Will Freyer has been announced as the recipient of the 2026 Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship.

ANZIIF and Lloyd’s Australia are proud to announce Will Freyer, Graduate, Technical Division at Allianz Australia, the recipient of the 2026 Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship.

Freyer received the scholarship for his pitch, “Carbon Performance Protection Facility: Unlocking carbon project finance through innovative risk transfer”, which explores how innovative insurance solutions could help address financing risk and enable investment in carbon projects.

The scholarship recognises emerging insurance leaders with bold ideas for tackling the risks reshaping the industry, while supporting them to build their professional expertise.

This year, applicants were challenged to draw on Lloyd’s legacy of innovation to address climate resilience and extreme weather or digital risk and AI-driven insurance innovation.

From a record number of candidates, the judging panel said Freyer stood out for his ability to frame a highly specialised risk as an opportunity with broad market appeal.

His proposal explores insurance as a potential enabler of project finance. The judges also praised his enthusiasm and engaging presentation, describing him as exactly the kind of forward-thinking talent the scholarship aims to support.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the scholarship gives emerging professionals an opportunity to develop new approaches to some of the industry’s most complex risks.

“Insurance has an important role to play in finding new ways to respond to emerging risks and unlock opportunities for businesses and communities. Will’s proposal demonstrates the kind of forward thinking this scholarship was created to encourage, and we look forward to supporting him as he develops his expertise and takes the idea further.”

Freyer, currently on the Allianz Graduate Program, will receive enrolment in ANZIIF’s Lloyd’s Demystified course and support towards an ANZIIF Diploma valued at up to $5,000 and a one-year Individual Insider membership with Insurtech Australia worth $462. An Insurtech Australia mentorship will help him develop his winning idea further.

He will also be invited to a day-in-the-life experience at the Lloyd’s Australia Sydney office, offering first-hand exposure to the Lloyd’s market and its approach to insurance and reinsurance innovation.

The Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship champions innovation in insurance while recognising future leaders and creative thinkers with the potential to help the industry respond to emerging risks across the region.

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Katrina Shanks

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has announced the launch of its new Industry Connect Series, a national event program designed to help insurance professionals stay informed on the code, regulatory and legislative developments shaping the sector in 2026 and beyond.

Delivered across five locations in October and November, Industry Connect will bring together professionals from across claims, broking, underwriting, risk, compliance, operations and customer service for a practical update on the key changes influencing the future of insurance.

The two-hour interactive sessions will combine expert-led industry intelligence with dedicated networking time, offering attendees an opportunity to strengthen their professional connections while gaining a clearer understanding of the issues likely to affect their roles, organisations and customers.

The program will feature updates on major industry code reviews currently underway across life insurance, insurance broking and general insurance, including a deeper discussion of the proposed General Insurance Code of Practice and the practical implications for insurers, brokers and insurance professionals.

ANZIIF is delighted to announce that Sparke Helmore Lawyers will join the event series to deliver a forward-looking update on the regulatory and legislative developments expected to influence insurance in 2026 and beyond, highlighting the emerging issues and reforms most relevant to today’s insurance professionals.

Katrina Shanks, CEO of ANZIIF said Industry Connect reflects ANZIIF’s role in supporting insurance professionals to navigate a period of continued change.

“Insurance professionals are operating in an increasingly complex environment, with code reviews, regulatory reform and legislative change creating new expectations for the sector. Industry Connect is designed to give professionals a clear, practical and timely understanding of the changes ahead, while also creating space for meaningful industry connection.”

Industry Connect Series dates:

• 8 October – Industry Connect VIC
• 15 October – Industry Connect NSW
• 27 October – Industry Connect QLD
• 29 October – Industry Connect WA
• 5 November-| Industry Connect SA

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The individuals and organisations setting new benchmarks across the Australian insurance industry were recognised tonight at the 22nd ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry Awards.

Honouring industry Iicons

The evening’s highest honours recognised three individuals whose leadership and contribution have left a lasting mark on the profession.

