CURRICULUM VITAE

MICHAEL WOOD

Schooling

1974 – 78 Brisbane Boys College, Brisbane

Vice Captain of the School and Captain of House in 1978

Tertiary Entrance Score 990 (Top 1% of the State)

First XI (Vice Captain), First XV and Athletics (Captain)

Qualifications

1981/83 B.Com LLB (Hons), GPA 5.8 (out of 6), Constitutional Law Prize

1986 Admitted as Solicitor of Qld and High Court of Australia

1990 Admitted as Solicitor of England and Wales

1991 Associate of Chartered Insurance Institute, London

Professional Experience

1984 Associate to Mr Justice J Thomas of the Supreme Court of Queensland

1985–89 Morris Fletcher & Cross (now Minter Ellisen) Solicitors, Brisbane

- Made Associate Partner in the Insurance Department in 1988.

1990 McKenna & Co Solicitors, London

- On secondment from MFC to McKenna & Co’s Insurance and Reinsurance Dept at

Lloyd’s of London – specialising in professional indemnity (PI).

1991-96 Waltons & Morse Solicitors, London

- Made Partner in Insurance Dept in 1993

1996-97 Eversheds Solicitors, London

- Equity Partner of Eversheds, one of the largest firms in the UK, after the Insurance

and some other Depts of Waltons & Morse merged into Eversheds in March, 1996.

- Michael specialised in PI litigation and policy advice, particularly for construction

professionals. Acting for various leading Lloyd’s syndicates and major insurers.

1997-06 PI Direct Limited/ Martello Professional Risks Limited, London

- Founder and Chief Executive of a new specialist PI underwriting agency in the city of

London, with Lloyd’s syndicate security and then later various major insurers.

- The underwriting model was unique in that the agency dealt direct with professional

firms, as well as brokers, and introduced the first dedicated inhouse law firm handling

claims through litigation if necessary in order to reduce defence costs.

- Over nine years the company grew to be the largest specialist PI underwriting agency

in the UK, with premium of 50M pounds, 23,000 policies and 115 staff. The inhouse

law firm comprised 45 staff with 15 solicitors, 15 claims managers and 15 legal

secretaries.

- The claims model was recognised in the 2003 Insurance Age Awards.

- The company was sold to Royal Sun Alliance in December 2006.

2005 - 13 PI Direct Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Brisbane

- Along with other directors of the London company (no relation), purchased PI Direct,

a specialist PI wholesale broker in October 2005.

- Chief Executive, though residing in England.

- In March 2011 PI Direct purchased 80% of Western Australia’s leading PI wholesale

broker, Professional Risk Placements.

- Michael relocated to the Gold Coast in September 2011 to take over the running of

the Group, focussing on scheme business, larger risks and claims.

- The company was sold into Steadfast in August 2013.

2012 - Woodina Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd

- Established a new specialist PI underwriting agency, with Lloyd’s security, utilising

the successful UK inhouse solicitors claims model.

- Chief Executive, Head of Underwriting and Claims Director.

- Day to day underwriting of all professions, with particular focus on engineers,

architects, surveyors and property valuers

- Overseeing team of two other underwriters and one solicitor on the claims side.

- Branching into general liability and legal expenses insurance.

Other Interests

Cricket, tennis, rugby, waterskiing, cycling and chess.