The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) is reminding the broking community to register for events at this year’s fast-approaching NIBA Convention, to be held at The Star Gold Coast from October 8-10. 

Over two-and-a-half days, social events and networking opportunities such as the NIBA CGU Welcome Function and the NIBA Marketplace will run alongside sessions about the broking profession.   

“With less than two weeks to go and a jam-packed program, there are plenty of sessions designed to tackle the most urgent challenges facing our profession,” NIBA says.  

To tackle retaining and attracting talent, NIBA says it will unveil a new initiative aimed at featuring insurance broking as a career of choice, with NIBA CEO Philip Kewin and Promoting Insurance Broking Careers Committee Chair Cameron Sheild. 

A Planning & Resilience session will feature Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall, Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee Consumer Representative Drew MacRae, and NIBA President Gary Okely.  

Future Risks – Property Insurance Done Differently will be presented by Axa Head of Climate Business for Australia and New Zealand Brian Maruncic, and will explore parametric insurance. 

Other issues to be tackled are supporting vulnerable clients, technology in the insurance industry, how to build lasting business relationships and future risks in property insurance. 

“The choice of topics reflects the urgency to tackle some of the most pressing challenges that the profession faces today,” NIBA says. “Attendees...walk away with actionable learnings they can utilise.” 

In the running for the 2023 QBE sponsored Broker of the Year, to be crowned at a gala dinner at the conference, are the following five regional winners:   

• SA/NT: Thomas Insurance Brokers MD Gary Thomas  
• Queensland: SB Protect Insurance Partner Lisa Shanta  
• WA: Grace Insurance Director Frans du Plessis  
• NSW/ACT: Finsura Senior Account Manager Barry Sonter.  

    Victoria/Tasmania: Marsh Corporate & Commercial Leader Victoria Nick Hodges.  

In the running for the 2023 Vero-sponsored Young Broker of the Year award are these regional winners: 

• SA/NT: Guardian Insurance Brokers Account Executive Adam Luppino  
• Queensland: East West Insurance Brokers Head of Business Development Taylor Burstow  
• WA: Aviso WA Insurance Brokers Account Executive Justin Purslowe  
• NSW/ACT: Network Insurance Group Account Director Joel Morrell  
• Victoria/Tasmania: Marsh Principal Corporate Olivia Hancock 

Here is the full conference lineup:   

October 8:   

NIBA CGU Night Market - Welcome Function   

October 9:  

NIBA Marketplace   

Opening keynote speaker – Jordan Nguyen   

Planning and Resilience: Where to from here? panel session with Brendan Moon, Andrew Hall, Drew MacRae and Gary Okely    

Future Risks – Property insurance done differently – Brian Maruncic   

Unlocking purpose, performance and power – Bronwyn King   

Tradition to transformation: Attracting talent to the industry – Cameron Sheild, Tom Wheeler and William Thompson   

Sharing risk to create a braver world - Patrick Tiernan   

Marketplace Happy Hour – NIBA marketplace   

October 10:  

NIBA Marketplace   

Reimagining Key Alliances: 5 Keys to building meaningful business relationships – Nikki Heald  

Leading change in a changing world - Jenny Haddad and Noel Kelly   

The Exec Chat panel session with Dianne Phelan, Rebecca Wilson, Lynette Walsh and Steven Hill  

The importance of technology in the insurance industry – Dale Smith and Pieter Versluis   

Supporting Vulnerable Clients: Insights from Banking’s Best Practices – Prue Monument   

The strategic direction of NIBA – Gary Okely, Dianne Phelan and Nicholas Cook   

Promoting insurance broking as a career choice – Philip Kewin and Cameron Sheild    

Closing keynote speech – Gus Balbontin   

NIBA Gala Dinner and awards ceremony  

See full details here.