• Chris Mackinnon received the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his decades of leadership, advocacy and commitment to strengthening the Australian insurance profession.
• Kimberley Jonsson was named Insurance Leader of the Year, recognised for her outstanding leadership, strategic vision and enduring contribution to the industry.
• ANZIIF also posthumously honoured Tim Wedlock with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his remarkable career, enduring influence and lasting legacy within the insurance profession.

2026 award winners

• Authorised Representative Network of the Year: Community Broker Network
• Claims Team of the Year: CHU Underwriting Agencies
• Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year: Guardian Insurance Brokers 
• Large Broking Company of the Year: Marsh
• Small-Medium General Insurance Company of the Year: Adica Insurance
• Large General Insurance Company of the Year: Allianz
• Small-Medium Underwriting Agency of the Year: Coalition
• Large Underwriting Agency of the Year: CHU Underwriting Agencies
• Insurtech Start-up of the Year: Curium
• Life Insurance Company of the Year: NobleOak
• Professional Services Firm of the Year: SHARPS Australia
• Service Provider to the Insurance Industry: BizCover
• Young Insurance Professional of the Year: Alan Xian, Taylor Fry/University of NSW

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said this year’s recipients reflect the depth of talent and commitment across the Australian insurance industry.

“This year’s winners demonstrate the exceptional calibre of people and organisations shaping the future of our profession. Whether supporting customers through increasingly complex risks, developing innovative solutions or investing in the next generation of insurance professionals, each recipient has made a meaningful contribution to strengthening our industry.

“Their achievements set a benchmark for excellence and remind us that insurance is, above all, a profession built on trust, expertise and service. Congratulations to every winner on this well-deserved recognition.”

Now in its 22nd year, the ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry Awards continue to recognise the individuals and organisations driving progress across the profession. More than a celebration of achievement, the Awards showcase the expertise, leadership and commitment that strengthen public confidence in insurance and inspire the next generation of industry professionals.

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Katrina Shanks

The 2026 AICLA/ANZIIF Claims Convention (CC26) is set to return this year with a dedicated focus on the insights required to navigate a fast-evolving claims landscape.

Under the theme The Evolution of Claims – From Response to Strategy, this year’s program will explore the increasingly strategic role of the claims function, including the most pressing challenges and opportunities reshaping the profession.

From catastrophe response and fraud detection to complex strata claims, motor claims reform and the growing impact of multiple weather events, delegates will hear from industry experts keen to share their industry experience at the helm of innovation and change.

In 2026, the AICLA/ANZIIF Claims Convention will also offer a panel discussion on claims performance and response for loss adjusters, plus deep dive case studies drawn from real-world events.

Recognised as Australasia’s premier claims event, the convention once again brings together insurers, brokers, loss adjusters, lawyers and claims specialists at Sydney’s iconic, and newly renovated, Sofitel Wentworth.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said claims professionals are operating in an environment where technical expertise alone is no longer enough.

“Claims performance influences customer trust, organisational resilience and commercial outcomes,” Shanks says.

“The claims professionals leading the next decade will be those with a growth mindset, who can combine technical excellence with strategic thinking and the confidence to navigate increasing complexity.”

Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted more than 350 delegates, CC26 is expected to provide a major forum for industry collaboration, technical learning and professional networking.

Early bird registrations close August 14,.

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April Rinne

ANZIIF is excited to announce the first speakers confirmed for the inaugural 2027 ANZIIF International Summit, with US futurists Jerry Michalski and April Rinne to headline the program and leadership strategist Holly Ransom as MC. The Summit will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney on 11–12 February 2027.

Jerry Michalski is a futurist, technologist and founder of Open Global Mind based in the USA. He interviewed more than 4,000 startups as managing editor of the influential technology newsletter Release 1.0, and has since advised corporations on where to deploy AI and other exponential technologies. Curator of the world’s largest personal knowledge graph, built over 27 years, he brings a forward-looking view of the technology trends reshaping insurance.

April Rinne is the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, ranked by Forbes among the world’s 50 leading female futurists based in the USA. She advises organisations including Airbnb, Nike and the World Bank on navigating uncertainty, and brings insights into the workforce and demographic trends reshaping the industry.

