The Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) has presented former GM William Legge with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr Legge, who retired from the role last year after more than a decade overseeing the organisation, was presented with the honour at yesterday’s annual general meeting in Sydney.

Chairman Heath Amber said UAC had grown to 135 agencies from 65 and combined member gross written premium had increased to more than $7 billion from about $2 billion during Mr Legge’s period as GM.

“The industry has taken him around the globe, but in 1997 he joined the underwriting fraternity with MB Insurance, and in his words ‘became aware of the benefits of what the underwriting agency market brings to the wider industry,” Mr Amber said.

Mr Legge, who became UAC GM in 2011, is only the fourth recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Board election results were also announced yesterday, with three directors offering themselves for a further term and four additional members nominating.

Emergence Insurance Founder and CEO Troy Filipcevic joins the board, while NTI EGM Commercial Michael Edmonds, AFA Insurance National Business Development Manager Anthony Porter and Canopius Group Head of Coverholder and Delegated Authority Asia Pacific Jeanene Hill were all re-elected. 

Lion Underwriting MD Kurt Nilsen, a former UAC Chairman, did not seek re-election after 10 years on the board.

Mr Amber, Austbrokers Partner Development Director, was not required to stand for re-election and retains his role as Chairman. UAC company secretary and Axis Underwriting Services Head of Strata & Development Emily Walker; finance director and Rhodian Group CEO Simon Lightbody; and Blue Zebra CEO Colin Fagen were also not required to stand for re-election

UAC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, says this year more than 2500 brokers attended 10 industry expos around the country.

Mr Amber said UAC will continue to expand its regional footprint, and next year Launceston in Tasmania will be added as an expo venue.