JOHN NEAL

CEO Lloyds

John was previously Group CEO of QBE where he was responsible for running a $14 billion gross written premium (GWP) business with over 14,000 employees in 37 countries. John refocused QBE’s business around commercial and specialty lines, disposing of non-core portfolios and reducing costs by over $350 million. Before becoming CEO, he held a number of roles at QBE including Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Operations Officer of the firm’s European operations.

Prior to this, he led a management buyout of Ensign to establish a dedicated Lloyd’s Managing Agency. As CEO of Ensign, he grew GWP to $300 million to create the leading specialist commercial motor underwriter in the UK. He also worked at Bankside Managing Agency, where he was the youngest active underwriter at Lloyd’s. He started his career at the Crowe Underwriting Agency, where over the course of a decade he grew UK GWP from £3 million to £100 million.

We are delighted John will be attending the LMForums Leaders of Tomorrow Conference where he will give the keynote lunchtime address.

MICHAEL WALSH

COO Allied World

Qualified Chartered Management Accountant recruited from AIG by Allied World in 2003 to set up its finance function in the UK. Ran that department for over eight years progressing to Financial Controller & Compliance Manager for both Lloyd’s and Company market business. Took on more operational focus in 2009 and was part of the Allied World management team which in conjunction with Capita Managing Agency were successful in launching AWH 2232 at Lloyd’s in 2010.

Key contributor to the successful relationship with CMA and “shadowed” the roles of their COO and FD from an early stage culminating with Allied World Managing Agency taking control of the day to day operations of Lloyd’s syndicate 2232.

Graduated from the inaugural Allied World HIPO (High Potential Leadership) programme in March 2011. Promoted to SVP - European and Lloyd’s COO in March 2012 where he now has responsibility for Delegated Underwriting, Underwriting Operations, Business Transformation / Operational Change, Facilities, Administration, Business Continuity Planning and Outsourcing. Over 18 years insurance experience.

DOMINIC CHRISTIAN

Global Chairman of Aon Benfield

Member of the Global executive of Aon

Prior to this he was co-CEO of Aon Benfield. He was a Group Board Director of Benfield Group plc, CEO of its International Division and CEO of Benfield Ltd. Dominic began his career in the mid-1980s at specialist reinsurance broker JK Buckenham, joined broker Greig Fester in 1989 and became a director in 1994. He has spent a significant portion of his career broking retrocession business and, when his colleagues allow, he endeavours to continue to do so.

Dominic is a Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a Director of The Bermuda Society, Chairman of the Lloyd's Tercentenary Research Foundation and Chairman of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (SCVA). In 2014 he was honoured to be elected as a Member of the Council of Lloyd’s. For 2015/16 he was President of the Insurance Institute of London. He was recently re-elected to the Court of Common Council of The City of London. He leads the Inclusion@Lloyd's Group – a contemporary approach to Diversity and Inclusion being in his view central to future business success. He was recently appointed Chair of ClimateWise.

Dominic holds an Honours Degree in History from the University of East Anglia and an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law.

BARBARA MERRY

Chairman of Risk and Audit Committee - Ed Broking LLP

Barbara brings a wealth of experience and insight to any conference having been in the market for over 20 years holding the positions of CEO at Hardy Underwriting Group, CEO of Omega underwriting group and in the early years; General Manager of the Corporation of Lloyd’s in addition to being a member of Lloyd’s Council and a seat on the Board of the LMA.

Barbara currently holds a number of senior roles in the London Insurance Market as Chairman of Lloyd’s broker Parker Norfolk and Partners Limited, Non-executive director and Chairman of Audit and Risk Committee for Domestic and Gen-eral Insurance Limited, Non-executive director and Chairman of Risk and Audit Committee for Lloyd's broker Ed Broking LLP, Non-executive director of Pool Reinsurance Company Limited, non-executive director and member of Risk Commit-tee and Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee for Argus Group Holdings Limited, Board trustee at the charity Fight for Sight including chairing its Finance Committee, Founder of IWIN, the women's forum set up under the auspices of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, founder member of the Insurance Supper Club network and member of the Lloyd's Inclusion@lloyd's group. Barbara is also an active and involved business angel investor.

