the market, and UAC’s founders saw the need for a peak body to fulfill functions in the same way that insurers are represented by the Insurance Council of Australia and brokers by the National Insurance Brokers Association.
UAC unifies the agency sector, demonstrating the strength of individual, independent agencies, cluster groups and insurer- or broker-owned agencies working together for their mutual good.
Agencies have a well-deserved reputation for being proactive and entrepreneurial, and that has been a key factor in their phenomenal growth in fewer than 30 years since UAC’s establishment as a fledgling body.
Once considered only an alternative to the mainstream market, agencies are now frequently the go-to insurance providers – the first port of call in their specialist, niche markets.
UAC general manager William Legge says the agency sector’s growth will continue. “Agency principals and their teams know their product, know their market and are flexible in their thinking.”
As many major insurers trim capacity and tighten underwriting criteria, agencies come to the forefront because of their ability to be agile and adaptable. They work in tandem with brokers and their insureds to seek workable solutions, particularly for hard-to-place risks.
UAC is renowned as a resource for its members and for brokers. It facilitates underwriting expos around the nation, enabling brokers to visit a range of agencies and review the products and services on offer in one-stop shop locations.
The close relationship between agencies and their supporting brokers is a hallmark of the sector’s success. Agencies work hard to develop new, innovative products as they’re alerted to market needs by the broking community.
The results of this year’s and prior years’ brokers on underwriting agencies survey attest to the fact that brokers appreciate speedy responses to inquiries; hands-on claims management; depth of product knowledge; ease of placement, particularly for vanilla risks; and consistent, competitive pricing.
Many agencies have developed online platforms for run-of-the-mill placements, freeing their underwriting teams and brokers to spend more time on risk management for more difficult risks and enabling placement at acceptable premiums.
Agencies can think outside the square and develop solutions without being hamstrung by strict, inflexible underwriting guidelines. Bespoke, tailor-made covers are the agency sector’s keystone.
Brigid Rauwhero
Claims Manager
John Hogan
Head of Claims
Meg Dempsey
Operations Manager
Robert Collins
Head of Underwriting
Anthony Porter
Head of Business Development
Jon Denney
General Manager
Howaida Nakhla
National Underwriting Manager
Milos Skopljak
National Claims Manager
Glenn Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Jon Denney has been working in the insurance industry since 1995.
Originally from the UK, Denney relocated to Australia in 2013 and joined MECON Insurance in 2016 as its Victorian state manager before his appointment as general manager at the beginning of 2022.
Denney’s experience spans various product lines with global insurers and underwriting agencies, with responsibilities including underwriting, distribution and management positions.
General Manager
Jon Denney
Howaida Nakhla has been in the insurance market for over 35 years, with the past 25 years specialising in underwriting and managing engineering and casualty portfolios.
Prior to joining MECON Insurance, Nakhla held senior underwriting management roles in Queensland and New South Wales.
Her service ethic to her clients is outstanding, and her passion for underwriting is well recognised in the market.
National Underwriting Manager
Howaida Nakhla
Milos Skopljak joined MECON Insurance in 2010, prior to which he held senior claims roles with two other large general insurers.
He has many years of experience across multiple insurance classes, including, but not limited to, construction, heavy machinery, property and liability. A result- and service-driven professional, Skopljak is highly regarded within the industry and is a valuable member of MECON Insurance’s team.
Skopljak holds a university graduate diploma in financial services and is an NSW Justice of the Peace. He is also an affiliate with multiple industry-related groups and associations.
National Claims Manager
Milos Skopljak
Glenn Ross brings over 30 years of experience to his role as CEO at MECON Insurance.
Prior to founding the company in 2003, Ross spent 15 years underwriting engineering risks in both Australia and New Zealand and 10 years as an insurance broker, specialising in construction, plant and engineering insurance. He was also a risk manager for one of the top 20 multinational construction companies.
His technical expertise and experience empower MECON Insurance to become one of Australia’s leading providers of insurance. Ross’s knowledge is often sought after to help shape the future of the industry, both locally and nationally.
