The Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) has vowed to continue organising expos around Australia for its members to interact with brokers, despite a decision by the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) to run its own expos.

Chairman Heath Amber has written to members telling them the announcement of the NIBA expos, which will include general insurers, was a “surprise”.

He says NIBA did not discuss the matter with UAC first, despite the fact that at present the brokers’ peak body holds most of its expos in “consultation and partnership” with UAC.

“Our concern is very relevant, given the partnership with NIBA for existing exhibitions,” he says. “We have not been included in NIBA’s plans, but understand NIBA apparently intends issuing invitations to underwriting agencies to attend the new expos.

“UAC was not consulted and therefore… UAC is unable to provide any member assistance.”

Mr Amber says the “uniqueness” of the UAC underwriting expos “has great impact not only for our own members but for all authorised representatives and broker networks”.

“The UAC trade exhibitions feature only underwriting agencies and keep the focus solely on our inter-relationship with the broker market,” he says. “The UAC proposition remains compelling for all members.”

The next UAC-NIBA expo will be in Perth on November 20. NIBA is understood to be planning a range of its insurance expos around the country, starting with one in western Sydney on November 14.