ALISON DOVE

Head of PPL Market Relations & Communications - Placing Platform Limited

Ali Dove has worked in the London Market for over 10 years, with the majority of her time and expertise spent successfully implementing large change programmes across the Lloyd’s & London global insurance market. Her most recent claim to fame is the success of Placing Platform Limited (PPL), the high profile ePlacing Platform that really saw the London Market come together and deliver on the goals.

From May 2019 Ali will be working on a consultancy basis, with a strong focus on business transformation, strategy execution and stakeholder management, helping insurance companies exceed their potential.

PAUL FUREY PHD

Paul partners with organisations to translate their strategy into actual behaviour.

He gets teams to simplify intentions, clarify messages and then to (re)learn the behaviours required to deliver those intentions.

He operates across a wide range of industries which, in the last 12 months, have included hospitality, IT, finance, Professional Services and Insurance.

Paul has been involved in the field of behaviour and culture for over 30 years. His BSc. in Psychology from UEL included a study into the impact of assertive and submissive behaviour. He was awarded his PhD. by Brunel University in 1995 for his research into the development of a conflict resolution model for call centres.

He is a frequent blogger on applied psychology issues and runs regular interactive webinars on a variety of practical topics ranging from how to repair broken conversations to getting people to change their minds (voluntarily!). With the support of a great creative team, he also produces popular animated 3-minute videos on key leadership topics.

Paul is a keen ‘slow’ baker sourdough bread and a beekeeper.

ERIK JOHNSON

Head of Syndicate Management, Pioneer Underwriters

Erik’s background is in strategy, M&A, and corporate development having worked in Lloyd’s strategy team and as an Assistant Director with Deloitte’s Corporate Finance Insurance Practice. However, he started his professional life as a ballet dancer, training and dancing with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He currently works for Pioneer where he focuses on the strategy and management of Syndicate 1980.

Erik is an avid volunteer and is passionate about D&I. He was a founding Co-Chair of Link (LGBT Insurance Network), the Insurance Institute of London’s first Diversity Champion, and a founding Steering Committee member of iCAN (Insurance Cultural Awareness Network). He currently sits on the Inclusion@Lloyd’s committee and where leads its Partner Network Initiative, is a Council and ExCo member of the Insurance Institute of London, and steering committee member of iDAWN (Insurance Disability, Ability, and Wellness Network).

Erik is ACII qualified and holds a BComm (Insurance, Finance, & Risk) from the University of Calgary and MSc (Risk Management & Insurance) from Cass Business School.

LIA KONSTANTOPOULOU

Claim Professional, Marine Claims, Travelers Syndicate Management Ltd

Lia has been working in the London Market for over two years. She joined Travelers on the Graduate Scheme in 2016 and got promoted to a Claims Professional last September. She is part of the Marine Claims Team where she, being a Greek qualified lawyer with a specialisation in shipping, adds legal expertise to the claims process.

Lia strongly supports the initiatives of the London Market Group in enhancing awareness about the Insurance Market and the career opportunities available to young and talented students. She is an Ambassador of the London Insurance Life group and an Advocate of the Next Generation Insurance Group (NGIN). She is also a Mentor at the IIL Qualification Mentoring Scheme.

Lia holds an Honours Masters’ Degree in Maritime Law from the City University of London.

GEORGE REPARD

Client & Business Development Associate, Willis Towers Watson

George joined Willis Towers Watson on the Graduate Development Programme in August 2016. Prior to joining, George gained experience on a summer internship at Aon with their Political Risk and Structured Credit team – after which, he returned to his studies at the University of Exeter where he graduated from with a BA degree in Politics.

On a two-year rotational programme, George worked with the Cyber placement team, Western Europe broking management team, and the D&O placement team; before joining the Client & Business Development team in September 2018.