The New Zealand Underwriting Agencies Council’s (NZUAC) inaugural one-day broker expo in Auckland next month includes panel discussions on challenges facing the insurance industry. 

Lloyd’s Director Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Iain Ferguson and Aon Reinsurance Solutions CEO Australia and New Zealand John Carroll will deliver keynote addresses on pricing pressures, risk appetites, reinsurance outlook and capacity. 

A panel session will follow, comprising of Dual New Zealand GM Paula Sheppard-Jones, Crombie Lockwood Head of Claims and EQ Response Myles Noble, Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) Australia CEO Jenny Bax and 360 Underwriting Solutions CEO New Zealand Chris Lynch. 

“We have a fantastic line up of speakers and panellists to talk about the challenges our industry faces and what the future solutions may look like,” NZUAC says of the October 25 expo. 

NZUAC was established in February 2020 with the support of UAC Australia. 

The Auckland expo at the Grand Millennium will showcase the “deep expertise and diverse skillset” of agencies. 

The group – which now has 50 members including supplier partners – has observed the growing success of similar expos in Australia.  

“Over the past three years, we have made significant strides in how we support underwriting agencies and enhance their representation in the marketplace,” NZUAC Executive Director Nigel Edmiston said.  

“With considerable membership growth, new market entrants and previously unaffiliated agencies joining our ranks, we realised now is the time to connect brokers with our experienced members.”  

NZUAC says changing dynamics from recent weather events and subsequent losses has seen a “shift in reinsurer capacity support and risk appetite”.  

“This has presented opportunities for underwriting agencies to secure the right capacity and partner with brokers to support their client’s needs.   

“Additionally, the expanding specialist markets have opened doors for specialised underwriters such as cyber and accident & health, with NZUAC supporting the introduction of these diverse skillsets through its partner and supplier resources.” 

Click here for more on NZUAC.