PROGRAMME

PRESENTERS

Kerry Walker

Kerry Walker has specialised in the marine insurance industry, including both underwriting and claims, since 1993.  She originally worked as a marine underwriter for Royal & Sun Alliance in the United Kingdom and moved to New Zealand in 2007 at which time she joined the Vero Marine claims department.  Kerry was appointed to the role of Claims Manager in July 2012 with overall responsibility for the Marine Claims team.  Kerry brings to Vero Marine an array of skills and knowledge of the industry which are utilized when handling many of the larger and more technical marine claims. 

Willum Richards

Willum Richards is New Zealand’s only qualified average adjuster.  He started work in the UK with a large Average Adjusting firm and spent 19 years in Average Adjusting and senior insurance roles in Asia and the USA before coming to New Zealand in 2007.  He set up Willum Richards Consulting Ltd in 2011 and now offers average adjusting and insurance claims consultancy from his base in Wanaka.  

Mike Austin

Mike is a senior surveyor, adjuster and team leader of the marine division of Cunningham Lindsey. He handles major marine hull and cargo casualties, and is part of the global marine specialist practice group of Cunningham Lindsey. 

He has been involved with the Coastguard Rescue Service, sailed as Master on the sail training ship Spirit of New Zealand and has lectured and examined on seamanship and navigation. Mike has a sound understanding and knowledge of marine insurance policy application and adjustment from his many years’ experience as surveyor, adjuster, expert witness and marine consultant. 

He is a member of the Nautical Institute, Royal Institute of Navigation and International Institute of Marine Surveying.  

Stuart Macky

Stuart started his career with CB Thompson Marine as a marine surveyor in 1979, prior to joining GAB Robins, now Cunningham Lindsey, as a loss adjuster in 1988. 

Stuart has extensive experience spanning over 30 years in the Marine Insurance industry. His background includes roles as the claims manager for a major New Zealand underwriter and over 25 years as a senior Marine Surveyor and Loss Adjuster. 

Stuart has considerable legal knowledge and extensive experience of hull, cargo and liability casualties from General Average to pleasure craft claims. 

Matthew Flynn

Matthew Flynn, Partner “LLB” McElroys is an experienced litigation lawyer specialising in maritime law and marine insurance law. Matthew has a particular focus in the marine industry and regularly acts as a specialist advisor to a wide range of participants in the marine industry both within New Zealand and internationally.
Matthew has advised numerous marine insurers, P&I Clubs, ship owners, charterers and exporters on a wide range of maritime issues with a particular focus on cargo, international trade, charter parties, bills of lading, FD & D disputes as well as a full range of indemnity issues including hull and machinery and cargo insurance. He also regularly advises the NZ marine industry on shipbuilding and ship repair matters.   

Neil Beadle

Neil Beadle is Special Counsel to DLA Piper is a commercial litigator who has particular expertise in maritime law. 
He is regularly instructed by insurers on a broad range of claims. He has led the insurance team in a number of important maritime law cases, succeeding in the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. Neil is the current President of the Maritime Law Association of Australia & New Zealand (MLAANZ) and immediate past chair of the New Zealand Branch.

He has also successfully defended prosecutions under the Health & Safety in Employment Act and is regularly instructed by insurers on statutory liability and other claims. Those include representing health professionals at inquests, mental health inquiries, disciplinary proceedings and in defence of civil litigation.

John McKelvie

John McKelvie is the Underwriting & Risk Manager at Vero Marine. He has a law degree, and is a Chartered Risk Manager and graduate of the British Institute of Export. He has been with Vero Marine since 1991, in various claims and underwriting roles. He is a qualified (TDI) diver, but hasn't (as yet) dived on the remains of the wreck of the Rena on Astrolabe Reef.