I sit as Chair to the IRLA Legacy Claims Committee.IRLA is the UK market body for insurance and reinsurance legacy management professionals. The IRLA Legacy Claims Committee was set up to oversee work and provide strategic direction in relation to:(a) the management of the industry’s response to emerging issues in respect of latent disease and legacy claims;(b) the management of litigation where the Committee agrees there is a market imperative to act;(c) adopting and by agreement refining frameworks for the management of time exposed claims, shaping and responding to the legislative and judicial landscape for such claims;(d) coordinating and influencing the range of stakeholder groups, including:(i) the Government, regulators, and public officials across the UK;(ii) the live and run-off market;(iii) claimant and defendant legal representatives;(iv) ELTO;(v) re-insurers;(e) promotion of the Committee’s work to the wider insurance community, regulatory and legislative bodies, policy holders and claimants and their representatives; (f) any working groups the Committee decides to establish to fulfil the purposes set out above.

Pro is a specialist outsourcing and consulting company supporting the (re)insurance market, with significant scale within the U.K. EL/PL space.Acting as an extension of your team, we provide expert support in the areas of underwriting, claims management, financial and technical accounting, risk and auditing, utilising innovative technology solutions.We work with clients to identify the changes needed to improve their business processes, minimise operating overheads and implementing the controls required to meet evolving regulatory requirements, delivering innovative and tailored solutions to meet our clients’ needs.Our UK offices are in Gloucester, Glasgow, central London, Horsham and Liverpool. We are a global company with offices in York (Philadelphia), Cologne and Unna (Germany), Argentina, and Zurich (Switzerland). I lead Pro’s Specialist Claims team, a team of circa 90 specialists providing claims handling services to live market and legacy carriers of U.K. EL/PL liabilities. Initially tasked with undertaking a review of the business to determine the optimum target operating model, leading to delivery of a programme of transformation including people, structure, processes, technology solutions, quality assurance, quality control, MI capability and a review of supplier arrangements, to ensure that we drive the best outcomes for our clients through a value-added proposition.If you have an interest in EL/PL claims and/or historic liabilities in the legacy space, please do get in contact to share perspectives and let me explain how Pro can support your business.

My role focus was oversight of the claims and reinsurance run-off, reporting directly to the CEO and Board. The role was strategic in nature, with only 4 direct reports; working with key stakeholders and delivery partners to ensure that claims were handled in an efficient/effective manner. The portfolio was made-up of a wide range of historic EL/PL claims, primarily arising in the public sector, specifically local authorities (including social care, education and emergency services). Most of the claims we dealt with were disease, illness or abuse, but we also managed a smaller number of other claims such as failure to remove/social care claims, misfeasance and malicious prosecution etc. My role focus was to drive performance of the claims run-off to ensure MMI delivered quality outcomes for the Scheme Creditors. I achieved this, via:Review of claims handling processes (internal and external)Implementation of enhanced controls frameworkReviewed policy coverage and creation of centralised bank of verified records Implementing best practice guidance Performance management Drafting SLAs, review/implementation of TPA strategy Transformation of our service delivery modelAuditing TPAsDevelopment/implementation of enhanced management informationUtilisation of data analytics to drive efficiencies in the run-off Development of bespoke software to deliver an end-to-end claim handling system (including automation of Reinsurance, Excess and LOI calculations and workflow)Technical and policy cover referrals from team/suppliersLiaison with Scheme Creditors Formulating claims handling strategy, with a focus on developing areas of law/group litigationLiaison with legal teams in respect of high value claims, group litigation and trialsLarge reinsurance projectReview and presentation of claims to reinsurers I also dealt with retained in-house claims consisting primarily of group actions; institution claims and/or cases of a particularly sensitive nature.

I joined the organisation as part of a succession plan and worked in conjuntion with the Claims and Reinsurance Manager to oversee the MMI claims run-off, working with key stakeholders and delivery partners to ensure that the run-off claims were handled efficiently.My role focus was to drive performance of and efficiencies in the claims run-off to ensure we were delivering quality outcomes and good value for the Scheme Creditors.I quickly became involved in reviewing existing processes and driving change, via the introduction of new initiatives, processes and controls.I was responsible for management of the disease and illness claims portfolio and assumed conduct of half of the retained in-house caseload made up of group actions and institutional abuse claims. I implemented a review of the supplier arrangements, prepared and implemented service level agreements, developed detailed claims handling guidelines and introduced an audit process. I also reviewed the ELR processes and controls to secure a pass at the 2019 ELR audit (MMI’s first pass since the requirements were introduced).In this early period, I also took involvement in the following:-- Review of in-house caseload- Review of supplier performance - Review and preparation of disclosure documentation for IICSA- Consultation with ABI and the Scottish Executive in respect of law reform - Review and formulation of targeted claims handling strategies (including securing contributions from perpetrators in abuse and social care claims)- Representing the organisation at market meetings and forums

