"The Professional Broker`s Choice"

Our Underwriters

Our active underwriters and claims managers are all insurance company trained and experienced professionals and are well known industry identities. They are:

Tony Thrift

Tony has more than 40 years experience in the Insurance Industry. He commenced working in London as a Broker in the area initially of “Contract Works Risks” and subsequently in Property and Liability. At the time he emigrated to Australia in 1991 Tony was a Director of a Lloyd’s firm of Brokers.
Since arriving in Australia he has worked in the area of Underwriting Agencies and was instrumental in the formation, in 1995, of Global Underwriting where he was the C.E.O. until he took early retirement in 2003.

He is well known in the London and Australian market as being a person who is always willing to assist with the placement of business and with his background understands the problem that Brokers encounter not only with Clients but also with Underwriters.

Tony was a Director of the Underwriting Agencies Council till 2003.

Tony is General Manager - Underwriting and responsible for the C.E.O functions of Underwriting. Tony is also Underwriting Principal Property, Package and Specie of Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4011

E-Mail: tony_thrift@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Mobile: 0402 434 498

Tim Ezzy

Tim has been in the industry for just on 20 years principally writing Liability, Accident and Property classes with brief stints early in his career in Marine and Motor. Tim has been a named underwriter on Lloyd's Facilities for just on 10 years. For some time now he has specialised in Liability and has been a Senior Liability Underwriter with underwriting agencies and also an international insurer writing SME, high hazard and corporate Liability together with contingency business.

Tim is a Senior Associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Finanace and is a Certified Insurance Professional

Tim is Underwriting Principal of Australis Liability and Accident is responsible for the management and development of all aspects of our Liability and Accident Portfolios.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4009

E-Mail: tim_ezzy@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Mobile: 0413 345 406

Jasmine Abedi

Jasmine is a Senior Underwriting Associate of Australis Liability and Accident and her primary responsibilities are new business, renewal and endorsement underwriting of our Liability and Accident portfolio.  

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4037

E-Mail: jasmine_abedi@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Michael Andrews

Michael is an Underwriting Associate of Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING and his primary responsibilities are new business, renewal and endorsement underwriting of commercial package portfolios, together with our specie portfolio.  

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4038

E-Mail: michael_andrews@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Roy Daly

Roy commenced his insurance career in the London Market over 30 years ago. He has specialised in Professional Liabilities Insurance for 27 years working as an underwriter and a broker. He is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner, a Fellow of the UK Chartered Insurance Institute and he holds a Diploma of Financial Services (General Insurance). Roy emigrated to Australia in 1982 and is an acknowledged expert in Professional Liabilities Insurance.

Roy is Underwriting Principal of Tasman Underwriting with responsibility for the strategic direction, portfolio management and overall development of our Professional Liabilities Portfolios.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4004

E-Mail: roy_daly@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4056

David Hackforth

David is a career Contract Works and Engineering Underwriter with over 30 years experience specialising in these classes. He had a brief period as a broker some 20 years ago which exposed him to client demands and an insight into the pressures experienced by brokers which has positioned him to empathise with the daily pressures you experience. He is a well known and respected underwriter and an active contributor to ANZIIF industry training programmes and discussion groups.

David is Underwriting Principal of Australis CONSTRUCTION and  is primarily responsible for strategic direction, case underwriting and portfolio management of our Construction and Engineering Portfolios.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4019

E-Mail: david_hackforth@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Erica Lamming

Erica is an experienced litigator and claims manager who specialises in public liability, professional indemnity and malpractice matters. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce and is an Admitted Legal Practitioner.

Erica is Claims Principal of Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING with responsibility for the management of our Claims Department, the case management of all claims, claims service standards and quality assurance. 

Direct Telephone:  (02) 9200 4033

E-Mail: erica_lamming@ausuw.com

Facsimile:  (02) 9200 4099

Danny Pereira

Danny joined Tasman Underwriting more than 5 years ago and has been exposed to most facets of underwriting Professional Liabilities. He has developed into an experienced Public Liability and Professional Liabilities administrator.

Danny is an Underwriting Associate of Tasman Underwriting and supports our Professional Liabilities Underwriting Team.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4018

E-Mail: danny_pereira@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4056

Nicole Platt

Nicole has 10 years experience in the insurance industry.  During this time she has worked in both underwriting and claims management roles.

Nicole is an Underwriting Associate of Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING and is responsible for underwriting our Association Liability business and general liability underwriting.

Direct Telephone: (02) 9200 4036

E-Mail: nicole_platt@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (02) 9200 4099

Paula Vivares

Paula is a specialist Professional Liabilities Underwriter and for the past 6 years has underwritten this class for Lloyd`s Syndicates and major Australian insurers. Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree together with Certificate III in Financial Services (General Insurance).

Paula is an Underwriting Associate of Tasman Underwriting. She is based in Perth and whilst focussing on Western Australian brokers she also underwrites Professional Liabilities business from all states and territories.

Direct Telephone: (08) 6254 2130

E-Mail: paula_vivares@ausuw.com

Facsimile: (08) 6254 2131

Jim Petdro

Jim has been a member of the insurance industry for over 25 years. He has substantial experience in underwriting and claims management in property and other classes. Jim also has experience working at State Management level and has successfully managed the Victorian Branch Offices of several Australian and International Insurers.

He is a Senior associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and is a Certified Insurance Professional.

Jim was a founding executive director of specialist insurance agency Aged Care Insurance Services which was acquired by Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING, in July 2007.

Frank van Rooy

Frank's 25 plus years in the insurance industry spans multiple classes of business where he has held senior underwriting management positions with several Australian and International Insurers.

He is a Senior Associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, a Certified Insurance Professional and Associate Director of the Underwriting Agencies Council..

Frank was a founding executive director of specialist insurance agency Aged Care Insurance Services which was acquired by Australis GROUP UNDERWRITING in July 2007.

Nicole Koutsaplis

Underwriting Associate Australis care

Direct Telephone: (03) 8629 8803