People and Talent Development Advisory Council (PATDAC) contributes to the achievement of professional excellence by providing a forum for discussion and debate about current industry trends and training needs for the insurance and finance sectors.
Catherine Dixon - Chair
Executive General Manager Human Resources
Vero Insurance New Zealand
Catherine has been part of the Suncorp Group for the last 15 years, joining Vero in March 2013 as the Executive General Manager Human Resources.
Catherine is accountable for the development, implementation and management of the People Strategy which supports the business objectives of Vero New Zealand and aligns to the Group’s overarching People Strategy.
Previously Catherine was the Executive Manager Human Resources & Communication for Suncorp Life New Zealand.
In 1999, Catherine joined the Life business of Royal & SunAlliance and supported the significant change to the business during her tenure including the acquisition and divestment of a number of businesses. Prior to joining the Suncorp Group, Catherine worked for IAG in both business and HR roles for 13 years.
Amanda Kovacs
Manager Learning and Governance
IAG
Amanda is the Manager Learning and Governance at Insurance Australia Group (IAG). Amanda is an L&D and HR professional passionate about developing people with 20+ years experience gained from various roles across Financial Services, Human Resources, Professional Services Industries and Group Training and Registered Training Organisations. Amanda joined IAG in 2012 and her engaging, collaborative and practical approach to supporting business learning needs sees her managing the IAG LMS and quality governance of learning program administration, accountable for streamlining learning operations whilst ensuring a consistent and effective learning experience for the people of IAG.
Prior to her commencement with IAG, Amanda spent eight years working in a Registered Training Organisation and Group Training Organisation managing the delivery and assessment of Financial Services and Business Services training and associated Traineeship Programs to multiple Financial Services and Professional Services companies across Australia . Amanda holds a Diploma in Management, qualifications in Humans Resources, Training and Assessment and Financial Services and is a mum to two teens in high-school.
Amanda is also passionate about Community Involvement and Netball, seeing her volunteer and mentor with partnering Community Organisations through IAG and as the Secretary and Public Officer on her local Netball Club Committee.
Laura Andis
Learning and Development Manager
Auto & General
Laura is the Learning and Development Manager at Auto & General joining in 2019. Laura is an accomplished learning professional and leader with some 20+ years’ experience across a diverse range of large, complex and heavily regulated industries including heavy industry, manufacturing, financial services and Registered Training Organisations.
Laura is motivated to inspire and empower people with confidence, to achieve their very best, by influencing and driving business outcomes while building and sustaining an engaged and high performing workforce; By identifying systemic learning strategies intended to develop and transform behaviours, attitudes and performance, and to implement sustainable frameworks that promote positive outcomes. Laura has a proven background in development and implementation of short and long-term strategic learning objectives across a variety of learning interventions including: pointed leadership programs and supervisory and individual targeted development programs; from compliance-based training and on-boarding, to capability development, diversity and inclusion, engagement, mentoring and coaching, talent for succession, and traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities, for which she has received industry recognition.
Laura has a Diploma in Vocational Education and Training, Training Design and Development, Management, Business and Human Resources, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Some fun facts, Laura also has a Statement of Attainment in Identify Hazards and Assess OHS Risks and Contribute to the Implementation of Strategies to Control OHS Risk from her heavy industry days, and is a qualified interpreter and translation holding a Bachelor of Arts, Interpreting and Translation.
Melinda Bance
General Manager, Learning & Development
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd
Melinda is a passionate Learning and Development professional in the role of General Manager of L&D at Allianz Australia where she is transforming the learning culture.
After 20 years in business roles leading and developing teams providing end to end support services of paraplanning, technical, compliance, software and professional development to financial advisers in Financial Services as well as large projects, Melinda moved into HR. This career change was attributable to Melinda building her portfolio of transferable skills and her passion to develop, coach and mentor others to be their best. Previously at Westpac, since 2014 Melinda has been leading Learning and Development teams partnering with business leaders and organisations to build capability to achieve their business goals.
Melinda has a Bachelor of Commerce major in Accounting, Certificate of Executive Leadership from AGSM, Diploma of Financial Planning from Deakin and is a busy mum with two teenage children.
Jessica Crow
HR Manager
Insurance Council of Australia
Jessica is the HR Manager for the Insurance Council of Australia joining the ICA in mid-2020. She is an experienced HR professional, with more than 10 years in various HR Management roles across professional services, financial services and smaller industry and employer associations. Starting out with an accounting and finance background, Jessica is able to blend the people and culture and financial sides of an organisation.
Prior to her commencement with the ICA, Jessica was in a product development role writing and developing commercial training programs in a cross section of industry. She is also an experienced trainer specifically in the HR, business, leadership and financial streams.
Fundamental to her career is her ability to coach and mentor others, and inject a little laughter and happiness into the world. Jessica hold a Bachelor of Business and Commerce major in Accounting and Finance, a Master of Commerce (HRM and IR), and Certificate IV in Training and Development.
Stephen Meyer
National Manager, Compliance and Training
SURA Pty Ltd
Stephen’s career and experience spans over 40 years in the financial services and general insurance industry holding roles in all facets of the industry.
He currently holds the role of National Manager, Compliance and Training at SURA Pty Ltd one of Australia’s leading Underwriting Agencies. Previous job roles include Operations Manager, Personal Lines Underwriting Manager, Commercial and Motor Underwriting Superintendent and L&D Consultant involved in all facets of training at both a national and regional level and in particular the areas of technical and compliance training.
Stephen’s contributions to the industry have included serving on various industry discussion groups including the Sydney Motor Underwriters Group (SMUG) and the Domestic Underwriters Group. He was a founding member on ANZIIF’s PATDAC Committee having previously served on that committee for 8 continuous years, and has also provided subject matter expert services to ANZIIF as a member for over 35 years.
Up till recently, Stephen held a part time teaching role for 17 years at TAFE NSW’s Western Sydney Institute focussing on the design and delivery of their Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma of General Insurance (which included ASIC’s Tier 2 and Tier 1 units of competency) programs. He has also provided facilitation and subject matter expert services to Kaplan.
Stephen currently holds a Diploma of General Insurance, a TAE40110 Cert IV in Training and Assessment, a Cert IV in Celebrancy and is a current Senior Associate and Certified Insurance Professional (CIP) with ANZIIF.
Rod Winders
Master of Education in Digital Learning
Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training
Diploma in Adult Education, and a Diploma in Financial Services.
Rod commenced in the general insurance industry as the National Training & Development Manager for Elders Insurance in August 2004 and moved into the role of QBE Group Senior Compliance Officer in September 2018 with QBE’s global Risk and Compliance team, supporting the QBE global compliance framework, across all divisional compliance and L&D teams. Rod currently consults and provides Instructional Design services with ANZIIF.
Rod has been a committee member of PATDAC since its inception in October 2004 as the Corporate Members Advisory Committee, CMAC. Rod served on ANZIIF’s SA Branch Executive Committee for 3 years, leading to his ongoing membership of the SA Charity Luncheon Committee.
Rod’s qualifications include, Master of Education in Digital Learning, Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training, Diploma in Adult Education, and a Diploma in Financial Services.