Chief Executive Officer
Glenn Ross
Read on
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UNDERWRITING AGENCIES COUNCIL
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape"
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Micah Ponto
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Chris Christon
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Stephen Swartley
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Hela Trerotola
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Jamie Schibuk
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jon Denney
General Manager
Howaida Nakhla
National Underwriting Manager
Milos Skopljak
National Claims Manager
Glenn Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/underwriting-agencies-council
Website:
uac.org.au
Email:
williamlegge@uac.org.au
Phone:
+61 (0) 409 302 423
Number of employees:
2
Year founded:
1998
Headquarters:
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Read on
UNDERWRITING AGENCIES COUNCIL
Sponsor
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Hela Trerotola is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance, where she oversees the growth and middle market team. She has almost 20 years of technical, management and sales experience, specializing in directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability insurance. Trerotola joined Arch Insurance in 2009 and previously held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. She holds a BA in mathematical economics from Colgate University and an MBA from NYU.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Growth and Middle Market
Hela Trerotola
Jamie Schibuk serves as executive vice president of professional liability and cyber for Arch Insurance. In 2009, Schibuk joined Arch Insurance North America as an underwriting manager in executive assurance. Prior to joining Arch Insurance, Schibuk spent four years working for The Hartford in the financial services department within the Hartford Financial Products unit. Schibuk has a master’s degree in risk management from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. He has also earned the chartered property casualty underwriter and registered professional liability underwriter designations.
Executive Vice President, Professional Liability and Cyber
Jamie Schibuk
Jon Denney has been working in the insurance industry since 1995.
Originally from the UK, Denney relocated to Australia in 2013 and joined MECON Insurance in 2016 as its Victorian state manager before his appointment as general manager at the beginning of 2022.
Denney’s experience spans various product lines with global insurers and underwriting agencies, with responsibilities including underwriting, distribution and management positions.
General Manager
Jon Denney
Howaida Nakhla has been in the insurance market for over 35 years, with the past 25 years specialising in underwriting and managing engineering and casualty portfolios.
Prior to joining MECON Insurance, Nakhla held senior underwriting management roles in Queensland and New South Wales.
Her service ethic to her clients is outstanding, and her passion for underwriting is well recognised in the market.
National Underwriting Manager
Howaida Nakhla
Milos Skopljak joined MECON Insurance in 2010, prior to which he held senior claims roles with two other large general insurers.
He has many years of experience across multiple insurance classes, including, but not limited to, construction, heavy machinery, property and liability. A result- and service-driven professional, Skopljak is highly regarded within the industry and is a valuable member of MECON Insurance’s team.
Skopljak holds a university graduate diploma in financial services and is an NSW Justice of the Peace. He is also an affiliate with multiple industry-related groups and associations.
National Claims Manager
Milos Skopljak
Glenn Ross brings over 30 years of experience to his role as CEO at MECON Insurance.
Prior to founding the company in 2003, Ross spent 15 years underwriting engineering risks in both Australia and New Zealand and 10 years as an insurance broker, specialising in construction, plant and engineering insurance. He was also a risk manager for one of the top 20 multinational construction companies.
His technical expertise and experience empower MECON Insurance to become one of Australia’s leading providers of insurance. Ross’s knowledge is often sought after to help shape the future of the industry, both locally and nationally.
Chief Executive Officer
Glenn Ross
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Management Liability
Arch Insurance’s professional underwriting team specializes in providing management liability insurance to a broad range of industries.
Cyber
Arch Insurance’s experienced underwriting team takes a forward-looking approach to writing network security, privacy and media liability.
Professional Liability
Arch Insurance’s professional liability team is positioned to offer liability insurance solutions for lawyers, architects and engineers; design-build professionals, contractors and consultants; franchisors, insurance agents and brokers; real estate agents and brokers; property managers; registered investment advisors; travel agents and tour operators; and a host of other miscellaneous professional classes.
