Austbrokers AEI Group MD Tim Wedlock has replaced Edgewise Insurance Brokers director Graham Stevens as President of the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA).

Mr Wedlock says his appointment is “a great honour and responsibility”.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the greater insurance community, as well as CEO Dallas Booth and the rest of the board and our divisional committees, on ways of promoting our NIBA message for the future, being the voice for our broking partners around Australia,” he said.

Aon Risk Services director Eric Harris has replaced Mr Wedlock as VP.

Mr Stevens will remain on the board as a director. Dianne Phelan, Group Operations Manager for BJS Insurance Group, was appointed to the board in December, joining Willis Towers Watson’s Marigold Magnaye as the only other woman on the 12-person board.

Mr Booth says Ms Phelan’s appointment “goes some way” to redressing the gender imbalance.

“It would be great to have more women represented on our board to reflect the changing broker demographic, and this is the first step in the right direction,” he said.

DeConno & Blanco Insurance Brokers director Peter Blanco and Vero State Manager Queensland Peter Roberts have both retired from the board. Before being appointed by Vero in December, Mr Roberts had worked as a broker for 33 years.

Marsh COO David Duffield will soon retire from the board to join the industry’s Code Compliance Committee following the retirement of Catlin Singapore director and Aon Charitable Foundation Chairman Stephen Lardner.