CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

My second year as Chairman of the Association was in line with the prediction in my last year’s Chairman’s introduction, that most overseas annual events were once again cancelled due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. However, the good news was that the annual conference and dinner could take place in person again on 12th May 2022, after we just managed to digest the first informal adjusters’ dinner on 1st December 2021. Two adjusters’ dinners in five months, no surprise that the waiters could not hold back their singing abilities during the dinner in May.

“But, my dear sir, the custom is the law, custom makes law. If you go into court, the other side will merely prove the custom and you are floored.” No honest adjuster now-a-days can say this; he knows that the courts now don’t pay any such homage to custom. The domain of custom, as determining law, has been so narrowed by one decision after another as to be almost nowhere; and what is more, if he were to say this, ten to one his hearer would not believe him. What then is an unfortunate adjuster to do now-a-days? I see no help for it: he must know the law and moreover he must act upon it.” These wise words in the above paragraph do not stem from my brain cells but were expressed by Richard Lowndes in the first Chairman’s Address of the Association of Average Adjusters in 1873. History repeats itself in the two UK Supreme Court decisions referred to in my Address hereafter. Future carbon emission trading allowances under new shipping legislation will be scrutinised in the same Address for General Average situations.

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Another quote from a British legend, Sir Winston Churchill, which we can apply to the virtual meeting revolution instigated by the Pandemic lock-down regulations. For our Association, the Committee of Management and Annual General Meetings via Zoom (or hybrid) and the examination of Modules A1 and A2 via the online platform, TestReach, are here to stay. I believe the same applies to seminars, which are now presented via a hybrid seminar format, as we did for the first time at the joint IUA/AAA Practical Aspects of Collision Claims seminar in March 2022 and will do for the joint Young CMI/AAA Associates War Risk seminar in August 2022. This does not only attract a wider audience, who can just Zoom in without approval from their superiors for being away from the office to attend a seminar, but will also limit our carbon footprint in the future by minimising overseas travel. Due to the efforts of our Examining Committee, 2 new Fellows, 2 Senior Associates and 17 Associates were added to our Association over the last 12 months. I was given the opportunity to congratulate all new Fellows and Senior Associates able to attend the Annual Conference on 12th May, who qualified during the pandemic since 2020, and present to them their certificate with a handshake; something that could have led to a “Partygate” scandal only 6 months ago. David Pannell, as outgoing Convener of the Examining Committee, was elected as Honorary Life Fellow during the AGM in May for his contribution in increasing the number of successful exam candidates over the last two decades.

I am grateful to my Vice-Chair Burkhard Fischer, the Officers and Committee members of the Association, the Secretariat Charles Taylor Insurance Services and our Secretary Ann Waite for their continued diligent work. As Chairman, I would like to thank all Fellows for their continued contribution, dedication and participation in the work of the Association.

Looking at the age difference of some 50 years between the youngest and oldest Fellows practising as average adjusters, I can only conclude that adjusting remains a fascinating science for most of us. It was a great honour to serve as your Chairman over the past 2 years and I wish the Association all the best for the future. Michiel Starmans