Meet our team

Read our staff profiles and discover more about the brilliant Touchstone Underwriting team.

Abbi Dalton

Abbi Dalton

Claims Assistant

About my role
My role is to assist the claims department whilst I learn all of the fundamentals of claims handling. I keep our claim records up to date and set up new claims, and I am also responsible for monitoring our claims diary.

My favourite
Holiday: LA
Food: Pizza
Drink: Pink Gin and lemonade
Hobby: Spending time with family and friends

Two things on my bucket list
1. Go to the Maldives
2. Sky dive

If I had a superpower, it would be...
To fly

Alan

Alan Roe ACII, FInstSM

Managing Director

Prefer to be called
Al

About my role
Responsible for the overall performance of Touchstone Underwriting Ltd including an exciting and excellent team!

My favourite
Football: Nottingham Forest
Holiday: Cuba
Food: Italian
Drink: Good red wine
Hobby: Golf, fishing and driving

Three things on my bucket list
1. Catch a big fish
2. Make a cigar and smoke it
3. Build a kit car from scratch

If I had a superpower, it would be...
See the future and X-ray vision

Alan Spivey ACII

Divisional Director, Property & Commercial

Prefer to be called
Spives

About my role
Development of the commercial and property owners classes; widening our underwriting footprint; development of differentiated, bespoke and non-standard (NOT sub-standard) products and services; coaching and mentoring of the team to optimise performance.

At Touchstone Underwriting, my ambition is for us to be recognised as the market leader for service, innovation and development of niche, specialist and bespoke products to match our Customer's needs.

My favourite
Football: Tottenham Hotspur FC
Holiday: Australia, but anywhere with my wife (and children if they wish to come)
Food: Aldeburgh freshly caught fish and chips
Drink: Builder's tea or a pint of Woodforde's Wherry Ale
Hobby: Running, tennis, topiary and playing piano

Three things on my bucket list
1. Swim in the Great Barrier Reef
2. Climb Kilimanjaro
3. Season Ticket at THFC (I am currently 40,000 on the waiting list!)

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Mind reading (…but I knew you were going to ask me that!)

Amanda Foweraker Cert CII

Underwriter

About my role
I deal with renewals and mid-term adjustments across the Property & Commercial portfolio or products.

My favourite
Holiday: Disneyland
Food: Spaghetti Bolognese
Drink: Red Wine
Hobby: Researching my family tree and going away in our old VW campervan.

Three things on my bucket list
1. Visit the Scottish Highlands
2. Visit my ancestors home town in Normandy, France
3. To retire young!

If I had a superpower, it would be...
All mums have super powers!

Amy

Amy Mead ACII, Dip CILA

Underwriting Claims Manager

About my role
Managing a team who are claims handling across all products, from FNOL to settlement and recovery. Monitoring service from Insurer claims departments and helping brokers to ensure that our claims team give the best service we can.

My favourite
Sport: Formula One
Food: Taco Tuesday
Drink: A nice cup of tea (or a glass of wine)
Holiday: Anywhere with some sun and good food
Hobby: Spending time on my allotment

Three things on my bucket list
1. Travelling to Borneo to see the Orangutans
2. Ride in a helicopter
3. Be driven in a hot lap in the F1 safety car

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Invisibility

Andrew Saxon Dip CII

Regional Development Manager, West & South Wales

Prefer to be called
Andy

Areas of Responsibility
Development of Touchstone Underwriting's business relationships with brokers in the West and South Wales area.

Hobbies
Sports: Enjoy watching all sport
Holiday: Staycations
Food: Indian
Drink: Real Ale and red wine
Hobby: Food judging, cycling and walking with my family and golden Labrador puppy

Two things on my bucket list
1. Own a motor home
2. Go travelling

If I had a superpower, it would be...
To be invisible

Caitlin Brown

Underwriting Assistant

About my role
General administration tasks across our portfolio of products.

