In October, a pioneering initiative took flight: the inaugural Lloyds Development Group (LDG) Study Tour, a two-week program designed to give early-career professionals from the Australian (re)insurance market firsthand exposure to Asia’s dynamic (re)insurance landscape.

The Study Tour was created to broaden horizons for emerging local talent, offering a unique opportunity for delegates to learn about (re)insurance markets, regulatory environments, and business cultures across Asia, all while representing their companies and the Australian (re)insurance industry.

The two-week tour spanned four key markets:

• Singapore: A deep dive into market segmentation, casualty trends, business culture and reinsurance dynamics, with sessions hosted by leading executives from Lloyd’s, MS Amlin, Steadfast, Aon Re Solutions, Liberty, Pinnacle Underwriting, Wotton Kearney and Trans Re, including several networking events. The delegates also had the opportunity to visit the PSA innovation centre overlooking the extensive Pasir Panjang terminal.
• Thailand: Insights into medical malpractice, regulatory frameworks, catastrophe claims, and challenges and opportunities in the local market provided by senior executives from Aon, Wotton Kearney, Crawfords, Lockton Wattana and ERGO alongside discussions with the Thai General Insurance Association.
• South Korea: A standout visit to Kia’s EV production plant, plus meetings with Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Samsung Fire & Marine, McLarens, Korean Re, and Munich Re, offering a comprehensive view of the Korean market.
• Hong Kong: Engaging sessions on financial lines, fintech / insurtech, agricultural (re)insurance trends, growth opportunities and market trends, hosted by industry leaders including Peak Re, Partner Re, Marsh, Markel, RPC, AXA, Asia Insurance, Guy Carpenter and the Hong Kong Insurance Authority, capped off with networking events overlooking the iconic city skyline.

Beyond the formal agenda, delegates immersed themselves in local culture – from hawker markets and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore to sunset river cruises in Bangkok, Korean BBQ and karaoke in Seoul, and the vibrant harbour lights of Hong Kong—building strong connections with their study tour cohort.

This initiative would not have been possible without the generosity of senior executives across Asia who opened their doors and shared their expertise. Their commitment underscores the strength of regional partnerships and the shared vision for developing talent.

Congratulations to the inaugural LDG Study Tour delegates, for showing curiosity and drive in signing up for this opportunity and for enthusiasm and professionalism on the tour. Recognition is also deserved for their sponsoring firms for making this bold investment in their future leaders.

2025 Delegates and sponsoring firms: Bronwyn Thomas (AUB Group), Jake Sutton (Axa XL), Ciaran Macmillan (Market Lane), Mitch Pack (HDI), Rohan Lalchere (Miramar), Connor Payne (Rural Affinity), Tom McEvans (Liberty), Jodie Banks (About Underwriting), Jamie Regan (QBE), James Vlasveld (Markel), Bree Sultana (SLE), Michael Kennedy (Pen Underwriting), Kelly Lieu (Gen Re), Damian Yan (Rural Affinity), Esther David (Gallagher Re)

The 2025 Study Tour was led by Sophie Lancaster (Gallagher Re), Gerrie Johnson (Munich Re) and Sam McNally (Wotton Kearney), whose vision and dedication brought this program to life.

The success of this inaugural tour has set the stage for future programs. The LDG is excited to announce that the Study Tour will return in 2027, continuing its mission to connect markets, foster knowledge exchange, and empower the next generation of (re)insurance leaders.

The LDG is a not-for-profit group providing targeted education and networking events for early career professionals in the Australian insurance and reinsurance market, with Wotton Kearney as their longstanding Gold Sponsor.

‘Insurers in Court, a Mock Trial,’ a joint initiative by the Young Professionals Subcommittee of the Australian Insurance Law Associate and the Lloyds Development Group, was held on Thursday 23^rd March 2023 at Banco Court followed by networking drinks at Verandah Bar.

AILA and LDG produce the Mock Trial Event with the intention of giving attendees an insight into Court practice and procedure, including the giving of evidence by witnesses, with the goal of giving industry members the confidence to attend Court when needed.

The Honourable Andrew Bell, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, presided over the mock trial. Teni Berberian and Nicholas Simone appeared as Counsel for the Plaintiffs and David Talintyre and Ashley Cameron for the Defendant. Dominique Vagi (Hutch Underwriting), Debbi Thorne (Network Insurance Group) and Julijana Sumner (AXA XL) participated as hypothetical witnesses. A huge thank you to all our participants for volunteering their time for this event!

Thank you to our AILA & LDG event organisers: Bre Bailey, Thomas Nguyen, Rebecca Badra, Gerrie Johnson and Gemma Mackinnon.

This event would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Gold Sponsor Wotton + Kearney, and the event sponsor Lander & Rogers. Thank you to Lesley Woodmore (Wotton + Kearney) and Sybilla Waring-Lambert (Lander & Rogers) for attending and speaking to our members on the night.

The LDG hosted our AGM and end-of-year function on Thursday 8^th December 2022 at the beautiful Munich Re offices.

We were very fortunate to have Anja Linsmaier speak to our members, providing a very informative reflection on 2022 in the (re)insurance industry including the transition back to work following covid; the impact of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine on the macroeconomic environment and inflation; and the devastating affects of catastrophe’s worldwide and closer to home in the East Coast Floods of Feb / March 2022. Anja then looked ahead to 2023 and what might be in store for the industry from 1/1 treaty renewals to ESG, insurance affordability and regulatory and compliance pressures. She finished with an important discussion on the war for talent and how our industry can attract the next generation of (re)insurance professionals. A huge thank you to Anja for volunteering her time and sharing these perspectives with us.

We rounded out the night with drinks, canapes and Christmas cheer to celebrate the end of the year and thank our members for their continued support.

This event would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Gold Sponsor Wotton + Kearney.

A big thankyou to everyone that attended and supported our first face-to-face networking event last week post-lockdown for drinks and canapes at the QT in Sydney with Michael Lupi speaking about the industry leading work of the IAG’s Safer Communities team, followed by a private film screening of the BackTrack Boys documentary.

Special thanks to Marcus Watson from BackTrack for attending on the night to introduce the film and speak about the work BackTrack does in building resilience in remote communities.

This event would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Gold Sponsor Wotton + Kearney.

On 27^th February 2020, the Loyds Development Group in conjunction with AILA Young Professionals hosted the third annual Mock Trial event!

Held in the iconic Banco Court, we were privileged to have Julian Sexton SC and Lachlan Gyles SC appearing for our hypothetical parties in a case focussed on notifying facts and circumstances that might give rise to a claim under a PI or D&O policy.

From the insurance industry, we had Joseph Hershewe (Claims Manager at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance) and Richard Pike (Regional Reinsurance Officer at Berkley Re) participate as hypothetical witnesses for the parties.

This was a fantastic opportunity for young professionals from the insurance and law industries, to witness first-hand how an insurance related dispute unfolds in court. The cross-examination of the witnesses was eye-opening and the Honourable Thomas Bathurst AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme court of NSW, gave some thoughts at the conclusion of the mock trial on the possible outcomes of the various issues raised.

A networking event followed at Verandah where we heard from representatives from our wonderful event sponsors Clyde & Co and Wotton + Kearney. A huge thankyou to our sponsors, our counsel, witnesses and the committee members of the LDG and AILA YPs for making this event possible. We hope to see you all again next year!