CEO / Welcome
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
T
he time has arrived for the 2023 NIBA Convention, our first full Convention since 2019. While The Star on the Gold Coast may be a familiar favourite – it’s been the venue for many successful previous Conventions, with some calling it the ‘spiritual home’ of the NIBA Convention – this year’s theme “Re-Imagine – Think Differently” promises to look at things in a different way. Much has changed since 2019, let alone from the very first NIBA Convention at the Chevron on the Gold Coast, way back in 1983. While there seems to be a lot more regulatory certainty, which may be a first, there is still uncertainty in many areas. Changing weather patterns have delivered a multitude of natural disasters, and the focus on government and industry response has increased dramatically. NIBA met with representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency recently, to discuss the role NIBA and brokers can play in providing constructive insights into risk mitigation and emergency response. Brokers are uniquely positioned to provide a client perspective as well as the perspective of how different insurers respond. We will explore this in more detail at the Convention in our morning presentation from Andrew Hall from the Insurance Council of Australia, followed by a panel session including representatives from NEMA, Consumer Groups, the ICA and NIBA. Also, on day one of the Convention, we will look at the evolving world of technology. It’s fair to say that the emergence of the newer versions of ChatGPT has accelerated the focus on technology, artificial intelligence and how they integrate into our daily lives. While most of us have some kind of smart speaker or hub in our home, integrating artificial intelligence into these devices will take the smart home ecosystem to a new level. I saw this first-hand the other day when meeting with our guest presenter and opening keynote speaker Dr Jordan Nguyen, who has been involved in this field for many years. While I don’t want to spoil the surprise, Jordan will take the word “hey” to a new level. Another area that has everyone concerned is regarding where the next generation of insurance brokers might be coming from. As I have mentioned before, we have a committee of passionate volunteers who have been working under the guidance of Cameron Sheild from Lockton, and I will be delighted to share the first phase of our goal to “Insure your Future” – an initiative that brings to life the career of an insurance broker and why school leavers and graduates should consider broking as a career. It’s a small step, but hopefully the beginning of a broader program that we can all participate in and help encourage more young people into our profession. Given we are encouraging more young people to enter the profession, and the focus on technology solutions, it
6 / INSURANCE ADVISER OCTOBER 2023
makes sense that we challenge the concept of what a broker looks like in the future. This topic will be hotly contested on day two of the Convention in “The Great Debate,” where industry representatives from the broking fraternity and insurers will challenge the role of the broker in the future. This promises to be a lively session. And while we are still on the topic of the next wave of talent coming through the ranks, you will see in this month’s edition a profile of each of our Young Broker of the Year national finalists. What you won’t see is the work they did in Kempsey recently. As part of the Vero Young Broker Development program, this year’s finalists and alumni of previous winners come together to bring to life an initiative designed by the previous year’s finalists. This year, Vero granted money to Kempsey PCYC, to deliver much needed equipment for the young people of Kempsey, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds. The finalists also raised their own funds to match the Vero grant. The team, headed up by Vero’s Michael Miller and Anthony Pagano ventured to Kempsey to volunteer as part of a mini makeover for the PCYC garden and then spend time with the kids on the newly acquired equipment. Day two of this program saw a much-needed makeover for the Kempsey Museum, which is only hanging together thanks to a small group of energetic volunteers. The time and effort donated by the national finalists, previous winners and the Vero team makes you very proud to be part of a profession that values giving back to the community. Congratulations to all involved and to Vero, for such a valuable initiative. I look forward to seeing the winner of the Young Broker of the Year, and the Broker of the Year, which will be announced on the evening of 10th October. See you at the Convention.
PHILIP KEWIN Chief Executive Officer, NIBA
