AFCA and the Insurance Council backed the appointment for a term starting
Heather Loewenthal has been appointed the next independent chair of the General Insurance Code Governance Committee, with her three-year term due to begin on 1 July 2026.
The Code Governance Committee Association made the appointment after a joint nomination from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and the Insurance Council of Australia. In the role, Loewenthal will lead the committee’s independent oversight of whether insurers follow the General Insurance Code of Practice.
The appointment puts a veteran risk, legal and compliance executive at the head of a body that monitors standards across the general insurance sector. AFCA Chief Ombudsman and chief executive David Locke said her background in reform, regulation and industry practice would help the committee maintain strong oversight and support fair consumer outcomes.
“Heather brings a wealth of experience in financial services, governance and compliance, both in Australia and overseas,” Locke said.
Loewenthal began her legal, risk and compliance career at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. She later moved to Westpac, where she also served as chair of the Australian Compliance Institute.
ING and Deloitte background
Her career then expanded into senior insurance and banking roles. At ING Australia, she worked as chief risk officer and general counsel. She later became global chief compliance officer for ING Group, where she oversaw compliance operations in more than 50 countries.
Loewenthal has also held senior leadership posts at Barclays Africa and Deutsche Bank in London. After returning to Australia, she joined Deloitte as a partner in the Governance, Regulation and Conduct Solutions team.
At Deloitte, she advised Australian organisations on improving compliance systems and using technology to lift operational performance. She also returned to the board of the Australian Compliance Institute, first as a director and later as chair.
Outside those roles, Loewenthal is a non-executive director of Autism Association of Australia Limited. She also serves as an external and independent compliance committee member for DFA Australia in relation to its wholesale trusts.
Locke said the committee has an important job in making sure the code works as intended. He added that Loewenthal’s experience should help uphold high standards across the industry.
The change in leadership follows six years under outgoing chair Veronique Ingram PSM GAICD. Locke thanked Ingram for her guidance and credited her with helping strengthen the committee’s independent oversight and accountability during her term.
