Agenda - From Insurance Transformation to Growth

Agenda
July 16

9:55 – 10:35

KEYNOTE: Inside the Risk Room – Fresh Thinking from the Modern CRO

Pacific Zone

Step behind the scenes with today’s top risk leaders as they reveal what’s driving change in the world of insurance. This high-energy conversation will dig into how organizations are tackling new threats, embracing technology, and reimagining partnerships to stay ahead of the curve. Hear candid stories, surprising lessons, and bold ideas for navigating uncertainty, building trust, and unlocking new opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape. Walk away with insights and inspiration to elevate your approach to risk—no matter your role in the industry.

Rochelle Lewis

Director, Risk Manager, Red Bull

Randal Maestas

Risk Manager, Wonderful Co

Heidi Bastien

Vice President of Risk Management, Foundation Building Materials

10:30 – 11:30

Discussion Table: What are the transformational benefits of implementing AI effectively across your business?

Discussion Table

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How do you budget for digital transformation, and is it possible to implement new technology effectively on a shoestring budget?
What’s the key to bringing your team on the digital transformation journey with you? How do you get everyone on board for success?
What metrics or indicators have helped you measure real efficiency gains from AI investments?
What lessons have you learned from digital upgrades—both successes and failures?

Farah Ismail

Head of Commercial Lines, North America, WTW

10:30 – 11:30

Discussion Table: How do you design a digital-first client experience that truly delivers value and loyalty?

Discussion Table

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Which touchpoints still require a human touch, and why can’t AI replace them?
Are portals improving client loyalty, or creating new frustrations?
Which digital investments have actually boosted retention, and which have missed the mark?
How do you measure the ROI of digital client experience initiatives?

10:30 – 11:30

Discussion Table: What are the biggest hidden builder’s risks brokers and clients need to watch for, and how can you identify them early?

Discussion Table

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How can you identify clauses that silently destroy profitability or trigger claims—before it’s too late?
Are your clients ignoring risks that you then have to cover? What are the ways to mitigate this?
What past disasters have changed your approach to coverage decisions, and what lessons can others learn?

12:00 – 13:00

Discussion Table · Workshop - Legacy system modernization

DISCUSSION TABLE

Secure your seat at a Discussion Table ahead of time before they fill up!

How can brokers and agencies replace or integrate payments/merchant processing with legacy AMS or policy admin systems without blowing up day‑to‑day operations?
What practical steps move you from cheques and manual card processing to fully integrated digital payments that feel seamless for customers and staff?
How do you navigate real‑world constraints like batch processes, manual reconciliation, clunky carrier portals and dual data entry when plugging modern payment rails into old systems (API vs batch, reconciliation, etc.)?
What rollout and change‑management strategies actually win over producers, CSRs, accounting teams and clients as you shift from cheques to digital options while keeping costs low?

10:40 – 11:15

Panel: AI Revolution – From Hype to ROI

Ocean Zone

Enterprise‑grade AI is already reshaping retail brokerage — from real‑time claims intelligence to predictive underwriting and algorithmic client management. This session goes beyond the buzzwords into what it actually takes to make AI work in a brokerage: the infrastructure choices, talent models, and 18–24 month implementation plans that fit real‑world budgets. Hear how leading firms are stress‑testing use cases, building realistic ROI models, and getting teams ready to deploy AI in ways that drive margin expansion and a defensible market position.

Christina Lucas

Director and Market Leader - Insurance, Google

Christopher Frankland

Founder, InsurTech360.com

Kader Sakkaria

Global Head, Data Technology & Delivery, Gallagher

Doug Alexander

SVP and Chief Technology Officer, Upland Capital Group

10:40 – 11:15

E&S Unfiltered: The Insider’s Guide for 2026

Palm Zone

E&S is where some of the toughest—and most interesting—business is happening. In this session, top E&S brokers, MGAs, and underwriters break down how they’re accessing capacity, navigating shifting appetites, and solving for risks the standard market won’t touch. Learn practical strategies for building strong carrier and MGA relationships, handling difficult claims conversations, and using tech to streamline submissions. Delegates will leave with insider perspectives and new approaches to winning in the 2026 E&S market.

