Speakers

Meghan has 20 years of experience in AI, talent, and transformation in risk capital and human capital industries at global organizations from $1B to $69B. She is skilled at providing jargon-free guidance on how existing and emerging technologies can be applied to business problems. She serves on the Advisory Board of Athena Alliance and was awarded Diligent’s 2023 Compliance and Ethics Leader, Modern Governance 100. 

Talicia Bashford is a seasoned insurance leader with more than two decades of industry experience. She currently serves as Managing Director for the Midwest and South Central regions at Alera Group, where she helps translate national capabilities into regional results 
and ensures clients and colleagues receive strategic, innovative solutions tailored to their needs.

Known for staying ahead of trends, alternative solutions, carrier strategies, and market conditions, Talicia is a trusted advisor and leader across the industry.
Talicia began her insurance career more than 20 years ago as a producer and team leader at The Horton Group in Orland Park, IL. She later spent nine years with Assurance, first leading small commercial, small benefits, and personal lines, and then moving into a senior leadership role focused on delivering strategic solutions across the organization. 
During her time at Assurance, she oversaw technology initiatives, led geographic 
expansion, strengthened employee culture and engagement, and helped clients recognize the financial value of the relationship, positioning insurance as an investment rather than a commodity.

She has also held senior leadership roles as Chief Operating Officer at Associated 
Agencies and President at AssuredPartners of Chicago.

In addition to her corporate leadership, Talicia serves as Chair of the Wisconsin School of Business External Advisory Board. She is also a frequent speaker and panelist, presenting on technology in the insurance industry, rethinking client needs, and employee engagement.

Talicia holds a double major in Risk Management & Insurance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Backed by a strong academic foundation and a record of leading growth, innovation, and engagement, she continues to drive impact across the insurance sector.

Jodie Kaufman Davis is the Group Co-President of H.W. Kaufman Group and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. A leader in developing and executing company strategy and management-driven initiatives, Jodie advises on best practices and expertise to drive the company’s global growth strategy.

As part of her leadership role, Jodie serves as Vice Chair, Atain Insurance Companies and oversees RB Jones, the Kaufman subsidiary that serves as a destination for highly specialized insurance solutions.

She is also responsible for all Kaufman companies outside North America.

Jodie was previously named to the Insurance Business Global 100 and Business Insurance Women to Watch.

Outside of the workplace, Jodie is a board member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Motor City chapter, a Director on the Insurance Supper Club (ISC) Group Global Advisory Board and serves on the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s (IICF) International Board of Governors.

She is also a member of the national board for Jewish Federations of North America as well as CLAL, an international learning organization.

Prior to joining Kaufman, Jodie worked for the law firm Dorsey & Whitney where she advised Canadian and U.S. companies on mergers & acquisitions, capital market financing and regulatory issues. Jodie earned a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) and graduated cum laude from Michigan State University and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. 

  

 

Beth Fitch is an esteemed trial attorney with over 35 years of experience, is a leader committed to empowering women and advancing leadership within the legal and insurance industries. A founding member of Righi Fitch Law Group, Beth has expertise in complex civil defense. She defends high-stakes cases including catastrophic injuries, construction defects, and product liabilities and serves as excess monitoring counsel for insurers.     A recognized leader in her field, Beth has earned the prestigious AV Preeminent Rating, has been inducted into Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, and selected as a Southwest Super Lawyer for 11 consecutive years.   Beth is passionate about empowering women in law and business. She co-founded the Ladder Down program in 2013, which equips female attorneys with the tools for leadership, business development, and mentoring.  This program won the DRI Diversity Award in 2013 and continues to thrive nationally.  In 2024 the program expanded to serve women in the insurance and risk profession.   Beth also cofounded Women of Themis, a network dedicated to empowering female lawyers in the insurance industry.   Due to her exceptional legal acumen and she was selected as a Woman to Watch honoree by Business Insurance in 2017.  

Katie has nearly 20 years of progressive accounting and leadership 
experience, 15 of which have been spent at Safety National. Katie joined 
the company in 2008 and has played a key role in financial reporting and 
accounting operations, ranging from financial reporting to controllership 
functions. Katie has also played a significant role in steering enterprisewide 
operational initiatives while serving on the Operations Committee 
between 2019 and 2024, and serving as Co-Chair between 2021 and 
2024. Katie has participated in professional development and leadership 
programs, including the Tokio Marine Emerging Leadership Program, has 
served on panel discussions on leadership and mentoring, and currently 
serves as a member of the University of Missouri – Columbia School of 
Accountancy Advisory Board.

Harriet Harty has over 10 years as a Chief Human Resources Officer in major companies, including Allstate Insurance, Sompo International and ADT Security. She started her career as a CPA and transitioned to Human Capital. Taking on roles in leading Mergers and Acquisitions, CEO Succession Planning and leading large groups of employees and agents over 70,000.

