The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has changed its plan for a Gold Coast convention this year in the face of COVID-19 outbreaks, border closures and restrictions on gatherings.

It will now host a five-day “hybrid convention” over five weeks, giving delegates the ability to interact face-to-face at marketplaces in their home states that will involve insurers, underwriters and industry partners, while also accessing the entire national program online.

The hybrid convention will launch in Perth on September 28, followed by Adelaide on October 5, Melbourne on October 12, Brisbane on October 19 and Sydney on October 28, when the 2021 NIBA Gala Dinner will be held.

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

"Brokers have a chance to reinforce their role as valued partners to both insurers and clients in this dynamic landscape,” NIBA CEO Dallas Booth said. “We welcome the return of afternoon networking to provide brokers with a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new connections to benefit their business.”

The SA/NT gala lunch will go ahead at the Adelaide Convention Centre on July 23.

The WA gala lunch has been rescheduled to August 6 at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom while the NSW gala lunch at Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf has been moved from Friday this week to August 20.

The NIBA/UAC Queensland Underwriting Expo and gala lunch originally planned for Wednesday this week has been rescheduled to Wednesday September 22.

Following are the event programs for each city:

PERTH

1:00PM – 2:00PM | Opening Keynote

2:00PM – 2:30PM | Insurance brokers and the workers’ compensation system

2:30PM – 3:00PM | Covid-19 related business interruption claims and test cases

3:00PM – 5:00PM | Exhibition hall open

5:00PM – 7:00PM | Cocktails in exhibition hall

ADELAIDE

1:00PM – 2:00PM | State of the Industry 2021

2:00PM – 2:30PM | 2022 General Insurance remuneration review

2:30PM – 2:45PM | Introducing technology to streamline claims

2:45PM – 3:00PM | DDO and technology to keep up with the regulatory burden

3:00PM – 5:00PM | Exhibition hall open

5:00PM – 7:00PM | Cocktails in exhibition hall

MELBOURNE

1:00PM – 1:15PM | Future of Financial Services regulation

1:15PM – 1:30PM | Meet the Regulators: ASIC

1:30PM – 1:45 | Meet the Regulators: AFCA

1:45PM – 2:00PM | Meet the Regulators: IBCCC

2:00PM – 3PM | Working practices post Covid-19

3:00PM – 5:00PM | Exhibition hall open

5:00PM – 7:00PM | Cocktails in exhibition hall

BRISBANE

1:00PM – 2:00PM | Storms, floods, fires: insurance for weather-related incidents

2:00PM – 2:20PM | Northern Australia Cyclone reinsurance pool: perspective from ARPC

2:20PM – 2:40PM | Northern Australia Cyclone reinsurance pool: perspective from insurers

2:40PM – 3:00PM| Northern Australia Cyclone reinsurance pool: perspective from brokers

3:00PM – 5:00PM | Exhibition hall open

5:00PM – 7:00PM | Cocktails in exhibition hall

SYDNEY

1:00PM – 2:00PM | NIBA National Awards ceremony

2:00PM – 2:45PM | Closing Keynote

2:45PM – 3:00PM | Convention Close

3:00PM – 6:00PM | Exhibition hall open including 1 hour of drinks

7:00PM – 11:00PM | NIBA Gala Dinner

Any evolving government restrictions and guidelines in the lead-up to the convention activities will be communicated on the NIBA website.