Holly Ransom will MC the Summit. Chief executive of Emergent Global, a Fulbright Scholar and bestselling author of The Leading Edge, she has hosted events across more than 25 countries and interviewed figures including Barack Obama, Hiliary Clinton and Brené Brown.

Drawn from outside the industry, all three work on questions at its centre: how technology is reshaping decision-making, how workforces and customer expectations are shifting, and how organisations perform when both are changing at once.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says the speakers were chosen to bring perspectives from beyond the Australian market.

“This is an international summit, so we looked beyond our own market. Jerry and April are among the sharpest thinkers in the world on technology and change, and they bring thinking our profession does not hear often enough,” Shanks says.

“Ours is an industry powered by people and accelerated by innovation, and this first line-up speaks to both. We want delegates to leave with fresh perspective and ideas they can act on.”

The two-day Summit is expected to attract more than 900 delegates and feature more than 20 international and local experts, thought leaders and innovators. The program spans keynote sessions and breakout streams across macro, technology and innovation themes.

Take a look at the speakers and topics confirmed so far and reserve your seats for what promises to be an unmissable two days of insight and connection.

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Katrina Shanks

 ANZIIF has expanded its professional development offering to help insurance professionals build practical capability in AI and cyber risk, two of the industry’s fastest-moving areas. The expansion includes a new trilogy of short courses in AI, alongside a new short course in cyber risk.

The AI trilogy offers a structured pathway to build capability in how AI should be assessed, governed and applied responsibly, while a new short course in cyber risk equips professionals to recognise, prevent and respond to today’s most pressing threats.

Katrina Shanks, CEO of ANZIIF, says these new short courses respond to a clear need for practical, industry-specific education as both risk areas accelerate.

“As AI becomes embedded in everyday decision-making, professionals need more than general awareness, they need the practical skills to assess data, apply governance standards and manage risk with confidence,” Shanks says.

“This trilogy gives insurance professionals a clear, structured pathway to build that capability, whether they’re just starting to engage with AI governance or looking to deepen existing expertise. Paired with our new cyber risk course, it means the industry now has practical tools across two of its fastest-moving risk areas.”

The AI trilogy

• Understanding data-centric AI examines how data quality, bias, privacy and security shape AI performance, risk and accountability.
• Understanding the Artificial Intelligence management system standard explores the principles behind responsible AI governance, including impact assessments, risk management and practical application of the Standard.
• Developing responsible AI systems looks at how to support safe, fair and inclusive AI systems across the AI lifecycle, helping learners identify technical and ethical risks.

Cyber Risk

• Cyber risk: What insurance professionals need to know covers the drivers behind rising cyber attacks, common threats and warning signs, and practical strategies to help clients prevent, respond to and recover from cyber incidents.

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Mark Silveira

ANZIIF has launched AI Ready Mindset: How to Learn and Adapt, a new short course designed to help insurance professionals develop the ability to thrive as technology continues its evolution; arguably one of the most important skills for the future of work.

The 60-minute course is a brand new non-technical skills offering developed specifically for the insurance profession.

As emerging technologies continue to reshape the way people work, the course takes an honest look at the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and explores how curiosity, judgement and continuous learning can help professionals respond effectively.

ANZIIF General Manager of Industry Engagement, Mark Silveira said the course focuses on a capability that will remain valuable regardless of how technology evolves.

“This course isn’t about mastering a particular AI tool or technology. It’s about developing the judgement, curiosity and learning habits that help professionals succeed in a changing workplace.”

“What makes it different is its insurance focus, combining an understanding of adaptive learning with industry-relevant scenarios and practical tips for the workplace professionals can apply straight away.”

Designed for every career stage within the industry, the course explores habits that support growth and resilience, helping participants recognise opportunities, ask better questions and make informed decisions.

By the end of the course, learners will understand how to apply the ADAPT learning framework, identify productive learning behaviours and put practical strategies into action across a range of workplace situations.

The course also includes interesting and thought-provoking AI activities, plus a practical action checklist to help participants continue applying their learning long after the module is complete.

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Katrina Shanks

ANZIIF has announced the inaugural 2027 ANZIIF International Summit, a landmark event that will bring together the brightest minds in insurance, risk management and financial services as the profession prepares for a new era of disruption and opportunity.

