Digital underwriting agency Argyle Insurance and national law firm Sparke Helmore have announced new appointments in their legal and distribution teams.
Argyle Insurance has added two business development-focused roles as it seeks to deepen its relationships with intermediaries in key states. “[We are] grateful to have such young and talented individuals part of our effort to become the underwriter of choice in Australia,” the company said.
In Melbourne, Argyle has appointed Natahlia Ellis (pictured left) as a business development assistant underwriter. She works with intermediaries in Victoria and South Australia from the company’s Melbourne office. Ellis joins the insurance sector from the dental industry, where she spent almost a decade and progressed from dental assistant to practice manager. Her background includes practice operations, customer-facing service, and small business management, all of which are common features of professional practice and SME insurance placements.
In Brisbane, Argyle has named Jack Gilhooley (pictured right) as business development underwriter for Queensland and Tasmania. Gilhooley began his insurance career at Gallagher Bassett, initially handling domestic property claims arising from a range of risks, including weather-related events, before moving into a senior claims consultant role. In that position, he provided technical guidance, product disclosure statement (PDS) support, coaching and claims assistance to colleagues in catastrophe response teams, and undertook regular claims audits with feedback to operational leaders.
After his time in claims, Gilhooley worked for several years as a carpenter with Copeland Projects and Niche Reform. He returned to the insurance industry with Argyle in October 2025. In his current role, he is responsible for managing relationships with brokers and other intermediaries in Queensland and Tasmania, including activities related to distribution and support for the intermediary channel.
Sparke Helmore has appointed workplace relations specialist Kim Hodge as a partner in its workplace team in Perth, effective Nov. 17. Special counsel Steve Bowler, who has worked with Hodge for several years, is also joining the firm. Both move from Squire Patton Boggs.
Hodge’s practice covers industrial relations, employment, and human resources matters, across both advisory and disputes work. His matters include enterprise bargaining and related disputes, unfair and unlawful termination claims, workplace investigations, redundancy processes, performance management, and restraints of trade. He also advises on workplace health and safety (WHS), general protections claims, and discrimination. These areas intersect with employment practices liability, statutory liability, and WHS-related risks commonly handled by insurers and brokers.
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Hodge has acted in matters before the Fair Work Commission, the WA Industrial Relations Commission, the Equal Opportunity Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Magistrates Court, the Federal Circuit Court, and the Federal Court of Australia. He advises employers in sectors such as mining and resources, retail, engineering, utilities, education, life sciences, and not-for-profit organisations, as well as public sector and local government clients.
Before joining private practice, Hodge held human resources and employee relations roles with a major Australian resources company. He has also worked as a labour market economist and as a workplace and labour relations inspector in the public sector. In those roles, he worked on both the regulatory and employer sides of workplace compliance.
Catherine Wilkinson, national practice group leader for workplace at Sparke Helmore, commented on the appointments: “Kim is a highly regarded expert, as is Steven. Their addition to our team supports the continued growth and expansion of our Workplace practice.”
Hodge said the move was influenced by the firm’s strategy and platform. “I am pleased to commence the next chapter of my career with Sparke Helmore. It was important for me to join a firm with a clearly defined strategy for growth and success. I look forward to working alongside a team renowned for its expertise and strengthening the firm’s offerings in work health and safety, workplace relations, and employment, both in Perth and nationally,” he said.
