Australia's ICA makes key board changes following three resignations

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has made key changes to its board following the resignations of Suncorp's Gary Dransfield, Swiss Re's Mark Senkevics, and RAA's David Russell.

ICA has appointed Sue Houghton, general manager insurance at Westpac, as president of the council and chairman of the board.

Houghton replaces Dransfield, previously CEO insurance at Suncorp, who stepped aside on July 1. Houghton's appointment expires on December 31, 2021.

Additionally, the ICA board appointed Lisa Harrison, chief executive officer insurance product and portfolio, Suncorp, to its board.

The ICA Board also accepted the resignations of Senkevics, managing director and head of Australia & New Zealand at Swiss Re, and Russell, chief executive of RAA Insurance.

ICA CEO Rob Whelan said: “Gary has been a highly regarded Board Director since 2017 and his contribution to the insurance industry is much appreciated. The ICA is delighted Sue has agreed to take on the role of President. Sue is a highly accomplished industry leader with extensive experience in the financial services sector.

Houghton said: “It is a privilege to be taking up this role at such a critical time, as Australian insurers respond to significant change as a result of extreme weather events and COVID-19. We are united in our goal to deliver high-quality insurance for Australians in their time of need. We must also work to deliver insurance that is sustainable and affordable into the future.”

Harrison commented: “I am delighted to join the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as a Board Member at a time when the Council’s role advocating on behalf of the industry, customers and the wider community has never been so critical. I look forward to working with my ICA colleagues and industry stakeholders to play a role in this important work.”

Whelan added: “On behalf of the Board I thank Mark and David for their contributions to the Insurance Council, the Board and the industry. Mark has served on the ICA Board for more than eight years and has helped the industry and ICA executive team through several royal commissions, dozens of inquiries, natural disasters, regulatory reforms and economic and political volatility. He was passionate about climate change initiatives and brought a global reinsurance and strong consumer focus to Board discussions. We wish him well in his new role as Swiss Re’s Head P&C Underwriting for APAC. For the past five years, David has been a staunch advocate for motoring club-owned insurers, South Australians and regional customers, and has been a champion of the Code of Practice.”