Zurich Financial Services Australia’s (ZFSA) local COO Hilary Bates has joined the board of directors at the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).

Ms Bates has two decades of insurance experience across Australia, New Zealand and the US.

She has held her current role since May and was formerly ZFSA COO for Life & Investments and Chief Claims & Operations Officer in General Insurance. She has also worked at QBE, Chubb and Sparke Helmore.

“I am honoured to be elected Chair of Chairs,” Ms Bates said. “ANZIIF plays such an important role in enhancing the standards, education and professionalism of the insurance industry in the APAC region, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to this.”

ANZIIF CEO Prue Willsford welcomed Ms Bates and said she was a longstanding advocate of ANZIIF, and her extensive industry knowledge and experience would be invaluable to the board.

ANZIIF has more than 15,000 members in over 50 countries and offices in Australia, New Zealand and China.