ifasic Budapest 2024

Presentation – Crime Investigation Part II: Cross Border Cooperation

Project Leader of Investigations, Art Crime Unit, National Police of the Netherlands

Jan started his career 45 years ago in uniform in the republic of Amsterdam, becoming a detective in Rotterdam six years later. Since then, Jan has had many jobs in the field of investigation. After several promotions and a period of time at the bureau of internal affairs Jan became a team leader in the Organized Crime Unit. He dealt with mostly drugs (cocaine) and associated violence on an international level, before starting to fight crime in the field of art and cultural heritage two years ago.

Although this field seems to be a completely different form of crime, it follows the same principle, it follows the money. He’s particularly looking forward to sharing case studies from The Netherlands to show delegates how international crime thrives in a country that is politically stable, logistically strong, with a good economy and equipped with a good digital infrastructure.

Presentation – Diamonds in the Digital Age: AI Precision, Lab Creation, and Global Ethics

President, GCAL by Sarine

An eighteen-year veteran of the gems and jewelry industry, Angelo is currently President of GCAL by Sarine. As Chairman of Gemprint Corp, he has helped engineer state of the art diamond and gemstone identification instruments and advanced software systems for the world’s leading ‘fingerprint’ system for diamonds.  He holds several patents and trademarks in these systems.  He has co-developed mine of origin tracking systems and protocols for major international mining companies and diamond manufacturers, incorporating the Gemprint system.

In 2012, GCAL became the World’s only ISO 17025 Accredited Forensic Laboratory in the field of Diamond, Gemstone, and Jewelry testing.  That same year, Angelo spearheaded the RJC Certified Audit that resulted in GCAL becoming a Certified Member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

Angelo has testified in Federal Court as an expert witness and has lectured and assisted with on-air national TV interviews  including NBC The Today Show, ABC Good Morning America, and CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.

Presentation – Theft, Fakes and Fraud: Luxury Watches and Classic Cars in 2023

The Watch Register Managing Director 

Katya Hills is a Director at the Art Loss Register (ALR) and joined the company over 10 years ago. She founded The Watch Register as a subsidiary in 2014, providing theft checks and recovery services for luxury watches. The Watch Register is the leading global database of lost and stolen watches used by the pre-owned watch trade, insurers, police and victims of theft. She manages The Watch Register team, as well as handling business development for ALR and project managing the company’s technological database developments. Her background is in Modern Languages (French + Italian) and Art History.

Presentation – Theft, Fakes and Fraud: Luxury Watches and Classic Cars in 2023

Chairman, Art Loss Register

After graduating from Oxford in Politics and Economics, Julian joined Lloyd’s in 1970, becoming a Director at Hogg Robinson Group Plc, a leading Lloyd’s broker. A serial entrepreneur, since then he has founded the first specialist broker in political risks in 1973; Control Risks to specialize in international risk management including kidnap negotiations in 1976; the Art Loss Register (ALR) in 1990; The Watch Register (TWR) in 2014 and in 2024 the Classic Car Register (CCR) will be added to his existing Equipment Register (TER), established in 1995.

Julian has acted as an expert witness in international fraud and theft cases and has contributed to the improvement of standards in the art market. He farms in Shropshire and collects English watercolours 1760-1820 and Dutch master drawings. He served as a Colonel in the Ministry of Defence and was awarded the OBE in 1999 and QVRM in 2004.

Presentation – Gold Mining in Latin America: The Good, the Bad and the Very Ugly

Managing Director, International Adjusting and Surveying Services

Stephen is a Loss Adjuster and Risk Surveyor. Following 8 years working in the London Insurance Market he embarked on an international career that has taken him to postings in the Middle East, USA and South America.

In 2000 he founded his own firm based in Mexico to attend losses and surveys in all of Latin America. The firm specializes in all aspects of Specie, but with a large portfolio of Cash-in-Transit work and by risk surveys and claims adjustments at Gold, Silver and Diamond Mines in almost every country in the Americas.

Stephen has visited over 100 countries around the globe for claims and surveys, and next year (November, 2024) he will be celebrating 50 years working with the London & Lloyd’s Insurance Market.