To be held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on 11–12 February 2027, the first-of-its-kind Summit is expected to attract more than 900 delegates and feature over 22 leading international and local speakers.

Bringing together influential executives, policymakers, innovators, emerging leaders and decision-makers from across Australia, New Zealand, Asia-Pacific and beyond, the two-day event has been designed to challenge conventional thinking, spark new ideas and equip delegates to develop practical strategies for the future.

Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies and interactive sessions, the Summit will explore the forces reshaping insurance, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate resilience, cyber risk, regulation, customer expectations, leadership and the future workforce.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the Summit reflects the scale of change facing the profession.

“The future of insurance won’t be determined by technology alone. It will be determined by the decisions our profession makes today about trust, resilience, leadership and the value we deliver to society.”

“The ANZIIF International Summit is where those conversations happen; bringing together the people who won’t just respond to the future but help define it.”

More than a conference, it is an opportunity to step back from day-to-day pressures, gain a global outlook and join the conversations that will influence the next chapter of insurance.

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A highly respected insurance leader with more than 30 years’ experience across underwriting, distribution, customer strategy and executive leadership, Clarke brings deep expertise spanning insurers, underwriting agencies and broker partnerships.

As CEO of 360 Underwriting Solutions, Clarke leads one of Australia’s largest underwriting agency groups, overseeing 22 agencies and working closely with local and international capacity providers to support the placement of complex and specialised risks.

Prior to joining 360, he held a range of senior leadership roles at QBE, including Chief Customer Officer for Commercial Lines.

ANZIIF President Scott Leney says Clarke’s appointment would further strengthen the Board’s connection to the evolving needs of the insurance sector.

“Jason brings extensive industry experience, strong commercial acumen and a proven ability to build trusted relationships across the insurance value chain,” Leney says.

“ANZIIF’s role is to support a skilled, confident and future-ready profession. Jason’s perspective across underwriting, distribution and customer engagement will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen professional capability and help the industry navigate a period of significant change.

“His appointment reflects ANZIIF’s commitment to ensuring our governance draws on contemporary industry leadership and practical experience from across the profession.”

Clarke says he is honoured to join the ANZIIF Board at a time when the industry was facing both significant challenges and opportunities.

“Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that professional development, strong industry networks and shared standards can have on both individual careers and organisational success,” Clarke says.

“ANZIIF plays a vital role in helping insurance professionals build capability, adapt to change and achieve their career aspirations. I look forward to contributing to that mission and supporting the continued development of our industry.

“Insurance is ultimately a people business. As technology, customer expectations and risk environments continue to evolve, investing in the capability and professionalism of our people has never been more important.”

Clarke’s appointment further reinforces ANZIIF’s commitment to advancing professional excellence across the insurance and finance sectors through trusted learning, meaningful membership and industry recognition.

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Katrina Shanks

ANZIIF’s South Australian insurance community has come together to achieve record-breaking fundraising and attendance results at the 2026 ANZIIF South Australia Charity Luncheon, delivering significant support for the Zahra Foundation and the vital work it undertakes.

An extraordinary $45,402.70 was raised, more than doubling the highest amount previously raised through the luncheon, while also welcoming the largest number of attendees in the event’s history.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says the occasion demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when a community comes together to support an important cause.

“To see record attendance alongside our highest-ever fundraising result is truly inspiring,” Shanks says.

“It reflects the generosity of our members and industry partners, as well as the strength of our shared commitment to supporting organisations that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

Award-winning comedian Geraldine Hickey served as master of ceremonies, guiding guests through an afternoon of entertainment, connection and fundraising, including a lively silent auction.

Funds raised through the luncheon will directly support the Zahra Foundation’s work, helping the organisation continue and expand programs that empower women to achieve financial independence, rebuild confidence and create safer futures for themselves and their families.

ANZIIF extends its sincere thanks to its Corporate Partners, Pickles and QBE, and the South Australian Committee, Rod Winders, Blaise Silva and Shannan Gardner whose leadership and generosity ensured the success of this important event.

The organisation is also grateful to the many individuals and businesses that donated auction items and experiences, helping drive this outstanding and memorable outcome.

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