Heath Amber elected as UAC chairman

The Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) has elected Austplacements CEO Heath Amber as its new chair and honoured long-serving GM William Legge at a farewell function ahead of his retirement at year end.

Lion Underwriting MD Kurt Nilsen stepped down as chair at a board meeting yesterday, saying after nine years on the board, the last three as chair, it was time to hand the mantle to another director.

There were 12 nominations for vacant director positions at UAC’s annual general meeting in Sydney.

Successfully elected was Blue Zebra Insurance Founder and MD Colin Fagen, and re-elected were Steadfast Underwriting Agencies and Miramar CEO Simon Lightbody, Axis Underwriting Head of Strata and Development Emily Walker, and Mr Amber. Each will serve for two years.

Mr Lightbody is treasurer and Ms Walker is company secretary and public officer, while Allstate Underwriting Founding Director Trent Brown was appointed associate director and assistant treasurer and NTI EGM Mike Edmonds deputy chair.

Mr Brown and Mr Edmonds were not required to stand for election, and neither were board members Canopius Australia executive Jeanene Hill and AFA Insurance national business development manager Anthony Porter.

The family of Mr Legge, UAC’s first GM and a board member since 2009, joined UAC’s members at a Sydney farewell, where Mr Nilsen paid tribute to his guidance and commitment.

“We will miss your leadership and passion,” Mr Nilsen said. “Thank you for your dedication to UAC and to our industry. I am honoured and privileged to have worked closely with you over the past few years as chair.

“UAC is undoubtably in the position it is today, as the leading industry association for underwriting agencies, due to William’s continued commitment over the past 11 years.”

A record 10 UAC expos around the country are planned next year, including new locations the Gold Coast and Wollongong.

This year, UAC welcomed 10 new voting members and 15 business service members.

Mr Legge’s retirement ends a 60-year career in insurance. He will be replaced in early 2023 with UAC’s first CEO.