Multiple organisations operating in Australia’s insurance market have disclosed personnel moves set to take effect in the coming months, covering law firm promotions and distribution appointments.
Erica Dobson (pictured) will join Gilchrist Connell’s principal group in Perth on July 1, 2026, the firm’s sixth such appointment taking effect on that date. Dobson works across personal injury, medical negligence, health law, and life insurance disputes. Her practice history includes work on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, with a concentration on medical treatment liability and health-related claims.
Chief executive officer Belinda Cohen pointed to Dobson’s client relationships and technical grounding as the basis for the promotion. “Erica brings strong technical expertise, sound judgement, and a real care for clients to every matter she works on. Her promotion strengthens our national health capability and reflects the depth of talent we continue to grow across the firm,” Cohen said. Dobson joins five other lawyers elevated to principal on the same date – Adriana Reina, Julian Peake, Christopher Harrison, Jade Wishart, and Richard Scougall – alongside the recent lateral hire of principal Leah Watt.
Barry Nilsson has confirmed 30 promotions across its national offices, the highest single-round total in the firm’s history, to take effect on July 1, 2026. The announcement comes after a period in which total headcount climbed by close to 25% between June 2025 and mid-2026. The promotions cover a range of levels and functions: two principals, three special counsel, six senior associates, 16 associates, one billing team leader, one people & culture manager, and one marketing & communications manager. Staff across the insurance & health, family law, and business services divisions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart are included.
Sydney-based lawyers Natalie Aprea and Stephanie Carter are among those moving to principal, putting the firm’s total principal count at 47. Aprea has more than 15 years of experience as a litigator, with a focus on medical negligence, professional conduct, health, and insurance law. Carter’s practice centres on insurance litigation matters, including public liability, product liability, policy interpretation, and management liability.
Chairperson and insurance & health principal Peter Murdoch said the scale of the round is tied to the firm’s expansion over the past year. “The past 12 months have been a period marked by immense growth for the firm, and it is pleasing to see our people stepping into new roles and opportunities that are reflective of the future direction of the firm,” Murdoch said. Associates make up more than half of those promoted – a pattern that Murdoch noted has now held for five consecutive rounds. “This demonstrates not just a fleeting focus on the next generation, but a steadfast commitment to the future of the firm by identifying and investing in growth and development opportunities for our greatest strength – our people,” he said.
The insurance & health team accounts for a sizeable share of the 30 promotions, following an earlier wave of six principal appointments in late 2025 that extended the firm’s national insurance capability. “As our largest promotion round to date, this marks an important milestone for the firm and reflects the momentum we have built in recent months, while strengthening the team that will help shape the firm's future,” Murdoch said.
The following promotions take effect July 1, 2026:
Allianz Retire+ has disclosed that adoption of its AGILE retirement income product climbed by more than 30% between January and mid-2026, following a series of adjustments to the product, including lower fees and earlier access to lifetime income payments. The company cited its own research, conducted with Core Data in March 2026, in which 71% of surveyed financial advisers identified access to capital as their primary concern for clients in retirement. Allianz Retire+ said AGILE is structured to allow capital withdrawals alongside a guaranteed lifetime income stream and describes it as the only product of its kind in the Australian market to also incorporate investment growth exposure and downside market protection.
Kiru Anantharaj has been appointed senior manager, retirement solutions, within the firm’s distribution and marketing team. Anantharaj spent the most recent part of her career at AMP as a retirement specialist and has previously worked at Insignia Financial, MLC Life Insurance, BT Advice, and ANZ – a career spanning more than 20 years across insurance, advice, retirement, and superannuation.
Chief distribution and marketing officers Catherine van der Veen and Lucy Foster said the hire is intended to deepen the firm’s reach into the financial advice sector. “We are thrilled to welcome Kiru to the team at a time of strong growth for Allianz Retire+. She brings deep relationships across the advice community and a proven ability to support advisers in delivering better retirement outcomes for their clients. As momentum continues to build in the retirement income category, strengthening our distribution capability is critical to ensuring more advisers and clients can access innovative solutions like AGILE,” they said.
Anantharaj said the appointment comes at a point of increasing demand from advisers for retirement-specific solutions. “There is a growing need for solutions that give retirees confidence and flexibility, and advisers are increasingly looking for partners who can help them navigate this complexity. I’m excited to be joining Allianz Retire+ at such a pivotal time and to work closely with advisers to deliver better retirement outcomes,” she said.
