Major broker group Austbrokers & IBNA Member Services (AIMS) will hold its next three national conferences in Australia rather than offshore to ensure maximum interaction with underwriters.

GM Martin McAvenna says the group, which has been meeting over the past few days in Cape Town, South Africa, will concentrate on building attendance numbers by locating the next few conferences in Australia. AIMS’ previous overseas conference was in China in 2008.

“There are some very positive reasons for exposing brokers to the way business is done in different countries and helping them to engage with different cultures,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “But now we want to develop programs that encourage member companies to involve principals and senior brokers with underwriters and business partners.”

The Cape Town conference has attracted more than 320 delegates and has a considerable technical and market content in its program.

“The best way to engage more effectively with insurers will be by holding our next few conferences in Australia,” Mr McAvenna said.