The Australian Professional Indemnity Group (APIG) celebrated its 20th anniversary last week with a cocktail party in the city where it started.

President Jeremy Scott-Mackenzie says it “has come a long way from its beginnings as a lunchtime discussion group”.

In a speech to guests at the Melbourne event last week, he said APIG now has more than 500 members, including a significant number in Europe and the US.

Mr Scott-Mackenzie, who is the Australasia Commercial Institutions Manager at AIG Australia, says the commemorative cocktail party was held in Melbourne rather than Sydney to recognise the southern city’s role in APIG’s foundation.

Meanwhile, the program for the group’s national conference on September 3 is close to being finalised.

The conference preparation involves not just underwriters, but also specialists from across most sectors of the industry. Speakers this year will include experts from outside the insurance industry.

The winner of the Frank Earl Award, which recognises overall excellence, will be presented at a gala dinner following the conference.