Australia’s Code Governance Committee Association has appointed Heather Loewenthal as the next independent chair of the General Insurance Code Governance Committee (GICGC), following a joint nomination by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).
Loewenthal began her three-year term on 1 July 2026, succeeding Veronique Ingram, who served as chair for six years. As chair, she will oversee the committee’s independent monitoring of insurers’ compliance with the General Insurance Code of Practice.
AFCA chief ombudsman and chief executive David Locke said: “Heather brings a wealth of experience in financial services, governance and compliance, both in Australia and overseas. She has worked with regulators, government and industry through major reforms, and understands what it takes to build systems that work in practice.”
Loewenthal built her legal, risk and compliance career at Corrs Chambers Westgarth before moving to Westpac, where she also chaired the Australian Compliance Institute. She then joined ING Australia as chief risk officer and general counsel before becoming global chief compliance officer for ING Group, where she oversaw compliance across more than 50 countries. She has also held senior roles with Barclays Africa and Deutsche Bank London.
After returning to Australia, Loewenthal joined Deloitte as a partner in the governance, regulation and conduct solutions team, and rejoined the board of the Australian Compliance Institute as a director and then chair. She is a non-executive director of the Autism Association of Australia and an external, independent compliance committee member for DFA Australia in relation to its wholesale trusts.
“The Committee plays an important role in helping make sure the Code works as intended. Heather’s experience will help support high standards across the industry and fair outcomes for consumers,” Locke said.
He also thanked Ingram for her service, saying her “leadership, insight and dedication have played an important role in strengthening the Committee’s independent oversight of the Code and supporting better outcomes for consumers.”
Loewenthal takes the chair as the code she will oversee undergoes its biggest rewrite in years. Last week, the ICA opened public consultation on a redrafted General Insurance Code of Practice, with submissions closing 21 Jul 2026.
The central change would make key insurer obligations legally enforceable as part of consumer contracts, subject to approval by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Other proposed changes include automatic acceptance of home and motor claims left unresolved after 12 months, a new definition of vulnerability, and wider family violence protections.
The ICA plans to lodge the redrafted code with ASIC after consultation closes; the current code stays in force during the review.
