Loss adjusters in the Asia-Pacific region should make more of the fact their representative body carries the word “chartered”.

That is the advice of new Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters (AICLA) President Michael Collins, who told the opening ceremony at the Asian Claims Convention in Hong Kong last week that the term “chartered loss adjuster” denotes recognition of individual members’ high qualifications and standards of professionalism.

He says the term “loss adjuster” was first used in 1941, with the formation of the Association of Fire Loss Adjusters, whose members were involved in claims associated with the 1940/41 German bombing campaign of the UK.

The “conduct and standards” of members were monitored by the association, and it was recognised in 1961 with the granting of a royal charter. This was followed by the formation of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA).

CILA was active in Australia alongside two other loss adjusting institutes representing Australian and New Zealand adjusters until 1997, when AICLA was formed through the merger of the three groups.

“After some resistance AICLA was permitted to use the word ‘chartered’,” Mr Collins said.

“Suitably qualified members can be called chartered loss adjusters. A royal charter is a formal document issued by the monarch as a legal instrument, and ‘chartered’ naturally means qualified as a member of a professional body that has a royal charter.

“AICLA and CILA are the only loss adjusting institutes in the world authorised to use the word.”