Jamie Cannon

Senior Vice President of Logistic Services, Reliance Partners

11:20 – 11:55

RegTech in Action: Compliance in the Digital Age

Ocean Zone

Compliance doesn’t have to be a drag on growth. In this session, brokers, carriers, and RegTech leaders show how they’re using digital tools to simplify audits, file reviews, disclosures, and documentation, while keeping producers moving fast. Through real‑world case studies, learn what has actually worked (and what hasn’t) when integrating RegTech into brokerage workflows, how to stay ahead of evolving rules around AI and cyber, and how to stay audit‑ready without burying your teams in admin.

11:20 – 12:00

Panel: Distribution Disrupted – Brokers of Tomorrow Amid M&A

Shore Zone

The insurance distribution landscape is evolving rapidly. Shifting market capacity, ongoing M&A activity, and economic headwinds are redefining the broker’s role and reshaping how insurance reaches the market. In this session, industry leaders who have navigated consolidation, capacity crunches, and changing client expectations share their real-world strategies for staying competitive and resilient. Discover how independent and regional brokers can still win, the niches and partnerships that matter most, and practical approaches to position your brokerage for growth over the next 3–5 years of distribution change.

Thomas Fitzgerald

President, Retail Business, World Insurance Associates

Patrick Thomas

Managing Partner, Southwest Region, Acrisure

11:20 – 11:55

Panel: Customer Expectations 2026: Meeting the Digital First Broker

Palm Zone

Market consolidation, shifting capacity, and economic pressures are transforming insurance distribution. This panel brings together brokers who have navigated M&A, capacity crunches, and changing client demands, sharing practical strategies for staying competitive. Learn how independent and regional brokers can leverage partnerships, target profitable niches, and adapt their business models to thrive over the next 3–5 years of disruption.

Edward Cha

SVP. Global Practice Leader, Newfront

Jonathan Wheat

Senior Vice President, Epic Brokers

Allen Madden

Senior Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services

12:00 – 12:35

Q&A: Winning the Cyber Battle with Clients

Ocean Zone

Cyber threats are evolving faster than most clients can keep up—and they expect their broker to be the expert. In this open Q&A, a broker, MGA, and CISO unpack how they’re talking about cyber today: from social engineering and ransomware to third‑party/vendor risk and personal cyber exposures. Get practical language, examples, and frameworks for turning cyber conversations into real client value instead of fear‑based selling, and bring your toughest questions for an unscripted, broker‑led discussion.

Garrett Droege

SVP Digital Risk Practice Leader, IMA Corp

Nadia Hoyte

Cyber National Practice Advisor, Cyber National Practice Advisor

12:40 – 12:55

How to Build Your Personal Brand (From Someone Who Stopped Waiting to Be Noticed)

Ocean Zone

Working hard isn’t always enough to get seen. In this 15‑minute, TED‑style session, discover how to intentionally build a reputation and presence that positions you as a go‑to voice in your niche. Through a quick‑fire rundown of five practical strategies, you’ll learn how to define what you want to be known for, communicate it clearly across your industry – online and offline – and build the kind of credibility that attracts the right clients, collaborators and commercial opportunities. Join the discussion table later in the day for a more in‑depth, interactive conversation tailored to your own brand and goals.

Heath Shearon

Mayor, Insurance Town

12:40 – 13:15

Blueprints & Bulldozers: Construction Risk Unfiltered

Palm Zone

12:45 – 13:15

Panel: New Rules, Real Risk: Brokers in 2026

Shore Zone

Rules around cyber, AI, data and deal‑driven change are tightening, and brokers are increasingly judged on what’s in the file. In this session, legal specialists sit alongside frontline brokers and MGAs to unpack how 2026 expectations are shifting around advice, placement, disclosures, cyber incidents and AI‑enabled workflows. Hear real examples, see what “good” looks like in practice, and leave with habits and checklists that stand up under pressure.

