Follow this link for the Australian Liability Conference.
Join us to gain fresh perspectives and insights to manage emerging risks and make the most of new opportunities.
This conference features a keynote address, presentations, case studies, panel discussions and networking opportunities. Topics for this year’s conference include:
- Claims, disputes, and litigation risks in a changing market
- AI, fraud detection, and cyber threats in liability insurance
- Employment law updates and economic insights
- Emerging risks such as product liability and lithium-ion batteries
- Practical strategies for managing difficult conversations and disputes
The conference program is out now — check it out!
We look forward to delivering a range of technical knowledge that will help you understand the current state of the industry and make the best decisions for you and your business.
As a hybrid event, you can join this conference online.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn, connect, and grow as a professional in the insurance industry.
For further information, please contact the ANZIIF Events Team.
Conference Speakers
We are delighted to introduce some of the speakers who will present at the conference. Attendees will hear from:
- Kris Faafoi — Chief Executive, Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ)
- David Friar — Barrister, Mills Lane Chambers
- Megan Howe — Head of Claims, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- Rob Merkin — Special Counsel, Duncan Cotterill
- Campbell McKenzie — Director - Forensic and Cyber, Incident Response Solutions Limited
- Todd O'Donoghue — Principal Forensic Investigator, Halliwell
- Janene Paki — National Lead: Financial Adjusting Services - Executive Adjuster, McLarens
- Rebecca Scott — Partner, Wotton Kearney
- Nick Tuffley — Chief Economist, ASB Bank
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the conference, attendees will be able to:
- Identify and recall key legal and regulatory trends related to claims, disputes, insolvencies, and liability issues in the insurance sector.
- Identify the core principles of the Insurance Contracts Act and its implications for underwriting and claims management.
- Summarise emerging technologies in fraud detection, AI applications in insurance, and cybersecurity risks.
- Understand fundamental concepts of general/product liability, employment law updates, and economic trends affecting the insurance industry.
Acknowledgements
ANZIIF gratefully acknowledges the generous assistance and support of the New Zealand Liability Conference Organising Committee.
- Misha Henaghan — Partner, Wotton Kearney (Committee Chair)
- Edwin Boshier — Partner, Duncan Cotterill
- Rachel Halpin — Specialist Consultant - Major Loss and Complex Business Claims, Vero
- Jac Heale — Executive Broker, Gallagher
- Monica Maharaj — Regional Claims Manager - Liability, NZI
- Michael McKenzie — Underwriting Manager, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- Jeff Stagg — National Lead: Casualty & Professional Indemnity Services - Executive Adjuster, McLarens
Kris Faafoi
Kris Faafoi
CO \ Chief Executive
ICNZ
Kris Faafoi joined the Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhua Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) as chief executive in April 2024.
He is a former member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister who served in a number of roles, including Minister of Justice, Immigration, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Broadcasting and Media. Before that, Kris worked as a journalist, including at TVNZ and the BBC.
David Friar
David Friar
Barrister
Mills Lane Chambers
David specialises in commercial disputes, including class actions, insurance, corporate and insolvency disputes.
He has represented defendants in a number of class actions, including most recently acting as senior counsel for the promoters of the Intueri IPO in the Fullarton class action. He is acting for the receivers in litigation alleging breach of duty in the Villa Maria and the Ormiston Rise receiverships, and has acted for professionals and directors in a broad range of litigation.
David has acted in a number of insurance disputes, including the Steigrad litigation in the Supreme Court (section 9 charge over a D&O policy), the Dodds case in the Court of Appeal (misleading conduct by an insurer), the ICNZ case in the High Court (declaratory judgment over meaning of damage in Canterbury), and the Fletcher case in the High Court (entitlement under a life insurance policy).
Before joining the bar last year, David was a partner at Bell Gully for 12 years, including a number of years as head of the litigation department. He was named by Benchmark Litigation as New Zealand Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2021. Before his time at Bell Gully, he worked in New York for six years as a litigator at Paul, Weiss.
Amanda Halfacree
Amanda Halfacree
Head of Financial And Professional Risk
Gallagher
Amanda has worked in the Insurance industry for over 18 years and has specialised in liability lines for most of the last 16.
She started her career in New Zealand as a broker at Marsh before moving into underwriting at AIG New Zealand, AIG Australia and CGU Australia.
Eight years ago she returned to New Zealand and to broking with Gallagher’s specialist Financial and Professional Risks team (FINPRO).
She has managed both large and small teams for over 13 years and now as Head of FINPRO for Gallagher’s she leads a experienced team of 34 who provide comprehensive liability advice across all sectors of New Zealand business.