Managed a claims team dealing with EL/PL claims for occupational disease on behalf of a number of run-off insurance estates and private clients. I worked closely with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and oversaw the administration of recoveries on behalf of our clients under the terms of that scheme.Our team ranged in size as our client base increased, and new notifications fluctuated with market trends. At it's peak, I was responsible for a headcount of 32 members of staff with responsibility for technical claims strategy, claims process review, new business generation, client/stakeholder relationship management, claims quality review, quality standards, defining best practice, organisational transformation and innovation, improving quality standards and ensuring the delivery of our SLAs. My day-to-day duties involved supervision, dealing with referrals from the team, regular resource reviews, resource management, project management, training, business development, attending stakeholder meetings, internal/external audit and oversight of sub teams (covering all functional aspects of the business save for regulatory compliance, facilities management and finance).I oversaw widespread transformation of the organisation at every level, from operations reviews, streamlining of operational/support functions through to the implementation and continuous review of targeted claims handling strategies; including technology solutions and counter fraud strategies. My approach was informed by increasingly sophisticated data analytics, developed in-house and in conjunction with our key stakeholders.I represented the organisation on a number of outside bodies/working parties including IRLA, the IDCWP and ABI working parties. I reported directly to the Managing Director and attended Board Meetings.

Supported the Claims Manager via the following responsibilities:-Training & developing the teamDefining and implementing best practise Working with offshore resource to develop bespoke claims handling softwareAudit functions (set up internal and external audit frameworks and performed audits of team and external suppliers)Liaison with FSCS, Scheme Creditors and Scheme AdministratorsTrial reviews Referrals from the teamBusiness development including acquisition of new clients, system development and data migration

I joined BAICS as a Senior Claims Inspector primarily to handle mesothelioma claims, in light of the decision of the UKSC in the Employers' Liability Policy Trigger Litigation.My role was to handle claims from the cradle to the grave, instructing suppliers on litigated claims (on a non-D.A. basis) and to process reimbursements under the Scheme of Arrangement and Financial Services Compensation Scheme. I quickly became involved in dealing with referrals from the team, mentoring, training staff, formulating claims handling strategies at an organistaional level and system development. I became a member of the Senior Management Team and assumed a number of areas of responsibility including the internal/exernal audit function.

During my time with Zurich I worked in the Occupational Disease Claims Team, latterly as a Claims Technician, handling a wide range of high value disease claims, taking referrals from the team and authorising high value payment requests. Throughout my time with Zurich, my caseload became increasingly wide and challenging, ranging from group actions and test cases in short tail/low value disease claims, to higher value claims for mesothelioma/legionnaires (and all sorts in-between). I was initially employed on Zurich's Major Client Team as a Claims Assistant Technical, where I was the nominated disease Claims Handler for what was, at the time, the largest EL risk in the U.K., along with a number of other risks; including leading multinational retailers, industrial/commercial clients and global Motor Manufacturers.Later I was promoted to the position of Claims Controller Technical on the newly formed Global Corporate UK Team. During my time with GCUK I headed up a team of six staff dealing with all types of disease claims for Zurich's Global Corporate client base. This was an extremely challenging and high profile role that I enjoyed immensely. I was again promoted to what was my final role with Zurich, the role of Claims Technician, where I worked closely with our legal teams on a wide range of high profile litigation and test cases. I also supported the development of the team via referrals, training and approval of large loss payments.During my time at Zurich, I contributed to a number of transformation projects and worked with the audit team to complete external audit of our panel firms. I also attended the Panel Forum where we developed and shaped Zurich's claims handling and litigation strategy.I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Zurich Insurance Plc and will forever be grateful for the experience I gained and the friends/connections I made whilst working for Zurich.

Working predominantly for a Lloyds of London Underwriter with a large SME portfolio, I handled mixed bag liability claims from cradle to the grave. The work was extremely wide in nature, covering all types of loss, including Personal Injury, Disease, Property Damage and Contractors All Risks. Operated with a delegated authority, referring directly into the Lloyds Manager and Underwriters on large losses, including claims with reserves over £2m.

Handled a wide variety of insurance claims and provided front line advice and support to personal and commercial policyholders across all lines of personal and commercial (SME) lines of business. Left to move back into full delegated authority handling role.

The firm was a Panel Solicitor for The Accident Group (“TAG”). I worked as a fee earner on a wide variety of Personal Injury claims. These were primarily EL and PL claims sourced via TAG. I dealt with claims from intimation to conclusion, including negotiation of costs, liaising with clients and instructing experts as appropriate. My duties included attendance at interim and Pre-Action Disclosure Application Hearings on behalf of the firm. Left due to TAG test case outcome (which impacted on the recoverability of ATE funding arrangements).

I was approached to return to work for Claims Direct, this time directly with them in-house based at their head office. I managed a caseload of 1000+ “in-house” personal injury claims which involved liaison between clients, solicitors, barristers, external claims managers and other experts.Managed office account, authorised to incur disbursements and instruct suppliers.Left due to the company entering liquidation.

Employed to help manage Job Centre Plus roll out. Worked on the front line assisting in matching candidates to vacancies and providing advice and support.

Temporary position to cover maternity leave.

The company worked as a panel solicitor for Claims Direct.Initially I worked on claims to the MIB under the “Untraced” and “Un-Insured” Drivers Agreements, before being promoted to work on private client caseload of 250 Personal Injury claims.Progressed claims towards settlement by gathering information and documentation, including drafting witness statements. Dealt with all aspects of the claims, from the instruction of all appropriate experts through to the negotiation of damages and costs.Left due to the Watchdog campaign relating to Claims Direct.