Judging Panel

Martin joined the insurance industry in 1986 and has remained in the claims arena since then covering a variety of roles across most business classes including operational claims handling, project management, operational management and strategic planning.

Based in the Bolton Centre of Excellence, Martin is responsible for all aspects of Commercial Property and Motor Trade claims in the UK for AXA Insurance, including the operational delivery and cost control, together with the development and implementation of the strategic plans for the Property Supply Chain.

Martin is part of the ABI Property Working Group and has been involved in industry activity around issues and responses to Surge events, and more recently under insurance. He also sits on the CII Claims Faculty Board.

Martin is a regular contributor to the trade press on property claims articles and also presents at Claims clinics and Conferences on property and supply chain related issues.

David has over 25 years' experience working in insurance claims having worked for CU, CGU and Aviva before joining Chubb as UK /Ireland Property Claims Manager. In 2006 he joined the Ecclesiastical group where he has responsibility for leading the Claims and Risk Services functions, setting strategy and philosophy in partnership with key stakeholders, with the aim of delivering unsurpassed levels of Customer Service and technical standards in support of Group business objectives.

Following more than 22 years service as a police officer, Steve has spent over 17 years working in counter-fraud. As Head of Financial Crime for Covéa Insurance, Steve leads the development of Covéa Insurance’s internal and external counter-fraud strategy, encompassing both claims and underwriting fraud.

Steve was appointed as Chair of the Insurance Fraud Investigators Group in December 2016, which has the overall objective of supporting the fraud investigation community by providing a platform to share knowledge, expertise and intelligence together with accredited training.

Prior to joining Covéa Insurance, Steve held senior fraud management roles with Equity Insurance and Zurich Insurance together with specialist investigation roles with Cunningham Lindsey and Capita Insurance Services. From 2008-2011

Steve also chaired the North West Fraud Forum, which had the objective of sharing counter-fraud advice between local businesses and public authorities within the region and now also works as an Independent Consultant.

Sue is the Head of Claims for Aspen Risk Management, She set up the technical and operational standards and management of the claims function in 2011. This now sits across 2 platforms, handling Commercial Claims to include GL, Property, D&O, PI, Cyber and Marine Transit. She has helped shape the products offered, identifying client needs with market research and relationship management. Earlier roles include that of founding Director of Hawes McCall and Associates, Head of Group Claims for Novae (now Axis) and Head of London Market Claims for Independent Insurance.

Sue has over 35 years’ experience in change management, operational management and technical claims handling and investigation, spanning most classes. She has an advanced diploma in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute; is a Chartered Insurer; sits on the Post Claims Network Board; is a past President of the North Downs Insurance Institute and the current Chair of the Society of Claims Professionals.

Sue is a great supporter of Diversity and Inclusion, holding a role as the D&I Officer for North Downs Insurance Institute from 2017-2019. She helped with the CIIs Dive In Campaign at Lloyds, is also a member of the Link Insurance Network; regularly attends the Interlaw Diversity Forum Events and has a special interest in mental health strategies in the workplace.

Clive Nicholls

ACII, ACILA, FCILA Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland

In March 2015, Clive was appointed Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland for Crawford. He joined Crawford in 2009 and had previously been Senior Vice President, Global Markets and Client Development for Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific.

Clive began his career in 1981 with Robins Davies & Little and moved to GAB Robins in 1983 where he worked in a variety of senior roles, leading to his appointment as CEO in 2000. He is ACI and FCILA qualified. After leaving GAB, Clive joined Accidentcare which, following a merger and flotation on the AIM market, became Aquilo Plc. In 2006, Clive was instrumental in setting up a building repair network business, before transferring to Rok Plc as Business Development Director, Maintenance Division when the business was acquired in 2007.

Post and Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift has written and commented about the insurance industry since 1998. He has appeared on television speaking about topics as diverse as the insurance implications of Michael Jackson's death to the consequences of consolidation on motor premiums; and is a past winner of the British Insurance Brokers' Association journalist of the year and Association of British Insurers general insurance trade journalist prizes.
Jonathan has chaired/ hosted over 100 insurance events from roundtables involving a small specially invited audience, to addressing over 2000 people at the British Insurance Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. He is listed as a top 50 insurtech influencer by Insurtech News and presently coordinates the All Party Parliamentary Group for Insurance and Financial Services.

Andy has delivered change and growth in executive leadership roles across insurance and the insurance supply chain for the last 20 years. Andy has led on every facet of insurance including technology, pricing, sales, servicing and claims across both direct and broker models. 

Having also crossed over into the supply chain, including executive leadership roles in Loss Adjusting and the associated trades, Andy has a valuable first hand insight into the design and ‘delivery of the promise’ of general insurance. 

Andy is a great believer in people creating added value; driving culture and investing in people alongside new technology models to bring together both convenience, and a personal touch when it makes a difference.