For the past 3 years, Harriet founded Harriet Harty Executive Solutions, LLC.  As CEO and Founder, she coaches and advises CEOs, Board Members and Management teams utilizing her extensive knowledge and experience in Finance and Human Capital.

She is an Advisory Board member to Smirk Health, M3 Placements and Partnerships and After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit organization.

She is an active member of the Chicago Chapter of PDA and is the Vice-Chair of the Sponsorship Committee as well as National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and Women Corporate Directors (WCD). 

In her role as Senior Vice President at Lockton, Jenna works with organizations to identify, assess, and manage their financial, operational, and reputational risks. Jenna has been at Lockton for 14 years. By understanding the goals of her clients, she leads the 
Lockton teams in the risk management strategy, insurance program design, risk finance, employee benefit consulting, claims advocacy, and risk control. 
Jenna received Business Insurance’s Women to Watch Award in 2023 and was awarded the 2026 Insurance Business America Elite Women honor. Jenna co-authored a book for the American Bar Association titled Construction Insurance: A Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals. An updated version was recently released. 

Insurance Business issued an article in July 2024 on her career called “Running the numbers: Passion for math leads to insurance career.” Jenna was a guest on The Voices of Risk Management podcast in 2024. Women We Admire named Jenna a Top Washington DC Leaders in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. In addition, she regularly speaks on the state of the insurance marketplace, nonprofit risk management, community impact, climate change, and cyber exposures. She speaks at industry events and 
hosts webinars for organizations such as the ABA Construction Forum, IRMI, RIMS, Washington Business Journal, CREW Network, Community IT, Environmental Bankers Association, and Greenbuild.

Kelley Larson is a Vice President at NFP, where she specializes in placing professional, management, and cyber liability insurance programs for boutique and mid‑size law firms nationwide. With more than a decade of experience in the insurance industry, Kelley is known for her practical, client‑focused approach and deep expertise in professional liability risk for the legal sector. 

Suzette Carty LeSane is a seasoned strategy and innovation executive with nearly 30 years of experience driving growth, launching market-leading solutions, and delivering sustained P&L results across financial services, housing, and data-driven businesses. She is known for building high-performing portfolios, scaling new products, and leading organizations through periods of accelerated growth and transformation. 

Suzette currently serves as Senior Vice President and Global Housing Line of Business Leader at Assurant, holding full P&L responsibility for a rapidly scaling portfolio on track to reach $1 billion by 2029. She oversees the strategic direction, operational execution, and profitability of Assurant’s Condo and Homeowners solutions, driving expansion in a dynamic and highly regulated market. Previously at Assurant, Suzette led the Multifamily Renters Insurance business, successfully growing a $480 million portfolio and strengthening the company’s position as a market leader in housing protection solutions. 

Nicole Limberg is Co-Head of the Insurance team within PNC’s Financial Institutions Group, where she is jointly responsible for national client coverage, strategic direction, and long-term growth of the platform. In this role, she oversees a business generating more than $200 million in annual revenue and manages approximately $10 billion in loans extended, reflecting the scale and complexity of the franchise under her leadership

Krishna Lynch is a nationally recognized leader with integrated expertise in healthcare, risk management, and insurance; and Co-Founder and Principal of Devren Group LLC, an independent consulting practice serving healthcare systems, insurers, educational institutions, and non-profits. With more than 30 years of experience spanning clinical practice, health law, and enterprise risk leadership, she brings a clinician’s instinct and a corporate executive’s strategic vision to every engagement.

 Based in New York City, Miranda Ma is a Reps & Warranties insurance underwriter with a proven track record for deal execution supported by her extensive financial and underwriting expertise and 20+ years' experience in the global insurance industry. Prior to her underwriting career, Miranda has held several global and regional financial leadership roles in insurance companies. She started her career in E&Y as an auditor and worked in their China and Singapore offices. Miranda is a chartered accountant (CA) in Singapore and a certified public accountant (CPA) in China. She has a Master of Science Degree in Finance from Guanghua Management School, Peking University, a Master in Legal Studies Degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Shandong University.  

Stefanie McLeod serves as Vice President and Personal Lines Leader at SPG Wholesale, where she is responsible for personal lines operations across the entire platform. She previously led personal lines at Monarch E&S Insurance Services, which became part of Specialty Program Group in 2017 and now operates under the SPG Wholesale umbrella.

Stefanie joined Monarch E&S in 2002 as the front desk receptionist — and never stopped moving forward. She advanced through progressively senior underwriting roles to become the vice president and personal lines leader she is today. Over more than two decades, she has built and grown a substantial personal lines book of business while expanding the division's product offerings and geographic reach. A member of the IBA-BGP since 2008, she brings a deep commitment to supporting the company's retail agent partners. 

