The Association for Women In Insurance (Qld) Inc is a not-for-profit organization which was formed to enhance the position of women in the insurance industry through personal and professional development courses, seminars and activities. With an ever growing membership of male and female industry professionals, the Association continues to work to:
- Facilitate networking opportunities
- Provide opportunities for members to develop their personal and professional goals
- Allow members to contribute to the future of the insurance industry
Provide access to papers on insurance related topics
Provide a forum for the promotion, development and debate of insurance issues
Raise funds to enhance the associations’ objectives
Recognise the achievements of members in the insurance industry
Our Committee
Megan is a Resolution Specialist at Suncorp. Megan has a strong reputation in the insurance industry for her wide-ranging experience in defending claims across various lines of business, including CTP, public liability, and life insurance and superannuation claims. Her credentials include resolution of complex and multi-party claims prior to matters progressing to proceedings and trial. Megan is skilled in conducting all aspects of matters and her current role at Suncorp employs her well-honed negotiating skills at conferences and informal settlement negotiations. She also has trial experience in the Queensland Supreme and District Courts and the Federal Court of Australia.
Emma is the QLD State Manager, Partner and Senior Chartered Loss Adjuster with YDR Chartered Loss Adjusters. Emma specialises in public and products liability claims, contract works (section 1 and section 2) and professional indemnity matters specialising in engineering, IT and medical claims. Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws, Diploma of Financial Services (Loss Adjusting), and has completed studies for a Certificate IV in Building.
Angela is an Account Director with Bluebook Insurance Brokers. She joined Bluebook Insurance Brokers after 13 years experience with major international insurers. Ange specialises in Corporate Broking for various industry sectors with a focus on Property and Liability. Believing the insurance landscape can be shaped to better help the client, Ange has a passion for insurance broking and aims to be a great broker for her clients, while educating them through the process. Taking on the role of Treasurer has given her a fresh challenge, and an opportunity to expand her skills.
Stephanie is a second generation Insurance Broker for Gallagher Insurance Brokers. With over ten years’ experience in the insurance industry and as a broking specialist, she prides herself in making sure her client’s understand the insurance risks associated with various industries. She specialises in risk management of large companies and assisting clients in navigating the insurance market and legislative requirements. Stephanie has a underpinning passion for mentoring and developing skills of up and coming brokers. She has recently won the Young Eagle Program with Allianz as part of the Queensland team.
Cathy is a Business Development Specialist with Affinitas Financial Planning. With over 12 years of experience in the Medical Indemnity industry, Cathy has moved into the personal risk arena. Cathy has a successful history of providing strategic direction for company growth. She has a passion for ensuring her clients are financially secure, along with maintaining great client relationships.
Sephora was most recently engaged as an Associate in the insurance group at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers. She is currently on parental leave.
Sephora’s legal experience includes commercial, litigation, administrative and insurance law. Sephora has acted in workers’ statutory compensation matters in both the state and federal jurisdictions. She has extensive experience in providing strategic advice to self-insurers in relation to claims made pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, with a particular interest in mining claims. In addition, she has represented corporates with significant deductibles in claims made under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (labour hire injuries). She also has a keen interest in pro bono legal opportunities.
She has served as an elected representative on the Women in Insurance Association of Queensland committee since 2012.
Sephora’s legal experience includes commercial, litigation, administrative and insurance law. Sephora has acted in workers’ statutory compensation matters in both the state and federal jurisdictions. She has extensive experience in providing strategic advice to self-insurers in relation to claims made pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, with a particular interest in mining claims. In addition, she has represented corporates with significant deductibles in claims made under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (labour hire injuries). She also has a keen interest in pro bono legal opportunities.
She has served as an elected representative on the Women in Insurance Association of Queensland committee since 2012.
Katrina is a Solicitor in the Insurance & Health team at Barry.Nilsson Lawyers. Katrina has specialised in insurance law since her admission and manages all facets of claims from dispute resolution processes to complex litigation. Katrina presently practises in public liability and health law, while drawing from a strong background in CTP insurance. Katrina holds a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Journalism (Distinction), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and is currently undertaking her Master of Laws at the Queensland University of Technology. Katrina holds extensive volunteering experience at community legal centres including Caxton Legal, LawRight and Encircle. Katrina presently provides pro-bono legal advice for the Nundah Community Legal Centre. She has acted as Media Advisor and Management Committee Member for the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ) since 2016 and is a former Committee Member for the Queensland Young Lawyers. Katrina joined the Women In Insurance executive committee in 2018 and is keen to further the interests of women in the insurance industry.
Laura is a solicitor at Lander & Rogers and has been practicing in insurance litigation, for both plaintiffs and defendants since 2012. She acts for Australian and overseas insurers on a range of personal injuries litigation, property, professional indemnity and public liability matters. Prior to joining Lander & Rogers, Laura was an integral part of a team with one of WorkCover Queensland’s panel firms, advising on common law and statutory claims. She is also experienced in the public liability space with a particular focus on the obligations of principal contractors in workplace incidents, labour hire arrangements, and the contractual and insurance issues arising from those industries. Laura joined the executive committee in 2018 and is excited to work with its members to improve and advance opportunities for women in insurance.
Belinda is a director of Hughes and Lewis Legal, a specialised insurance and personal injuries firm. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2003 and has extensive experience in the area of insurance and risk management, commercial litigation and workplace disputes. Belinda acts for both public and private insurers, self insurers and corporations. She is a keen advocate and is regularly required to appear in Court, at tribunals and in conferences / mediations. Belinda has been involved in a number of key workers’ compensation decisions and is always focussed on advancing the interests of her clients. Belinda joined the executive committee in 2015 and is committed to providing a platform and assistance to women in insurance and those organisations supported by the Queensland branch of Women in Insurance.
