Thursday, 8 May 2025
Good evening, everyone.
Thank you, Yvonne, for your Welcome to Country. It’s great to have you back and thank you for having us here at your Town Hall. For those of you who don’t know, Yvonne is a councillor right here at the City of Sydney.
My name is Andrew Hall, CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia.
And it’s my great pleasure to welcome you to the ICA’s Annual Dinner.
This year’s dinner is especially meaningful, as we mark a major milestone: 50 years of service to the industry by the Insurance Council of Australia.
And what better way to recognise this milestone that to do it than surrounded by so many friends, partners, and distinguished guests.
I’d like acknowledge:
- The Honourable Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
- Sarah Court, Deputy Chair of ASIC
- Alan Kirkland, Commissioner of ASIC
- Suzanne Smith, Executive Board Member APRA
- David Locke, CEO and Chief Ombudsman at AFCA
- Stephen Jones, who until last Saturday was the Federal Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services — Stephen, it’s been just days but we hope you’ve been able to enjoy some down time, even if just for a moment.
- Also another good friend of the industry Anna Bligh, CEO of the Australian Banking Association who is also retiring and planning a stronger work life balance, thank you for joining us and thank you for all the support and engagement you have provided me and the team at the ICA.
- Our board members and industry leaders. Joining us here tonight we have Auto & General’s Ram Kangatharan, IAG’s Nick Hawkins, Hollard’s Paul Fahey, Llyod’s Tracey Bryan, Munich Re’s Scott Hawkins, QBE’s Sue Houghton, and Zurich’s Justin Delaney.
- In absentia and with their apologies I’d also like to acknowledge our Board members who weren’t able to make it tonight, our Chair and Suncorp’s Steve Johnston; Allianz’s Richard Feledy; Avant Mutual’s Natasha Fenech; RAA’s Tara Page and Youi’s Nathaniel Simpson.
I also want to recognise the many leaders with us tonight from across government – with numerous representatives from the Treasury, ASIC, APRA, the ACCC, and AFCA – and from across our industry – Katrina Shanks CEO of ANZIIF, Richard Kilpin CEO of the National Insurance Brokers Association, and Nick Cook the Chair, Christine Cupitt the CEO of Council of Australian Life Insurers and Rachael David the Private Health Association.
A big thank you to our Gold Drinks Sponsor, The Bridge International — the canapés and drinks in the Vestibule were an excellent start. The team is on Table 15 tonight, so please raise a glass their way.
To our Platinum Dinner Sponsor, Sedgwick — thank you for your generous support. You’ll hear from Sedgwick’s CEO, Diego Ascani, later this evening. The Sedgwick team is over on Table 6.
And to our Blue Carpet and Photography Sponsor, EXL who are seated on Table 21 — thank you for making sure we’re all camera-ready. The media wall is open all night (just not during speeches!) and your group shots will be shared via email tomorrow.
Joining us on stage tonight:
You’ll hear from our Board member Nick Hawkins — IAG’s CEO and our immediate past president, straight after entree.
Then after the main course, we’ll enjoy a lively panel discussion featuring some of the sharpest minds in Australian business journalism.
Hosted by Laura Jayes from Sky News, the discussion will feature the AFR’s Tony Boyd and Jennifer Hewett, and Ross Greenwood, also from Sky News.
This esteemed panel will be reflecting on their time covering our sector and broader financial services and business sector – the headlines that made news, the challenges that keep them and us up at night, and maybe a few stories that didn’t quite make the front page.
And we have of course had the Federal Election campaign over the weekend so Laura will no doubt delve into what the outcome may mean for Australia and businesses.
Onto some housekeeping.
In this big space there are plenty of people here from the Town Hall who can help you and point you in the right direction if needed.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, please stay calm and follow the instructions given by the Town Hall Front of House team.
And the bathrooms are located through the hall to my left here.
Now before I sit down, we are taking opportunity tonight to recognise the ICA’s 50 years of service to our industry.
And standing here tonight, looking out at nearly 400 of you — colleagues, competitors, regulators, policymakers and partners – I’m struck by the idea that what unites us as an industry isn’t about policies or premiums. It’s about people.
It’s about helping someone put their life back together when everything they know has been pulled apart.
And none of that happens without you.
This industry runs on the quiet work of thousands.
Claims assessors arriving first, not long after the SES leave.
Underwriters crunching data into peace of mind.
Actuaries finding logic in numbers.
Customer service teams whose calm approach brings relief to the anxious.
Corporate affairs teams navigating issues.
Engineers. AI specialists. Brokers.
Together, you help Australians recover, rebuild, and move forward.
So yes — we’re celebrating 50 years of the ICA. But really — we’re celebrating you.
Your commitment. Your expertise. Your purpose.
The belief that in someone’s hardest moment, we can make it better. That’s what makes this industry powerful.
And on that note, I say thank you and I hope you all have fun tonight.
