Judicial and industry experts to tackle Australia’s evolving liability risks at ANZIIF Conference
Patricia Bergin
ANZIIF has unveiled an outstanding speaker lineup for its 2026 Australian Liability Conference, bringing together leading judicial, legal and insurance experts on Tuesday 17 November at Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney, and online.
Headlining the conference is The Honourable Patricia Bergin AO SC, who will deliver a keynote address exploring tort reform, the evolving liability landscape and the growing importance of alternative dispute resolution in complex claims.
Her address sets the stage for a timely examination of whether Australia’s liability framework remains fit for purpose as emerging risks, rising claims costs and changing legal expectations reshape the market.
A panel featuring Justice Nicholas Chen SC, Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW, Sui Loke of Liberty Specialty Markets and Estelle Pearson of Finity will revisit the impact of tort reform and consider the potential for another significant reform cycle.
The conference will also examine how artificial intelligence is creating new and potentially unexpected exposures for insurers. Stephen So, Head of Data & AI Strategy at Lander & Rogers, will explore AI-related copyright infringement, synthetic voices and digital likenesses, while Eren Giriftin, Head of Claims at SLE Worldwide, will examine advertising liability and an AI-related copyright claim through a case study.
Other program highlights include:
Abuse liability across jurisdictions: Kelly Lieu of Gen Re, Malcolm Newberry of Suncorp and Leighton Hawkes of McCabes examine historical claims, jurisdictional differences and their implications for insurers.
Emerging claims trends: Finity principals John Jeaitani and Susie Amos analyse APRA’s returning National Claims and Policies Database, exploring claims inflation, lengthening claims tails and emerging exposures.
Complex claims and unexpected risks: Crawford & Company’s Paul Hardy and Wotton Kearney’s Stuart Moore examine water-related liability, while Victoria and Andrew Pearce of Endangered Heritage explore the potential consequences of mould remediation.
ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says the program reflects the need for liability professionals to understand not only today’s exposures but also the developments that could transform tomorrow’s claims.
“Liability risks rarely stand still. Changes in legislation, technology and claims experience are continually testing how insurers assess, price and manage exposures,” Shanks says.
“This conference brings together exceptional expertise to challenge assumptions, share practical insights and help professionals make better-informed decisions in an increasingly complex environment.”
Designed for insurers, brokers, underwriters, claims professionals, loss adjusters, lawyers and risk managers, the hybrid conference offers six CIP points, expert-led discussions and valuable opportunities to connect with industry peers.