My favourite
Football: Rangers FC
Holiday: Either India or New York (although everywhere is on the list)
Food: Chinese, garlic bread, fajitas, ice cream (despite the lactose intolerance)…the list goes on.
Drink: A cheeky strawberry daiquiri
Hobby: Travelling, reading and spending time with my dog

Three things on my bucket list
1. To actually learn to drive and tootle off in one of them wee retro VW camper vans
2. Explore South America (particularly going to the festival in Rio)
3. Become fluent in a new language

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Telepathy (since I’m nosy)

Chris Harris

Compliance & Agency Manager

About my role
My role is split in two with the first half made up of dealing with all compliance related queries for TUL and working to ensure we fulfil our regulatory obligations. The other half is made up of administering all agency related enquires from opening new agencies, maintaining acquisitions, checking due diligence with all existing brokers and closing agencies.

My favourite
Holiday: Anywhere by the sea that offers good scuba diving
Food: Italian (Pizza or a good spaghetti bolognese)
Drink: Vodka and Pepsi Max - ice optional, straw is a no!
Hobby: Listening, playing or recording music

Three things on my bucket list
1. To visit the Royal Albert Hall to attend the last night at the proms.
2. Watch E.L.O (electric light orchestra) live in concert
3. Complete a night time cage dive with sharks outside the cage.

Connor Jones

Trainee IT Resources and Schemes Builder

About my role
My role typically is setting up users on our Broker portal, scheme building and general IT support.

My favourite
Holiday: Turkey
Food: Chicken
Drink: Magnum
Hobby: Fashion

Three things on my bucket list
1) Retro off-white Jordan 4's
2) Scuba dive
3) Go travelling

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Teleportation

Connor Brown

Underwriting Assistant

About my role
Dealing with general administration tasks across our portfolio of products.

My favourite
Football: Rangers FC
Holiday: Anywhere with warm weather
Food: Steak
Drink: Beer
Hobby: Football, Gaming, socialising with friends

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Flying

David Fitzgerald

Senior Underwriter

Prefer to be called
Fitzie

About my role
Supporting the Renewals teams as a specialist commercial combined Underwriter.

My favourite
Football: Arsenal Season Ticket Holder who obviously has an improving sense of humour in recent years
Holiday: Florida & Theme parks, but anywhere will do with my Wife & Kids.
Food: Curry house or Thai 50/50
Drink: Anything but ‘Shot’s’ - my ‘go to’ is a Guinness
Hobby: Fishing & Golf

Three things on my bucket list
1. To be a grandad (loads of pressure kids)
2. A Worldwide Cruise holiday (if I can afford it)
3. To own a small fishing boat

If I had a superpower, it would be...
To time travel (backwards only) ’Shoot Adolf’ and the like and be a legend.

David Pargetor

Underwriter

About my role
David is responsible for the Specialist renewal book and is also able to prepare new business quotes . He has been with the company for over 10 years.

My favourite
Hobby: Football, Travelling, Socialising, Music and Contemporary Art.

Debbie Murphy

Debbie Murphy Cert CII

Underwriting Claims Handler

About my role
Dealing with claims from FNOL to Settlement ensuring that claim files are kept updated

My favourite
Holiday: My favourite destinations were Cuba, Italy and India, but basically anywhere hot !
Food: Love all food but Italian is my favourite
Drink: A nice gin & tonic
Hobby: I love to socialise

Three things on my bucket list
1. Northern Lights
2. Scottish Highlands
3. Dubai

If I had a superpower, it would be...
To be telepathic

Eimear McCauley

Eimear McCauley

Trainee Underwriting Assistant

About my role
General administration tasks across our portfolio of products.

