Rae Kyritsi, Caldera Dialogue & Consulting Services

Rae Kyritsi is a dispute resolution specialist working in the United States. With over 15 years of
experience, she is particularly well trained in the motivations that drive our decisions to reach
agreements at home and at work. In 2023, Rae founded Caldera Dialogue and Consulting Services,
where she supports the development of conflict management programs, change management, grievance
processes, and community dialogue.

Betsy Thomas, Faculty Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York

Betsy Thomas has deep roots in the art world in a career spanning 25 years. An ex- auction specialist,
independent art advisor, AAA certified appraiser, writer and educator, she is passionate about channeling
her insights and knowledge to clients and industry professionals.
As a Faculty member at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, she teaches courses in the MA Art Business Program
including “Valuation”, “Collection Building and Art Advisory” and a non-degree course “The Art of
Collecting” online.

Richard Bronswijk, Detective Inspector, Dutch National Police

Richard Bronswijk, detective inspector for more than 37 years at the Dutch National Police and involved
in art crime for almost a decade.
Although art crime is not a priority, the last 10 years the art crime unit had some great cases on a
national and international scale.

Dr. Richard Van Herzeele, Erasmus school of Law

Dr. Richard Van Herzeele completed his PhD, since published under the title “The State and the Art. The
Plural Policing of Art Crime”, at Queen Mary University London in 2023, He continues to write about art
crime and in 2025 he taught the Heritage Crime course at the University of Antwerp. Currently, he is
employed at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Giles Coghlin, Everest  

Giles started as a JB broker for Miller in 1996, crossing over to underwriting in 2012, heading up the
Zurich FAS Team, writing all 4 sub classes. He has since had success developing books for CNA Hardy,
Aviva and now Everest. He has just finished his tenure as Chairman of the JSC.

Nikki Hubbard MBE, Former Scotland Yard Detective

Nikki Hubbard MBE, a former Scotland Yard detective, served nearly 20 years tackling counterterrorism,
financial and organised crime. She led UK policing on honour-based abuse and shaped national policy.
The first Muslim female officer honoured by Queen Elizabeth II, she remains a trailblazer in law
enforcement and public service.

Richard Neylon, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP (HFW)

Richard is a partner at international law firm HFW. He leads the firm’s global Complex Environments
team. He is an expert in handling the legal aspects of extortions, kidnappings, hijackings and ransom
payments. He advises on major incidents and disputes, including for art/specie, special risks, war and
marine insurers.

Bruce Lane, The Hartford

Started work in London Insurance Market in January 1982.

Started current employment in October 1985

Senior Specie Underwriter since August 2006.

Served on JSC since its inception in March 2012.  Chairperson of JSC 2009 from inception to March 2014.

Robert Banks, Director, Quantum London Services Ltd

Robert has worked in Jewellers Block Insurance as a Broker for 35 years, beginning in a small Lloyds
broker, before moving to Millers, Oamps, Besso and Gallagher. In 2019 I set up (Quantum London
Services Limited). We now work as an MGA of our Australian office placing JB Binding Authorities into
the Lloyd’s market.

Dr. Phil. Stephan Zilkens – Managing Partner with almost 40 years of experience in insurance consulting Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH 

Dr. Stephan Zilkens received his doctorate in history of arts from the University of Cologne. His insurance career began as an art expert at Nordstern Allgemeine Versicherung AG in 1983, where he helped build up the German art insurance business and was responsible for sales, operations and claims. From 1990 to 2010, he worked for two insurance companies and two insurance brokerage houses as division manager, board member and managing director. He led Gothaer to market leader in the field of wind turbine insurance. His broad experience in various fields of the insurance market makes him an ideal partner for developing individual insurance solutions outside also of art insurance. In 2010 he founded Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH in Cologne and a company in Switzerland.

Sanne Letschert , Director of Cultural Emergency Response (CER)

Sanne Letschert is director of Cultural Emergency Response (CER) – an international organisation supporting and coordinating the protection of cultural heritage under threat in conflict- and crisis situations. CER was founded in 2003 as a programme of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development. As of early 2021, Sanne has led the transition of CER towards becoming an independent entity and is shaping its future on a strategic and organizational level to grow its impact and make the case for cultural protection as a humanitarian issue. Experienced in handling complex emergency situations, Sanne spearheaded the coordination of large-scale response actions in, among others, Ecuador, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Ukraine. Combining art history, cultural diplomacy and memory studies, her interest in the relationship between heritage and communities drives her in this work. For her, above all, heritage protection is about people. One of her main goals is to inspire and promote a more locally-led and inclusive approach to cultural- and humanitarian relief.