Presentation – Alarm Systems, Safe Systems and Vaults: Tools for Managing Risk

Principal, General Security Consultants, Inc.

Thomas P. Prevas is President and Principal of General Security Consultants, Inc., a company specializing in protection evaluations for the insurance industry, located in Baltimore.

Prior to starting GSC, Inc., Mr. Prevas was a senior consultant with ITT-Hartford where he developed and administered the corporate security program country wide and in Canada.  The position was responsible for the protection of personnel, executives and corporate properties, providing underwriting management with risk evaluation and risk improvement services for commercial accounts with complex security exposures, consulting on losses, causal analysis and investigation of claims and staff training.

Mr. Prevas has a Master of Science Degree and has maintained the ASIS designation of Certified Protection Professional for over forty years. GSC provides litigation consulting services to several of the country’s  most prestigious and well known law firms and has testified in many of the largest and most complicated cases involving electronic security systems and monitoring, physical security, armed robbery, fire protection systems and monitoring, serious injury and death.

Panellist – Lost in Translation 

Head of Fine Art and Specie, Miller Insurance

Annabel has worked in the London Market insurance industry since 1995, with 20 years focused on Fine Art and High Net Worth underwriting.  Recently moving into broking at Miller, she is drawing on what she learned during her time as CEO of AXA Art UK and Underwriting Manager at Neon, to build a team of brokers and grow a successful, specialty business.  Annabel’s philosophy in life is that, so long as you’re still learning something new, you cannot fail but to make progress.

Presentation – Do Collectors own their Collections, or do the Collections own them?

Global Curatorial Director, Arius Technology

35 years in the art-world, as a valuer, specialist, Director and independent consultant servicing the entire art-world ecosystem of: artists, collectors, galleries, museums and art-financiers.  Senior technical and managerial positions held at Christie’s, Lisson Gallery, The V&A and now Arius Technology, a digital art scanning business that seeks to address the lack of reliable quantitative data in the art-world

Presentation – Mining Risks in Africa

Managing Partner for RG Security Consulting

Marius Potgieter is a highly experienced professional with 35 years of law enforcement, security, and risk management expertise across Africa and the Middle East. As the Managing Partner for RG Security Consulting, Marius serves clients and acts as a correspondent for Lowers Risk Group, addressing security and risk challenges in Africa.

With a degree in Business and a diploma in Police Administration, in 2019, he founded his own Loss Adjusting, Security & Risk Consulting company, focusing on FAJS (O. R. Tambo International Airport) with specific skills in specie and mining. Marius is recognized for his innovative approach to risk assessment, ensuring a clear understanding of risks in the market. He is well-known in the Secure Logistics Industry across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, regularly presenting at ICCOS Middle East and Africa on Specie related topics.

Presentation – Pollocks, Pokémon Cards, and Pinot Noirs; the specialized insurance of Specie items

Executive Major Complex Loss Adjuster – Fine Art, Jewelry, Specie | Sedgwick International UK

Grace studied sculpture, art history, and business with an honors degree in her undergraduate education in America, prior to moving to London to pursue a Masters degree in Art Business at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Completing her degree with distinction, she focused on East Asian ceramics, Contemporary art, and Insuring art. She’s pursued further certification and education in the areas of art crime, art market value & fair value analysis, artist market analysis, art market data & analytical tools, Old Master market analysis & valuation, wine investment analytics, and principles of conservation.

Grace now adjusts claims globally with insureds ranging from private collectors to major institutions. Grace has worked as a FAJS adjuster in the London market for a number of years, recently joining Sedgwick in 2023 as a member of their Major & Complex Loss team.

Panellist – Lost in Translation

CLASS UNDERWRITER, SPECIE – at Ascot Group

James started working in 1983 at JH Minet, a FA and Jewellery broker, first broking claims and then working as a placing broker in the Lloyds and Company Market. In 91 and 92 he ran the New York office, looking after a US/NY Jeweller portfolio, direct FA Specie/ CIT and Furrier client, and acting as a retail broker. Since 1997 he has run the Bain Hogg Specie team and the Crawley Warren FA and Specie Team, which ran into EW Blanch, then Benfield.