My favourite
Sports team: Donegal Gaelic Football
Holiday: New York for a city break, Cyprus for a sun holiday
Food: Japanese or Indian
Drink: Prosecco
Hobby: Travelling, spending time with my friends/family and going out for dinner and drinks

Three things on my bucket list
1. To do a cruise around the Caribbean
2. Visit the Maldives
3. Swim with the pigs in the Bahamas

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Time travel

Glen Gibbons ACII

Division Director - Hospitality & Leisure

About my role
Responsible for expanding the Touchstone Underwriting Hospitality & Leisure footprint through the development of trade specific products and services, providing all-encompassing solutions to cater for your clients needs.

My favourite
Football: Chelsea
Holiday: Hot and sunny
Food: Chinese
Drink: Wine and Black Sambuca (not in the same glass)
Hobby: Golf, watching and occasionally participating in most sports.

Harry McMahon

Assistant Underwriter

About my role
Assisting the New Business Team in any way I can.

My favourite
Holiday: China, I could stay in a teahouse forever
Drink: Whisky, Spey Tenné is a personal favourite
Hobby: Playing the piano and nerdy gaming

Three things on my bucket list
1. Visit Seoul (South Korea)
2. See the Northern Lights
3. See a Pangolin

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Teleportation - the lazy man's power

Jo

Jo Lowes (nee Toolan)

Regional Business Development Underwriter, North East & North West

About my role
Developing Touchstone Underwriting business across the North East/West broker market.

My favourite
Football: Leeds United
Holiday: The Maldives - pure heaven!
Food: Italian
Drink: Fizz/G&T
Hobby: Holidays in the sun

Kevin Stitt

Underwriter

About my role
Renewals and general administration across the Property & Commercial portfolio of products.

My favourite
Holiday: Anywhere hot
Drink: Lager/Vodka
Football: Celtic
Hobby: Football, music

Laura O'Brien Cert CII

Underwriter

About my role
I am the Renewals Underwriter for the Tour Operators and Travel Agents Combined Liability and Travel Office Schemes, also picking up Legal Expenses and Management Liability for our Travel Risks.

My favourite
Football: Gaelic Football and Hurling

Three things on my bucket list
1. See the northern lights
2. Do a skydive
3. Go see Ireland play in the 6 Nations

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Time travel

Lauren McCann Cert CII

Underwriter

About my role
New Business & Mid-Term Adjustments across our portfolio of specialist products.

My favourite
Football: Spurs fan... but don't ask me what the offside rule is!
Holiday: Anywhere hot
Food: Italian, Indian, South Korean
Drink: Stella (or Bloody Mary for a cocktail)
Hobby: Gigs/festivals, reading and art

Three things on my bucket list
1. Be published in an art exhibition
2. Jump out of a plane
3. See the Northern Lights

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Time travel

Lesley Heaney

Lesley Heaney

Senior Underwriter

About my role
New Business Underwriter across our product range.

My favourite
Holiday: Whenever I can
Food: Seafood
Drink: Cocktails
Hobby: Reading, skiing, scuba diving and family time

Three things on my bucket list
1. Tour Cuba
2. Visit the seven wonders of the world
3. Dive on the Great Barrier Reef

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Teleportation, so I don’t have to spend a long time on planes and trains

Nicky Davis

Finance Assistant

About my role
Supporting the Accounts Manager

My favourite
Food: Anything sweet and loaded with Chocolate
Drink: Glass of Rose
Hobby: Family days out

Three things on my bucket list
1. Disney Land
2. Venice
3. Las Vegas

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Read peoples and animals minds

Megan Hardway

Underwriting Assistant

About my role
To assist the renewals team from an administrative perspective and beginning the path to becoming a multi class underwriter.

My favourite
Holiday: Cambodia or Dominican Republic
Food: Carbonara
Drink: Cocktails
Hobby: Travelling

Three things on my bucket list
1) Go on a holiday in the snow
2) Go on a holiday to Australia
3) Own a dog and/or cat

If I had a super power, it would be...
Telekinesis

Michelle Cole ACII, Chartered Insurer

Lead Mid Market Underwriter

About my role
Development of Touchstones Underwriting's business in the London and South East. Developing Broker relationships and writing profitable business.

