Insurance industry leaders and regulators are set to discuss critical issues in the current environment and their views on the future at a National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) multi-city convention modelled for the times.

The event has evolved into a hybrid, multi-day format that will take place across three weeks and in five cities after it was rescheduled due to covid restrictions and uncertainty last September and October.

Melbourne will host the first session on Tuesday afternoon, followed by events in Adelaide on Friday, Perth on February 14 and Brisbane on February 16. The convention wraps up in Sydney on February 21 when the Gala Dinner will also be held.

“While we continue to navigate this phase of the pandemic, it’s really important to the NIBA board and myself that we can offer our members and industry supporters the opportunity to attend this important event,” NIBA CEO Philip Kewin says.

NIBA says the convention will be conducted in a covid-safe manner and the program has been designed to enable members to come together at state-based sessions, while also having the opportunity to access the full program via the virtual platform.

“There is also an on-demand option if you are not available to attend the session face-to-face or virtually, and want to view the session at a later time,” Mr Kewin says.

This year’s convention is themed “Professionalism + Resilience = Opportunity”.

The Melbourne session will focus on the regulatory environment, with speakers including Australian Securities and Investments Commission Senior Executive Leader, Insurers Rhys Bollen, Australian Financial Complaints Authority Lead Ombudsman Insurance Emma Curtis and Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee Chairman Oscar Shub.

Working practices post-covid will be discussed with Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Principal David Thompson and author, trainer and coach Mark Carter.

The Adelaide leg, originally scheduled to kick off the event on Monday February 7, has shifted to Friday next week, and begins with an address from NIBA President Dianne Phelan.

A panel discussion on the state of the industry will feature John Trowbridge, who last year completed a report on cover affordability and availability for the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), ICA CEO Andrew Hall and former NIBA CEO Dallas Booth, who is chairing an ICA business advisory council.

Ms Phelan and Mr Kewin will also give an overview of the Treasury Quality of Advice review, which includes broker remuneration, and they will preview the new Insurance Brokers Code of Practice.

The Perth program opens with a keynote address from Fiona Wood, a specialist in the treatment of burns and the Australian of the Year in 2005. The event then examines brokers and the workers’ compensation system and covid-related business interruption claims and test cases.

In Brisbane, the focus shifts to natural catastrophes with presentations from Risk Frontiers MD Ryan Crompton and James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station Chief Engineer David Henderson.

An insurer’s view on the Northern Australia cyclone reinsurance pool is scheduled to be presented by Suncorp, while North Queensland Insurance Brokers Director Ron Bellert will give a broker’s perspective.

The convention formalities wrap up in Sydney with a session examining the future of insurance broking, ahead of the dinner at the International Convention Centre.

Full details are available here.