 

Margaret Resce Milkint is a talent strategist, inclusion champion, and evangelist for talent innovation, transformation, and excellence, serving as the Global Insurance practice leader, a member of the Board practice and Co-Head of DSG Global's Chicago office. From CEOs  to Chief Medical Officers, her expertise spans across the C-suite and boardroom. ​

Expertise​

• Margaret's executive search career spans more than 30 years, specializing in the insurance and healthcare sectors. She has led searches for key roles, including CEO, COO, CFO, Chief Actuary, CIO, CRO, as well as Chief Medical Officers and Physician Executives. Her invaluable insights also encompass boardroom dynamics, specializing in Director searches.​

• She has a depth of knowledge in the property and casualty, life, health, and reinsurance sectors, including insurtech, and has successfully completed searches in disciplines such as actuarial, data analytics, underwriting, claims, operations, risk, finance, investment, legal, technology, sales/distribution, and marketing.​

• Margaret advocates for building the talent pipeline within the insurance sector, driving impactful initiatives in succession planning, and innovation in engagement.. She plays a pivotal role in career development and mentoring  for women and emerging leaders in the insurance industry. ​

 Jasina serves as a Senior Vice President, Account Executive-Lead in Alliant’s Healthcare Specialty Practice. She plays a key role in strategically managing and placing commercial insurance coverages for large integrated hospital systems and physician groups. She specializes in handling complex reinsurance, captives, and traditional commercial insurance programs. She also oversees and collaborates with all service teams working alongside her.  

 ay Pelz is a growth-oriented executive with experience driving enterprise growth, operational execution, and financial performance across insurance, healthcare, and financial services. She currently serves as the President of PetsBest, a portfolio company within the Independence Pet Holding Company, where she is responsible and accountable for the growth and success of the business.  

Jen Scales partners with high-powered CFOs and executives to navigate the complex world of Directors & Officers and Corporate Insurance. Through collaboration and insightful guidance, she ensures their professional and personal assets are fully protected, enabling them to lead their businesses towards sustainable growth.  

Expertise:  

• Crafting tailored D&O and corporate insurance solutions based on individual needs and industry risks.

• Educating and empowering leaders to understand their coverage and make informed decisions. 

• Partnering with clients to achieve their long-term financial goals with clarity and peace of mind.  

Jen is the founder of Confidante, Gallagher's Women CFO Network. Through intentional and intimate events, this private network cultivates a supportive and inspiring community for women leaders to connect, learn, and grow - both personally and professionally.  

Neha Thaker is Chief of Strategic Initiatives & Transformation (COSIT) at HSB, reporting to the CEO and serving as a senior enterprise leader and trusted strategic advisor. Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Neha is responsible for translating CEO‑level strategy into clear priorities, disciplined execution, and measurable value creation across the organization. She plays a central role in strengthening governance, decision‑making, and operating rhythm across the CEO Office and Executive Leadership Team.

In this role, Neha leads enterprise transformation and modernization initiatives spanning strategy, operating models, platforms, and processes. She drives cross‑functional execution, accelerates delivery cadence, and partners closely with innovation, digital, data, and AI teams to scale impact. Neha also fosters one‑enterprise collaboration across the HSB Group—including HSB US, UK, Canada, Solomon, and GEIS—and works in close alignment with Munich Re and Global Specialty Insurance leadership to advance shared priorities.

Neha’s leadership philosophy centers on clarity, trust, and disciplined execution. She believes the role of leadership is to simplify complexity, align people around a shared purpose, and create the conditions where teams can do their best work. She emphasizes psychological safety, inclusive decision‑making, and accountability—encouraging healthy challenge while maintaining a strong bias for action.

Beyond her enterprise role, Neha is deeply committed to community engagement, mentoring, and inclusive leadership. She serves on the University of Hartford Board of Visitors and is a member of her town’s Affordable Housing Committee, reflecting her passion for education, equity, and community development. A strong DEI ally and champion, Neha actively mentors emerging leaders and advocates for inclusive cultures where diverse perspectives are valued and talent can thrive. She is known for her thoughtful, empathetic leadership style and her ability to bring structure and momentum to complex, ambiguous challenges. 

Kathleen is currently the COO for the Americas region at AXA XL. There, she is responsible for overseeing insurance operations—including middle office, reporting and premium operations, underwriting governance, and workplace—and leading transformation and technology initiatives across the region. Previously, Kathleen held the role of Senior Vice President for Operations at CopperPoint and managed all business operations—including underwriting support, premium audit, billing, and other shared service functions—leading the integration and development of a scalable enterprise operations infrastructure after recent acquisitions.