In 2009 James joined Ascot Underwriting Limited as a Specie/ FA UW. Ascot is a Lloyds Syndicate with a worldwide portfolio of Specie, FA and CIT, and a market leader for some of the leading accounts in this specialist class.

Panellist – Lost in Translation

Partner, Head of Complex Claims, Lockton

David is responsible for the Complex Claims / Senior Advocacy team at Lockton in London. He has worked in the industry since 1981 across different classes, but has been directly involved in the Fine Art & Specie world (including Armoured Car, Motor, Truck and Cargo) for close to 20 years. The Lockton FAS practice is truly international and David has been involved in some of the market’s largest, most complex and high-profile claims and spends his time advising clients and working closely with insurers and service providers to achieve the best outcome in claims matters.

Panellist – Crime Investigation Unit

Partner, Clyde & Co. US LLP

Peter is an insurance coverage lawyer based in New York. As a Partner at Clyde & Co. US LLP, he acts on behalf of insurers in connection with multi-jurisdictional disputes. His practice primarily focuses on first party claims arising out of fine art, specie, high value cargo, and specialty risks. He represents insurers during claim investigations and in litigation over coverage defenses and bad faith.

Presentation – AI: Beyond the hype and fear to real business application

Chief Innovation Officer, Wondeur AI

Mina is a computer scientist, an AI researcher and creative technologist. Before joining Wondeur AI, Mina was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab, and IDEO and led AI research and Development in fintech. Mina’s passion lies at the intersection of humane behavior, machines and technology. Throughout her career, Mina has championed AI systems that are tailored to human needs and evolve alongside them.

Wondeur AI is a DeepTech AI company headquartered in Toronto, with a team of senior researchers from MIT and UofT. Wondeur AI helps some of the biggest financial institutions in the US and Europe analyze and manage risk on art assets by providing ongoing insurance to value, estate planning and lending risk analysis on $1.4 trillion worth of art assets.

Panellist – Lost in Translation – Moderator

Managing Partner, Simon, Reed & Salazar P.A.

Michael is a Florida lawyer based in Miami.  He represents and advises insurers as to complex coverage issues in all aspects of the claims process including investigation, coverage analysis, and defense in courts throughout Florida.  His practice includes a focus on claims involving specie, fine art, property, and cargo.

Michael also assists his clients in navigating the ever-changing Florida claims handling rules, complying with laws and procedures for implementation of best practices, and avoiding exposure for bad faith.

Panellist – Advice to our Younger Selves

Head of Fine Art & Specie, London & Global Practice Leader, Fine Art & Specie Claims

Neil joined AXA XL in 2003 and has more than 30 years’ experience in leading fine art and specie claims related matters. He provides direction and oversight on complex losses that emanate from the globla fine are and specie (FAS) claims portfolio and manager the UK & Lloyd’s FAS claims team. Prior the joining AXA XL, Neil held a number of adjusting positions for various London Market Syndicates specialising in Fine Art and Specie, Marine and Aviation.

Panellist – Advice to our Younger Selves

Head of Marine and Energy for Hamilton Global Specialty

Richard is Head of Marine and Energy for Hamilton Global Specialty. Richard also leads the Fine Art and Specie Division. Offshore energy, hull and marine war, cargo, marine liability, war, terrorism and political violence, and kidnap and ransom also fall within his management remit.

Richard joined Pembroke Syndicate 4000 and Ironshore in 2011 prior to Hamilton’s acquisition. Together with his team, he transformed the high value cargo account into a leading underwriting team in fine art, general specie, classic cars and motorsport.

Prior to Hamilton, Richard’s industry tenure spans more than 25 years with Heath Lambert and predecessor companies, throughout its history of mergers and acquisitions, where he specialized in creating innovative solutions for its extensive fine art, jewellery, cash in transit and high net-worth customer base. He served as Executive Director, Art, Jewellery, Specie and Private Client Division of Heath Lambert, overseeing a wide range of niche accounts and specialty business units and managing a significant portion of the Lloyd’s binding authorities for the company. Whilst at Heath Lambert, Richard held full binding authority from underwriters at Lloyd’s.