My favourite
Football: Tottenham Hotspur
Holiday: Rome for a City Break, Mauritius for the Beach
Food: Lasagne
Drink: Cocktails of most varieties
Hobby: Competing/riding my horses and going to the gym

Mike

Mike Patston

Director

Areas of Responsibility
Concentrating on enhancing and growing our current facilities with selected Brokers as well as introducing a variety of new products and carriers to the Divisional offering.

Interesting Fact
Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.

Hobbies
Golf (very poorly) and fine dining.

Paul McDermid BA MInstSMM

Regional Business Development Manager, Scotland

About my role
I am responsible for the development of our brokers in the Scottish region.

My favourite
Football: Rangers
Holiday: Spain
Food: BBQ
Drink: Beer
Hobby: Golf/football and gardening since lockdown

Three things on my bucket list:
1. To go abroad again, anywhere!
2. Attend Italian Grand Prix
3. Attend The Masters

If I had a superpower, it would be....
Reading minds

Priya Voralia

Marketing Manager

About my role
I am responsible for the development of our business relationships and interactions through the delivery of insights and targeted communications. I also manage our events, the website, and anything else that falls under Marketing!

My favourite
Holiday: Rovaniemi, Finland
Food: Fish and chips
Drink: Rum & coke
Hobby: Family time, skiing & gym

Three things on my bucket list
1. Full motorbike driving licence
2. Volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary
3. El Monstruo in Puerto Rico (one of the longest ziplines)

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Telekinesis

Rebekah Jackson Dip CII

Bdx Management & Reporting

Areas of Responsibility
My role involves the preparation of bordereaux for submission to insurers. Additionally, I am responsible for internal report production and problem-solving.

Interesting Fact
Only one in a thousand turtles reach adulthood. Most are eaten by their kind!

Hobbies
Cycling, Skiing & Walking.

Richard

Richard Foster F.Inst.TT

Lead Travel Underwriter

Prefer to be called
Rich

About my role
I am responsible for overseeing and leading the Renewals Business team and seek to provide that extra level of guaranteed service and expertise where other providers fail.

My favourite
Sports: Football (season ticket holder at Watford FC), cricket and rugby
Holiday: Greek Islands
Food: Roast Chicken
Drink: Real Ale
Hobby: Sport in general, reading and walking the dog

Three things on my bucket list
1. See all the Greek Islands by modern yacht
2. Visit the Lagavulin distillery on Islay
3. Tour the battlefields of the First World War and the American Civil War

If I had a superpower, it would be...
The ability to see into the future

Rob Lovell

Robert Lovell

Underwriter

Prefer to be called
Rob

Areas of Responsibility
Dealing with Renewals & MTA’s across the Property & Commercial portfolio of products

My Favourite
Sports: Football - Plymouth Argyle & Leeds United
Holiday: Lanzarote
Food: Roast
Drink: Lager
Hobby: Playing Golf & watching most sports

Three things on my bucket list
1. To watch Plymouth Argyle at Wembley in FA Cup Final (we can all dream!)
2. To attend the Masters Golf at Augusta National in the USA
3. To attend an England cricket Test match in Jamaica

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Psychic powers to predict the Lottery numbers

Robin Ditchburn

Robin Ditchburn Dip CII

Senior Underwriter

Areas of Responsibility
I work in the New Business team across our portfolio of products as well as managing my own panel of brokers and assisting with the Midlands area.

My Favourite
Sports: I am a big sports fan in general, but my passions are Football (Nottingham Forest) and road cycling as well as American Football and Formula 1
Holiday: Maldives
Food: Chinese
Drink: Beer and Cubanito (rum, tomato juice, hot sauce, pepper, lemon juice)
Hobby: Cycling, hill walking/hiking, film & music

Three things on my bucket list
1. Cycle Alpe D’Huez
2. Drive a Mustang across America
3. Live by the sea and own a boat

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Time travel

Samantha Lord Dip CII

Underwriter

Prefer to be called
Sam

Areas of Responsibility
I deal with new business enquiries across our portfolio of products

My Favourite
Holiday: Anywhere in the USA
Food: Chicken nuggets and anything that involves salted caramel
Drink: Gin and tonic or amaretto and coke
Hobby: Boxing, swimming and reading

.