Sebastiaan van de Pas, Price Waterhouse Coopers

Bas brings over 25 years of expertise in the insurance industry, primarily as an actuary specializing in risk and valuation. As a partner at PwC, Bas is now dedicated to helping clients harness the transformative power of AI and GenAI within their organizations. He understands that successful AI adoption hinges not only on the right data and technology but also on a workforce that integrates these advancements into their daily routines. With a solid foundation in data and technology from his actuarial background, Bas has also gathered significant experience in workforce transformation. This dual expertise was developed during his tenure leading PwC’s workforce-related consulting initiatives across the EMEA region.

Dr George Manginis, Academic Director Benaki Museum 

George Manginis has been the Academic Director of the Benaki Museum since 2017. His publications encompass Islamic art and architecture, Sinai studies, Chinese ceramics, European decorative arts, and the Greek and Armenian diasporas, on which subjects he has lectured at SOAS, the Courtauld Institute, and the University of Edinburgh.

Alexander Herman, Director Institute of Art and Law

Alexander Herman is the Director of the Institute of Art and Law. His writing appears regularly in The Art Newspaper and he has been quoted widely in the press on art law topics. His books include Restitution: The Return of Cultural Artefacts (Lund Humphries, 2021) and The Parthenon Marbles Dispute: Heritage, Law, Politics (Hart Publishing, 2023).

Diane Jackson, President, Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, Inc.

Diane brings 38 years of dedicated experience in inland marine insurance, specializing exclusively in fine art risks. Throughout her career, she has successfully placed insurance for major fine art collections and exhibitions, working closely with specialized insurance markets to secure broad and competitive coverage for her clients. Diane is a trusted advisor to museums, municipalities, and universities, offering expert counsel on loan agreements, large-scale exhibitions, and complex coverage questions. She and her team conduct thorough reviews of clients’ risk management practices. Diane’s expertise has been instrumental in insuring some of the largest and most prestigious art exhibitions in the United States, making her a recognized leader in the fine art insurance industry.

Emma White, Liberty

Emma is a Senior Fine Art & Specie Underwriter at Liberty in London. Emma joined the team in 2016 on the Liberty graduate programme, and underwrites across the Fine Art, General Specie, Cash in Transit and Jewellers Block product lines. Emma is currently studying towards her FCII and is a specie representative on the Lloyd’s Marine and Energy Under 35s Network and IFASIC committee.

Jennifer Schipf, Global Chief Underwriting Officer (GCUO), Fine Art & Specie, AXA XL

As the GCUO of Fine Art, Specie and Private Client at AXA XL, Jennifer is responsible for establishing the global strategy for client solutions, underwriting guidelines, and ensuring overall profitability. With more than twenty years of experience in the specialized fine art insurance market, Jennifer has extensive experience in Underwriting, Distribution, Claims and Risk Consulting. She played a key role in founding the AXA Art Prize in both the US and in the UK. Jennifer is actively involved in various arts organizations, teaches courses on fine art underwriting, and frequently participates in industry educational conferences. She is also dedicated to her own artistic development, pursuing continuing education in painting. She is an active patron and Trustee of the New York Academy of Art and holds Board positions with IFAR, Tandem Press and other art-related organizations. Jennifer holds a BA in Art History and Economics from Georgetown University, along with a BS in Interior Architecture from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Rachel Myrtle, Head of Specie & Fine Art, Aon

Rachel joined Aon in 2017 and specialises in fine arts insurance. She oversees bespoke insurance solutions for art collections and high-value assets, supporting Aon’s global network of clients with deep expertise from the London insurance market.

Jonathan Cooper, Pre-Risk Surveyor and Loss Adjuster, Lowers & Associates 

Jonathan Cooper, a distinguished Pre-Risk Surveyor and Loss Adjuster at Lowers & Associates, brings extensive expertise in risk, security, and insurance. Specializing in diverse classes of business and handling significant claims globally, he has addressed challenges from vehicle attacks and thefts of valuables to CIT robberies and various branch attacks. Holding a prestigious MSc in Security Management and Chartered Manager Status, he stands out as one of the most experienced individuals
in his field, demonstrating a commitment to excellence in risk management and security

Areas of Expertise
• Cash In Transit
• Jewelers’ Block
• Valuable / Vulnerable Cargo
• General Specie
• General Liability
• Mining

Ryan Tocicki, President of Premier Insurance Services

Ryan Tocicki is the President of Premier Insurance Services and has over 20 years of experience in claims handling, security consulting, and risk management for the Lloyd’s and US Markets. Premier has office in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Toronto, Canada. Areas of expertise include Fine Art, Jewelry, High Net Worth Private Clients, CA Wildfire Loss Prevention/Risk Mitigation, Precious Metals, Antiques/Collectibles, and General Specie.