Dr Grant Lester
Dr Grant Lester
Forensic Psychatrist
Retired
His background has been in the treatment of severe and chronic psychoses and personality disorder in secure mental health facilities and prisons employed by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.
His private work and research interests have been into the querulant and vexatious complainant and litigant and he has researched with Ombudsman’s Offices and Courts throughout Australia.
He presents to and trains staff of courts, government and private organisations in the management of complex clients and employees, unreasonable complainant or vexatious litigant behaviors including both administrative techniques as well as risk assessment and management of aggressive and violent threats and behaviours.
Campbell McKenzie
Campbell McKenzie
Director - Forensic and Cyber
Incident Response Solutions
In 2019, Campbell founded Incident Response Solutions, a specialist forensic and cyber security consultancy. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a Director at PwC New Zealand, where he led forensic technology and cyber security practices. His journey began in law enforcement as a founding member of the NZ Police Electronic Crime Laboratory, where he was at the forefront of digital investigations.
Campbell has provided expert forensic and cyber security services in cases involving regulatory investigations, corporate fraud, insider threats, and data breaches. His expertise also extends to government inquiries, cyber security strategy development, and whistleblower investigations
Rob Merkin
Rob Merkin
Special Counsel
Duncan Cotterill
Rob is Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Reading in England, Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Auckland and Distinguished Professor in the School of Comparative Law at the China University of Politics and Law in Beijing. In addition, he is a visiting Professor at the University of Sydney, teaching an intensive insurance law module to Masters’ students. Rob has taught insurance law in a number of other institutions, including the University of Queensland, Hong Kong University, City University in Athens and National University of Singapore.
As well as advising insurance companies and brokers, Rob gives seminars to lawyers, the insurance industry and national insurance law associations worldwide. In particular he has spoken on a number of occasions for the NZ Insurance Law Association and the Australian Insurance Law Association, and has given regular updates for the Lloyd’s Market Association and the British Insurance Law Association. Rob is presently acting as consultant to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the ongoing project to reform New Zealand insurance law. Rob sits as an arbitrator, and has had a number of appointments in England, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Rob has written a number of texts including:
- Colinvaux’s Law of Insurance in New Zealand (2nd edition, December 2017).
- Insurance Contract Law.
- Reinsurance Law.
- Arbitration Law.
- Insurance Law in Hong Kong.
- Marine Insurance Legislation.
- The Law of Motor Insurance.
- Marine Insurance: A Legal History.
Rob’s books have on three occasions won the annual prize from the British Insurance Law Association. He is also co-author of Sutton’s Law of Insurance in Australia and edits the Journal of Business Law, the Lloyd’s Law Reports, Lloyd’s Maritime Law Newsletter, Arbitration Law Monthly and Insurance Law Monthly. From 2005 to 2011 he was co-editor of Legal Studies, the journal of the Society of Legal Scholars.
Todd O'Donoghue
Todd O'Donoghue
Principal Forensic Investigator
Halliwell
With over 37 years in the fire sector, Todd held a number of roles within the NZ Fire Service before becoming part of the project team to establish Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
After the new structure was stood up, Todd took up the role of Risk Reduction and Investigations Manager which included overseeing Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s national fire investigation practice and activities to help reduce the risk of fires occurring.
In May 2023, as Halliwell went through a global expansion, Todd joined them taking up the role of Principal Forensic Investigator for New Zealand. Todd is proud to be part of the Halliwell team, who are now well established in New Zealand providing expert advice to the insurance and legal sectors on origin and cause of fires and other losses, as well as building performance and compliance matters.
Janene Paki
Janene Paki
National Lead: Financial Adjusting Services - Executive Adjuster
McLarens NZ
Rebecca Scott
Rebecca Scott
Partner
Wotton Kearney
Rebecca also advises on a broad range of professional indemnity and disciplinary claims against professionals, including solicitors, accountants and engineers. Rebecca often handles PI claims that intersect with employment and has specialist knowledge on professional disciplinary risks from workplace harassment and bullying.
Nick Tuffley
Nick Tuffley
Chief Economist
ASB Bank
Nick Tuffley was appointed as ASB’s Chief Economist in January 2007, having previously worked at Westpac and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
Nick studied at Canterbury University, graduating with a Master of Commerce in Economics.
He and the rest of the Economics team provide regular analysis of economic developments and the outlook through written publications and media comments.
Their key objective is to help the bank’s clients make better-informed business and personal finance decisions.
The Economics team has won 4 Consensus Economics Forecast Accuracy Awards for their NZ forecasts.
Award Categories & Criteria
Thank you to our sponsors
Are you interested in sponsorship opportunities for this event? For more information on how your organisation can benefit as a sponsor of this leading professional development event, please contact Barbara Maruno, Partnerships Manager by email at [email protected].
