Ocean Zone Agenda

The Ocean Zone is your high-energy deep dive into the big forces reshaping broking and specialty insurance. This is where you’ll get under the hood of AI from hype to ROI, win the cyber battle with clients, tackle claims and courtroom chaos, and make sense of consolidation, M&A, and RegTech in real time. Expect fast-paced panels, live Q&As, and candid conversations where brokers, MGAs, carriers, and tech leaders break down what’s coming next — and how to turn it into an advantage. 

10:35 – 10:40
Opening Address from Chair
10:40 – 11:15
Panel: AI Revolution - From Hype to ROI
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. 
11:20 – 11:55
RegTech in Action: Compliance in the Digital Age

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. 

 

12:00 – 12:35
Q&A: Winning the Cyber Battle with Clients
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. 
12:40 – 12:55
How to Build Your Personal Brand (From Someone Who Stopped Waiting to Be Noticed)
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 seven 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. 
13:35 – 14:15
Panel: Claims & Courtroom Chaos: Surviving Nuclear Verdicts in the E&S Era
16:55 – 17:00
Closing Remarks
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. 
14:20 – 15:00
Next Gen Power Lab: What I Wish I’d Known
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

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. 

15:50 – 15:55
Chair Closing Remarks