Judges

Ann has been a member of the Manchester Claims Association (MCA) for over 17 years, and was honoured to be voted as Chairman for 2024. The MCA promote learning and development in the North West claims sector, and also offer networking and social opportunities for it’s members.

As Senior Client Relationship Manager of Examworks Investigations, Ann draws on over 35 years’ experience in insurance claims. She began her career as a claims handler with Norwich Union in 1987, before moving to AGF Insurance, where she gained invaluable experience as a Claims Inspector, investigating all levels of motor, property and EL/PL claims.

Ann has been with ExamWorks Investigation Services since its inception in 2006 and assists in the growth of new business, helping maximise opportunities for our new and existing customers. Alongside this, Ann works closely with the operational team on the development of new products that are in line with our customer requirements and industry changes, ensuring we deliver a top quality service 100% of the time.

As of June 2024, Ann is a board member of the Insurance Fraud Investigators Group (IFIG).

Chris started his career with Commercial Union in Edinburgh before joining McLarens Toplis, where he held various positions in the South and Midlands. In 1993 he was appointed as one of their youngest ever Directors. 

During his career Chris has been involved in practically all aspects of loss adjusting, ranging from handling claims right through to setting up the industry’s first managed contractor network, establishing call centres and claims management operations. 

In 2001 Chris was involved in the sale of McLarens to Capita plc where he was appointed an executive director of insurance services but disagreeing with the direction of the business, he left 18 months later and subsequently led a team which acquired the former QuestGates partnership. The aim was to establish a business which was owner managed and focussed on service delivery and innovation. QuestGates has since grown organically and by acquisition and, with around 600 employees, is now the largest independently owned adjusting company in the UK as well as being the UK and Ireland partner in the global vrs adjusting organisation.  

Chris is married with three adult children and a pedigree cat. In his spare time he enjoys swimming, time on his narrow boat (hopefully not at the same time) and supporting Liverpool FC. 

Following completion of a master’s degree in business and international law, Chris Jones started his career in the insurance industry in 2000 and is currently the International Underwriting Association (IUA) of London’s director of legal and market services. 

This entails overall responsibility for the association’s underwriting and claims committee output across all non-life insurance and reinsurance classes of insurance. 

Chris also works with IUA member company compliance practitioners on meeting their regulatory and legislative requirements and is a qualified company secretary. 

John has an extensive career in most disciplines of the insurance profession both in the UK and overseas covering underwriting, claims, broking and operations disciplines. He has held senior roles at Aviva, Miller Insurance Services, Capita Insurance Services, ACORD and more recently the Chartered Insurance Institute where he was the COO for more than 6 years. John is currently the executive director of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters. He is a NED and a member of the Worshipful Company Insurers as well as a Trustee of The Insurance Museum. 

Max is the Operations Director for Flood Re. Flood Re is a re-insurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of home insurance policies. In this role Max oversees the operations teams which includes claims management.

Max has over 25 years’ experience in insurance. He has been involved in several assurance reviews that included extensive assessments of insurance processes including claims. Over the years Max has built a strong passion on how organisations can streamline processes to improve customer services and enhance efficiency.

As a Flood Re executive Max led the world first Build Back Better Initiative which has since received widespread support from the Insurance industry ensuring that eligible properties are repaired to a more resilient standard following a flood.

Max is also a Board Member of BPHA Housing Association where he also sits on the Audit and Risk Committee and the Group Treasury Committee.

Pete Allchorne, partner at DAC Beachcroft, is Immediate Past President at the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).

He has almost 25 years’ experience advising a broad range of insurance clients in respect of motor, employers’ liability and public liability claims, with a particular interest in the transport and logistics sector. He is responsible for managing relationships with some of the firm’s key insurance clients.

Working with the firm’s strategic advisory team, Pete advises on a wide range of market issues. He is a regular commentator and panellist on issues impacting the motor insurance market, including civil justice reforms, and the development of automated vehicle technologies and their impact on motor insurers.

Within the firm’s claims solutions group, Pete leads ‘Innovations Lab’, the research and development hub responsible for developing new innovative claims solutions to benefit clients, where he works closely with the firm’s technology law, IT and business improvement and change teams.

Pete has previously chaired FOIL’s motor sector focus team, during which time he was co-opted as a member of MedCo’s Expert Audit and Peer Review sub-committee. He is also a member of the Gibraltar Insurance Institute.

Richard is the Claims & Legal Services Director at Markel UK, a qualified solicitor with 15 years in the insurance industry. Richard is responsible for the people, policy and processes across Markel UK’s claims function and Markel’s ABS law firm, Markel Law. Richard is also the Chair of the Claims Community Board at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the leading professional body for the insurance and financial planning sector.

Ross is a partner in the Financial & Specialty Risks team of Beale & Co in London and has been practicing insurance law for over 24 years. He specialises in Directors & Officers liability, Professional Indemnity and complex insurance coverage matters.

He is a director on the board of Global Insurance Law Connect (GILC),  a growing international network of 26 insurance law firms, all with significant experience of working with London Market insurers.

Ross is also a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers’ London Market Sector Focus Team for Professional Negligence.

He frequently speaks on topics of interest to the insurance industry, with recent events this year focussing on AI and D&O, and an “insurance school” aimed at junior insurance professionals.

Suzanne Munroe is a director and head of the clinical negligence department at Switalskis, appointed to the position in 2013. She has over 33 years’ experience within the claimant sphere, having previously being appointed partner at three other law firms prior to joining Switalskis.

Suzanne’s strong leadership has shaped a reputation for exceptional client care and successful outcomes. Her highly successful team have decades of experience in a wide range of medical negligence specialisms, working nationally to provide client support.

Specialising in maternal and child birth injury claims, Suzanne demonstrates her expertise in handling cases the most complex of cases including brain injury, cerebral palsy, neonatal hypoglycaemia, and infant loss. Her holistic and personable approach not only prioritises securing compensation but also coordinating rehabilitation efforts to enhance her clients’ quality of life. Her mantra being “it is not simply about securing the largest compensation pay-out” but more about helping to improve clients lives and secure the best rehabilitation packages for them.

Her leadership extends beyond claims, raising awareness of medical negligence issues and advocating for change to enhance accountability within the healthcare system. Her unwavering commitment to her clients’ well-being, coupled with her tenacious pursuit for change, has earned Suzanne widespread praise from peers, clients and industry stakeholders alike.

Suzanne won the Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year at the Personal Injury Awards 2023 and Claims Director of the Year at the British Claims Awards 2023.