Neil Watson Managing Director – UK Operations Lowers Risk Group

With over three decades of dedicated experience in the insurance sector, with a significant focus on Fine Art Jewellery and Specie insurance, Neil has established strong rapport with leading insurers both in London and globally. As the Managing Director of Lowers Risk Group’s UK Operations, Neil spearheads the company’s expansion initiatives, operational strategies, and cultivates relationships with insurers and their clients. His responsibilities entail overseeing LRG’s comprehensive suite of enterprise risk management solutions. Neil is entrusted with driving growth across all LRG sectors, particularly emphasizing the London and broader insurance markets. Collaborating closely with all subsidiaries of Lowers Risk Group, he endeavors to introduce innovative ventures to the market, tailored to address the evolving needs of clients.

Grace Best-Devereux | Executive MCL Adjuster, Sedgwick

Grace is an Executive Major Complex Loss Adjuster at Sedgwick, based in London. While living and working in the UK, Grace travels internationally for surveying and claims assignments- including to California in response to the 2025 LA Fires. With a specialism in Fine Art and Specie, and a hobby for market and data analysis- looking at the big picture provides context for her work as an expert witness, loss adjustor, and FAJS risk specialist.

Johannes Matthes, Hienfeld

I began my career at ING Group as a Compliance Officer before moving into underwriting. I later joined Delta Lloyd as Chief Commercial Officer for Non-Life division. For the past eight years, I have been serving as CCO/COO at Hienfeld.

Iwan Röpcke | Country Manager Belgium and The Netherlands – Lloyd’s Insurance Company S.A.

Iwan Röpcke obtained a Master in Diplomatic Sciences and an MBA at Ghent University. In Brussel (ULB) he finalized, after his studies at the College of Europe, a Master in Aerial- and Maritime Law. After a first work experience at the King Baudouin Foundation he set his first steps in marine insurance at Marsh. He pursued his further career essentially in commercial roles in the insurance industry within the Benelux: Account Manager at Aon he became Sales manager Health and Regional Director at Winterthur. He was Commercial Director and Member of the executive Committee at AXA Partners and Grass Savoye Belgium (Willis Towers Watson). He joined Lloyd’s Insurance Company on January 21st 2019 as Business Strategy & Development Manager. Since January 1st 2020 Iwan is Country Manager for Belgium & The Netherlands.

Dimitri Mollenbrok | Manager Underwriting Fine Art & Private Lines – Hienfeld

After 17 years working as a broker—initially in cargo and later in general insurance—I joined Hienfeld, where I’ve been for the past 16 years. I currently serve as Manager Underwriting for our Fine Art and Private Lines. Although we are based in the Netherlands, our portfolio extends throughout Europe.

Kirri Fisher | Senior Underwriter, Fine Art & Specie – Everest Insurance®

Originally from a legal background, Kirri started her insurance career at AXA Art in 2013.
Kirri joined UNIQA in 2017, one of the leading insurance companies in Austria/Central and Eastern Europe until the closing of their London office and has since been at Everest where she was promoted to Senior Underwriter this year.

Marc Johnson, LFI Forsenic Accounting

Marc joined the forensic accounting field over 20 years ago and is a CPA and CFF qualified expert witness with extensive experience in investigative accounting and litigation support. Over his career, he has worked with major property insurers, law firms, and corporations on a wide range of complex financial disputes. Based in the United States, Marc focuses on the evaluation of damages relating to property loss, theft, and business interruption, and is often engaged in the pre-planning phase to support clients in preparing for potential claims. He has been involved in the assessment of losses from large-scale catastrophe events, including the World Trade Center disaster and major U.S. hurricane activity. Marc is recognized for his thorough and objective approach, and he works closely with clients to ensure their interests are fully represented across industries including energy, financial institutions, real estate, education, and cultural institutions.

Joshila Sharma | ACII, is the founder of Amalthea Underwriting

Joshila Sharma, ACII, is the founder of Amalthea Underwriting (MGA) and a consultant with All Speciality Underwriting, a Lloyd’s coverholder headquartered in Belgium. She brings more than 26 years of expertise  n Fine Art & Specie underwriting within both the Lloyd’s and Company markets. Her specialist focus is on general specie risks, with particular emphasis on metals and mining exposures.

Dr. Daniel Fredrich | Pinepeak

Daniel co-founded Pinepeak in 2023 to tackle the global threat of catastrophic wildfires. A climate and deep tech innovator, he brings over a decade of research experience in computational modelling from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. Previously, he drove engineering breakthroughs at Daimler, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens across the automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors, expertise he now channels into wildfire resilience.