Sharon Wood

Senior Finance Administrator

Areas of Responsibility
Lead finance team

My favourite
Holiday: Prefer mountains to the beach
Food: Chocolate, Mexican, Thai
Drink: Brandy, Red Wine
Hobby: Gym, family

Three things on my bucket list
To visit the following in a motor home:
1. Canada
2. New Zealand
3. Tour Scotland

If I had a superpower, it would be...
To heal

Simon

Simon Bell ACII

Lead Property & Commercial Underwriter

About my role
Focusing on Internal management & underwriting across all our product lines, with a flexible underwriting strategy focusing on maintaining & growing a profitable underwriting book as well as assisting to develop & maintain existing partner broker relationships with our exclusive product offering.

My Favourite
Football: The Mighty Green and white Army- Northern Ireland for those not in the know!, Also a Man Utd fan.

Holiday: Safari

Food: Indian or Thai

Drink: Love a good cocktail or a Gin

Hobby/Interest: My actual title is “Lord” Bell having purchased a small piece of land with a title in north England. Also an Army Reservist in my spare time Explosive Ordnance Disposal ( I know a Northern Irish man defusing bombs!) Enjoy all contact sports and walking my dog!

Stuart Burt F.Inst.TT

Director

Prefer to be called
I’ve been called a lot – Nobby, Spurty, Burtram, but Stuart or Stu are fine.

Areas of Responsibility
Compliance, Operations, training and specialist and lead underwriter for our travel schemes including Tour Operators Liability and Travel Agents office.

My favourite
Football: Manchester City Football Club
Holiday: Japan tour was cool, but Devon in the summer has the edge
Food: Steak and chips
Drink: A good beer
Hobby: Outdoors. Walking. Quite into Electric Vehicles & the pace of development in that sector. Henry Moore art.

Three things on my bucket list
1. Own a Matchless motorbike (1950s)
2. Learn to surf
3. Ride a horse bareback

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Time travel!

Stuart Seager

Stuart Seager Cert CII

Regional Business Development Underwriter, South East

Prefer to be called
Stu

Areas of Responsibility
Development of Touchstones Underwriting’s business and broker relationships

My favourite
Sports: Football, golf & Liverpool
Holiday: Las Vegas
Food: US fast food & Italian
Drink: Diet Coke (although my waist doesn't show it)
Hobby: Golf, gaming, reading and Politics

If I had a superpower, it would be...
Being able to eat whatever and not put weight on!

Steve Swinburne

Lead Liability & Construction and Hospitality & Leisure Underwriter

Areas of Responsibility
I look after our business relationships in the Midlands and North Wales; underwriting profitable business with brokers throughout the region.

My favourite
Football: The egg shaped variety
Holiday: Surfing and eating pasties in Cornwall
Food: Italian and Thai/Indonesian
Drink: Decent lagers and love a G&T
Hobby: Cycling, paddle boarding and surfing

Susan White

IT Resources & Schemes Builder

Prefers to be called
Sue

About my role
Support our underwriting system with Tom.

My favourite
Holiday: Anywhere on a boat
Food: Italian
Drink: Merlot
Hobby: Sailing, Cross stitch, Numismatics

Thomas Morgan

Assistant IT Resources & Schemes Builder

Prefers to be called
Tom

About my role
I help with the day to day maintenance of our underwriting system alongside Susan White, ensuring it all runs smoothly.

When needed I assist our Underwriters with internal issues and External Broker Portal users.

My favourite
Holiday: Scotland
Food: A good burger
Drink: Cold pint of Estrella
Hobby: Airsoft, gaming, tinkering, tech, cosplay and running