Linda is the Elders Insurance Agency Development Manager in Central and North Queensland, assisting Elders Insurance Agents to grow resilient and high performing small businesses that leverage the Elders Insurance Franchise and invest in local communities.
Passionate about adding value and making a difference, Linda started her career in insurance in 2004. Like many, Linda “fell into insurance” when she accepted a role that was to be a short term stint while working out “what she wanted to be when she grew up” – in between travelling the world and finishing her Law Degree. Some eleven years later, Linda’s background in insurance is diverse having held a number positions in Agency and Business Development, Claims, Catastrophe Response Management, Change Management and eBusiness with both Elders Insurance (QBE) and CGU.
Louise Hazelton is a Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright Australia based in the Brisbane office. She works across QLD and NSW jurisdictions primarily in defence of medical negligence claims for private insurers and NSW Health. Louise also appears for doctors at inquests and assists with HCCC and other complaints. Louise has worked as an insurance lawyer for 12 years and also has experience in defence of public liability and workplace claims.
Kristi has a broad commercial and civil practice. She has appeared both led and unled in in a range of trials, applications (including for urgent injunctive relief), coronial inquests and interlocutory hearings in both state (Queensland and New South Wales) and federal jurisdictions. She has also appeared at settlement conferences and mediations involving both smaller and large multi-party matters.
She has a particular interest, and experience, in all facets of insurance law, an area she practised in extensively as a solicitor prior to commencing at the Bar. She also has experience in the areas of insolvency, planning and environment law, defamation and administrative review.
Kristi was admitted as a solicitor in 2009, and was a Senior Associate within HWL Ebsworth’s insurance team prior to commencing practise as a barrister.
Jillian is a Senior Associate in the property and injury liability team at Carter Newell Lawyers where she acts for insurers and corporations across a broad range of public and product liability disputes. Jillian provides advice on policy coverage, liability issues, dual insurance, contractual indemnities and quantum. Jillian has a particular interest in losses arising from foodborne infections, hotelier claims, fitness industry claims and mining industry claims.
Monica is an Associate in the general liability team at Moray & Agnew Lawyers. She has experience in a wide range of insurance matters, including claims arising from public liability incidents, product liability, property damage, workers’ compensation and motor vehicle accidents. Monica provides advice on liability issues, contractual indemnities, policy coverage and quantum. She has a particular interest in working on multi-party claims run concurrently under workers’ compensation legislation.
Steph joined the committee in 2016 and is an Associate in the property and injury liability team at Carter Newell Lawyers. She has extensive experience in the areas of public liability, property damage and compulsory third party claims, having worked exclusively for major insurers and self-insurers (both Australian and international) since admission. Steph provides advice on policy coverage, liability issues, dual insurance, contractual indemnities and quantum and has been involved in a large number of trials/inquests in the Queensland Supreme and District Courts and the Coroners Court of Queensland. Steph has a particular interest in catastrophic claims along with the evolution of social media and its use in litigation
Danielle is a solicitor in the General Insurance team at Hall & Wilcox. Danielle practices in general insurance and commercial litigation with a particular focus on professional indemnity and public liability claims. She also practices in employment practice liability insurance litigation in areas such as defamation, discrimination and adverse action. Danielle’s work involves providing assistance and advice to a range of insurers and organisations in respect of policy coverage, liability exposure, quantum calculations and settlement strategy.
Danielle is an Indigenous Australian, a proud Kabi Kabi woman, with a passion for insurance and equality, also sitting on Hall & Wilcox’s diversity and inclusion committee. Danielle is involved in Hall & Wilcox’s pro bono and community involvement program including volunteering with mentoring programs for high school students and volunteering with pro bono clinics assisting vulnerable people with disability and self-represented litigants.
Danielle is an Indigenous Australian, a proud Kabi Kabi woman, with a passion for insurance and equality, also sitting on Hall & Wilcox’s diversity and inclusion committee. Danielle is involved in Hall & Wilcox’s pro bono and community involvement program including volunteering with mentoring programs for high school students and volunteering with pro bono clinics assisting vulnerable people with disability and self-represented litigants.
Deepti is a lawyer in the Insurance and Financial Services Group at TurksLegal. She specialises in life insurance and acts on behalf of life insurers and superannuation trustees across a wide range of disputes in relation to claims on individual and group risk products including death, disability and income protection across various jurisdictions in Queensland. Deepti provides advice on the interpretation and application of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), policy construction, general legislative interpretation, and compliance, with a particular interest in underwriting and avoidance issues arising out of non-disclosure and misrepresentation. She advises trustees on their obligations under trust deeds and relevant superannuation legislation in relation to disability claims. Deepti also has experience in public liability and workers’ compensation claims.
Amel is a Senior Claims Consultant in the Queensland contingent of the Allianz Australia Limited Compulsory Third Party Division. Amel works within the Soft Tissue Injury Team specialising in planning and strategy, quantum assessment, fraud detection and best practice negotiation. Amel represents Allianz Australia at mediations and compulsory conferences where she utilises this skill set to provide quality outcomes for her area. Amel’s prominent background in Personal Injury Claims extends to a wide-range of areas including Life Insurance and Superannuation in which she worked on Income Protection, Total and Permanent Disability and Mortality Claims. Amel holds a Diploma of Business Marketing.