Christopher Keegan

Senior Managing Director- Cyber and Technology National Practice Leader Risk Solutions, Brown & Brown

1:20 – 13:55

Panel: Talent, Opportunity and Outcomes – The ROI of Different Perspectives

Palm Zone

The talent gap, generational change and shifting expectations are forcing firms to rethink who they hire, how they grow people and who gets real opportunity. This session looks at the business impact of building teams that mix ages, backgrounds and experience, showing how varied perspectives strengthen retention, decision‑making, client insight and product design. You’ll leave with practical, business‑first ideas on hiring, stretch roles, team structure and mentoring that widen opportunity and lift performance.

Josephine Gartrell

Managing Director, WTW

Marife Molina

Partner and EVP of Revenue, C3 Risk & Insurance Services

13:35 – 14:15

Panel: Claims & Courtroom Chaos: Surviving Nuclear Verdicts in the E&S Era

Ocean Zone

Litigation, social inflation, and “nuclear” jury awards are reshaping the E&S landscape, and claims missteps are more expensive than ever. Step into the trenches with claims and legal experts as they share how early intervention, advanced analytics, and tight broker‑carrier‑counsel coordination can change outcomes—from reserving and defence strategy to settlement posture. Walk away with a sharper checklist of questions to ask on every large, complex claim and a clearer story to take back to clients about what’s really at stake.

Mariya Coleman

Senior Vice President, Howden

14:00 – 14:35

Payments and Premiums: Fixing the Friction

Palm Zone

Cheques, clunky billing, and slow claims payments are friction points your clients feel every day. Step into the fast lane of insurance payments and see how InsurTech is modernising the flow of money across the value chain—from digital wallets and instant claims to smarter billing and collections. Get the inside scoop on the latest payment innovations, real‑world success stories, and what’s around the corner with tools like blockchain and stablecoins. Leave with ideas to improve cash flow, cut admin time, and make it dramatically easier for clients to pay you.

Anis Taylor

Co-Founder and COO, SnapRefund

14:20 – 15:00

Next Gen Power Lab: What I Wish I’d Known

Ocean Zone

This rotating “fishbowl” brings rising stars and industry veterans into the same circle to share the career lessons they wish they’d learned sooner, especially in a consolidating, tech‑driven market. Expect candid stories about missteps, breakthrough moments, and navigating everything from first promotions to leadership roles. Delegates can jump into the inner circle to add their own experiences and questions. No topic is off‑limits: step forward, engage, and leave with unvarnished guidance on building a career that actually fits you.

15:05 – 15:45

Navigating Consolidation: The Retail Broker’s Roadmap

Ocean Zone

Consolidation is rewriting the rules for retail brokers, from valuations and carrier dynamics to competitive positioning. This panel examines M&A as both existential threat and growth catalyst, unpacking how deals are being priced, what strategic buyers are looking for, and when it makes sense to build, buy, or sell. Hear how independent and regional brokers are extracting value through scale, specialisation, or strategic partnerships, and leave with a clearer view on which path—sell, scale, specialise, or partner—makes the most sense for your firm.

15:20 – 15:50

Personal Cyber 2.0: Add Ons That Keep You Ahead of the Pack

Palm Zone

Personal cyber is no longer just “identity theft insurance” as brokers are now dealing with hacked bank and payment apps, deepfake and phishing scams, home device ransomware and data leaks from everyday platforms. This session explores how carriers are reshaping personal cyber cover, what is really covered and what is not, and how leading brokers are packaging it with home, auto and executive policies for high risk clients and families. You will hear real claim stories and leave with concrete talking points and education tactics to make personal cyber a relevant, value adding conversation rather than a fear play.

Mila Araujo

Personal Cyber Practice Leader, North America, Assistant Vice President, DigitalShield, NFP

16:30 – 16:50

Rising Star Awards

Pacific Zone