Panellist – Lost in Translation

Claims Underwriting Director, Sedgwick International UK

Aliette Fenton-Sharp started her insurance career in Miami. Since arriving in London in 2002, she has worked for brokers as well as insurers, Lloyd’s Syndicates and Company markets. She has been involved in all levels and complexities of claims in the areas of Marine Cargo and Fine Art & Specie. A highlight in her career was when she coordinated the sale of an important painting at Bonham’s after a total loss. Aliette has an Art History degree, MBA, Graduate Diploma in Law and CII Certificate. Most recently she obtained certification to be a Mediator. She has lived in several Spanish-speaking countries and is fully bilingual.

She lives in North London with her British husband and two teenage children that she hopes will one day want to work in insurance

Speaker – Best Practices and Motivating Employees Post Covid

Founder of Fell Coaching and Consulting

A coach, consultant, mentor, and trusted advisor to high performing professionals working in the legal, insurance and financial sectors.

Michelle started her career in a law firm before joining the Insurance industry almost 20 years ago. She has held various senior claims roles at ACE, XL, Pembroke/ Ironshore (now Hamilton) and AXAXL. She has been involved in some of the largest US Casualty and Recall losses in the London market and worked across several lines of business.

She passed the New York Bar Exam in 2019, before founding Fell, a coaching and consultancy working with clients by referral and invitation only.

Working with professionals from around the globe and at various stages of their career, Michelle has extensively researched emotional intelligence, why individuals act in certain ways, how leadership skills are developed and how success to date does not guarantee success in the future.

Recently, Michelle has examined the relationship between insurer clients and the lawyers they instruct, bringing a unique perspective to business development and how to build a practice your way.

Panelist – Advice to Our Younger Selves

Technical Head of Marine and Aviation Claims, Chubb Insurance

Sanjeev started his career at Lloyd’s over 30 years ago and is a Chartered Insurer. Sanjeev Patel is the Head of Claims for Marine and Aviation at Chubb for Overseas General (International Division). Sanjeev is directly responsible for the London teams that manage claims relating to Aviation, Cargo, Recoveries, Hull, Yachts, Fine Art and Specie. Sanjeev has held various roles whilst at Chubb including UKI Claims Operations Manager and Head of Claims for the London Market.

Sanjeev is responsible for implementing Chubb Claims strategies and technical guidance across Chubb’s international Marine and Aviation claims teams. Sanjeev is a member of the UKI Claims Leadership team, is a member of the Product Board for Marine and Aviation as well as participating on several project initiatives at Lloyd’s and the IUA.

Moderator – Advice to our Younger Selves

Vice Chairman, Hugh Wood Inc.

Simon started his career in 1985 at JH Minet in the Fine Art and Jewelry team, then in 1992 moved on to Jardine international insurance brokers with a number of colleagues to establish a new team. In 1995 he joined H W Wood Limited in London and after a gentle many years long transition across the Atlantic became a full time employee of Hugh Wood Inc in New York from 2004. He holds his broking licenses in every US State/protectorate.

At HWI he has helped build the fine art and specie team – with a focus on collectibles and bullion. He is vice-chairman of Hugh Wood Inc and Co-CEO of the HWI group worldwide. Alongside these roles, he sits on the executive committee (and is secretary) of the International Precious Metals Institute and also is Secretary of the National Coin and Bullion Association. He now lives in Harding, New Jersey with his American wife and 3 (mostly American) children and in any spare time tries to collect old English cars.

Panelist – Advice to our Younger Selves

President of Huntington T. Block Insurance

Diane has 36 years of experience in inland marine insurance, working exclusively on fine art risk.  She places insurance for large fine art accounts with specialized insurance markets. Diane negotiates broad and competitive coverage for her clients. In addition, she counsels museums, municipalities, and universities on loan agreements, large exhibitions, and coverage questions. Diane and her team will also review a client’s risk management practices and provide improvement recommendations. As a result, Diane has placed insurance on some of the largest exhibitions in the United States in her fine art career.