Announcing Charter changes and new President to shape the next era of Loss Adjusting

Following member approval, and subject to ratification by the Privy Council, CILA will adopt changes to its Royal Charter and Bye-Laws that reflect the modern realities of the claims profession.

Key changes include:

• A new name – becoming The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusting, reflecting the wider community of professionals engaged in loss adjusting activities across the claims value chain.
• Corporate membership – a new category enabling firms to demonstrate their commitment to CILA’s Code of Professional Conduct and to the professional development of their people.
• Revised membership structure – including a pathway for existing professionals from adjacent chartered bodies (such as engineers and accountants) to enter CILA’s qualifications framework, while retiring the Advanced Diploma to simplify progression.
• Modernised governance – moving from a Council to a streamlined Board structure, ensuring CILA is more agile and aligned with best practice.

Central to the reforms is a reinforced Code of Professional Conduct, ensuring that both individual and corporate members uphold the highest ethical and professional standards across the claims process. 

These changes are designed to strengthen CILA’s relevance in the UK and globally, particularly across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australasia. They build on CILA’s manifesto commitment to inclusivity, international growth, and ensuring the Institute remains the professional home for all technical claims practitioners. 

CILA Executive Director John Bissell, who has been driving a range of modernisation reforms since joining the organisation two years ago, said: “The Charter changes represent a significant evolution of the Institute. They put a wrapper around what our members and firms are already doing – working across the claims process, embracing technology, and upholding the highest professional standards – while making sure CILA remains the recognised authority for loss adjusting globally.”

The AGM also saw the election of Hugh Kennaway, Global Head of Downstream Energy at Matthews Daniel, as President, and Melissa Cunningham, Senior Vice President at Marsh and a dual-qualified Chartered Accountant and Loss Adjuster, as Deputy President. 

Hugh Kennaway’s presidency builds on the foundations laid by outgoing President Adam Humphrey, continuing the drive to modernise governance, broaden inclusivity, and extend CILA’s global footprint. Melissa becomes the youngest Deputy President in CILA’s history, symbolising the Institute’s appeal to a broader and more diverse professional audience.

Speaking on his appointment, Hugh Kennaway, CILA President, said: “CILA has always represented technical excellence, but today the claims profession is as much about relationships, empathy and global collaboration. These reforms will ensure we remain relevant to the full spectrum of claims professionals and their employers worldwide. The changes recognise that reality, creating new entry points, valuing broader expertise, and ensuring CILA is at the heart of a profession that is people-focused as well as technically rigorous.”

Find out more about CILA here.