Insurance consultant John Trowbridge has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to business, the risk management sector and the actuarial profession.

His Medal of the Order of Australia citation notes his contribution to finance and insurance across the private and public sectors, including leading high-profile industry inquiries.

In the 1980s he founded Trowbridge Consulting, building it into a leading actuarial and management consulting business before a merger with Deloitte in 2000. Mr Trowbridge was Actuaries Institute president in 1998.

He has held senior positions at QBE and Suncorp, and he was the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority member for insurance from 2006 to 2010.

Mr Trowbridge chaired the 2011 Natural Disaster Insurance Review, announced by former assistant treasurer Bill Shorten after extreme weather highlighted flood cover problems. 

In 2021 he conducted an independent strategic review of commercial lines affordability and availability for the Insurance Council of Australia, and more recently he completed a Steadfast-commissioned detailed review of the strata sector. 

The Actuaries Institute says Mr Trowbridge has strengthened the profession and shown how it can create meaningful change in society. 

“John Trowbridge is one of the most eminent actuaries of our generation and has significantly influenced Australia’s financial system,” institute president Win-Li Toh said. 

Mr Trowbridge says he has been privileged to work in many areas of the financial services industry with the aim of strengthening systems and improving outcomes for Australians. 

“This recognition is deeply humbling, and I hope my contributions have helped build a more resilient and fairer financial services sector for future generations,” he said. 

The award citation also notes a role in promoting Australian rules football in Sydney from 1998 to 2002. 

Mr Trowbridge told insuranceNEWS.com.au he has encouraged the actuarial profession to engage with government and to put forward its views, despite some opposition in the late 1990s. 

“What that really did was bring the profession much more into the public eye,” he said. “The profession is very proactive these days.” 

Other King’s Birthday Honours recipients include IAG board member and former Suncorp executive Michelle Tredenick, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to business. 

Ms Tredenick was Suncorp GM of strategy and planning in 1998 and chief information officer from 1996-98. She has been an IAG director since 2018 and chairs the risk committee.   

IAG board member David Armstrong was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the non-profit and financial sectors and the arts.

He has been an IAG director since 2021, chairs the audit committee and is a member of the risk committee. 

Chubb director Sally Loane – on the insurer’s board since 2022 – was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to business, charitable organisations and broadcasting.