A celebration of life for Lion Underwriting founder and former Underwriting Agencies Council chair Kurt Nilsen will be rescheduled due to the approach of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The event for Mr Nilsen, who died late last month aged 52, was to be held on Thursday afternoon at the Southport Yacht Club on the Gold Coast.

“Most of you would be aware of Tropical Cyclone Alfred that is bearing down on the east coast and expected to wreak havoc in the Gold Coast area over the coming days,” Lion Underwriting posted on LinkedIn. “Due to this and for safety reasons, the Nilsen family have made the difficult decision to postpone Kurt’s celebration of life. A new date will be announced once the danger has passed.”

Cyclone Alfred is forecast to cross the southeast Queensland coast at category 2 strength late on Thursday or early on Friday.

Mr Nilsen was diagnosed with cancer early last year and the family has requested donations to the Pancare Foundation in lieu of sending flowers.

The foundation, which has provided support to Mr Nilsen and his family, helps people affected by upper gastrointestinal cancers.

A donation page in memory of Mr Nilsen can be accessed here.