ATC Insurance Solutions has opened a Perth office, appointing Connie Gane, an accomplished Western Australian insurance professional, as State Manager. This marks the next step in its strategy to strengthen regional engagement and expand its national broker network. The new office will enhance ATC’s ability to deliver local underwriting, claims support and responsive services to brokers across Western Australia.

The expansion builds on ATC’s position in the specialist underwriting space. Since launching in 2006, the agency has grown to become one of the largest Lloyd’s underwriting agencies in Australia, with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sydney. Its product portfolio includes construction, plant and machinery, cyber, accident and health, sports, leisure and events. MB Insurance, known for its prestige motor offering, is also part of the group.

ATC Chief Executive Officer Durham Kenigsvalds says the new office reflects the group's ongoing commitment to local service and broker relationships.

"Perth has a strong economy, a growing population and a huge network of local insurance brokers," he says. "Given the success of ATC's offices in other major cities and the growing strength of our brand, it made strategic sense to open an office in Perth."

ATC sees Western Australia as a natural next step in its national growth, with the region’s infrastructure investment, resource-driven economy and active construction sector creating strong demand for specialist insurance solutions. The company says its presence in Perth will allow it to better understand and respond to these local market dynamics — a key advantage in maintaining close broker relationships.

The group's WA operations will be led by Connie Gane, who joins ATC as State Manager following more than a decade of industry experience, including senior underwriting and operational roles. 

Connie says she was drawn to ATC not only for the opportunity to step into a leadership position but also because of the company's values and strong reputation in the market. "It is such a well-regarded company with a positive culture and strong values," she says.

"I've been in the insurance industry for over a decade, primarily working in the plant and machinery space," she says. "I started as an admin assistant and worked my way from trainee underwriter to underwriter BDM slash senior underwriter to operations manager, now taking on a state  manager role."

As a Perth local, Connie brings deep experience in a specialist insurance segment and longstanding relationships across the WA broking community.

"I've trained a couple of hundred brokers in the plant and machinery space over the years," she says. "I really love it, and I'm quite proud that I can share that knowledge with the WA broker market."

She was also nominated for BDM of the Year in 2023 — recognition, she says, that reflected her contributions to broker relationships and market support.

Her appointment marks a new chapter not only in her career but also in ATC’s broader plans to deepen its market presence through experienced, well-connected leaders.

In her new role, Connie will be responsible for building ATC's presence in WA and developing a local team of underwriters aligned with the company's values and specialist focus. "It gives me the opportunity to showcase my leadership skills, make impactful decisions, have a strategic influence, and build a team underneath me that aligns with ATC company values and vision," she says.

ATC says the WA office will provide full-service support, including local underwriting, claims and business development. With Connie leading the business, the team is expected to expand over time to include dedicated underwriters across each product class, reflecting ATC's structure in other major markets.

For brokers, this model offers a sense of continuity, giving access to underwriters who are not only product experts but also part of the local business community. It’s a structure designed to streamline day-to-day interactions while allowing for more nuanced conversations around risk, cover, and client needs.

"The Perth office will deliver fast turnaround times and enhanced service," Durham says. "That means timely, prompt and clear communication, a lot of face-to-face contact, and local expertise and market presence with Connie's longstanding history of trading in the Western Australian market."

Connie agrees that direct engagement will be key to the office's approach. She says ATC’s plans to build a team of underwriters, ensuring brokers have access to their knowledge and specialised products. "Face-to-face contact is crucial," she says. "And delivering a product that can ultimately serve as the best for their client.”

While ATC sees strong demand for its full product range in WA, Durham says there is particular opportunity in construction, plant and machinery, and prestige motor insurance.

Connie also notes that the breadth of the ATC and MB product portfolio will offer brokers a new level of convenience and choice. "We give brokers more options through a single underwriting agency," she says. "It's extremely exciting to be in a company that can offer such an array of products."

Connie says she's optimistic about the opportunity ahead. "I've lived and worked in WA my whole life, so I've got a really strong understanding of the local market," she says. "To be able to take that experience and use it to help grow something from the ground up, that's exciting."