Speakers

Thérèse leads Ando in its drive to empower brokers through innovation and true partnerships, strengthening the company’s capabilities and guiding its growth and future direction while ensuring Ando’s purpose – looking after the wellbeing of New Zealanders – is lived every day. She is an experienced leader in New Zealand financial services, with over 25 years in insurance in New Zealand and overseas. Prior to joining Ando, she was CEO of Resolution Life New Zealand and Chief Claims Officer of Resolution Life Australasia (formerly AMP Life). She is a member of the Institute of Directors, a solicitor and barrister of the High Court, and a member of the New Zealand Financial Advice Code Committee.

Presentation Synopsis: The future’s bright.

Ando's dynamic CEO, Thérèse, and some of her team will share insights on why they think the "future's bright", what's ahead, and how Ando's challenger spirit is helping fuel its ambition to become the preferred insurance partner for brokers.

Clint loves customers, and the tech which helps them. He's been early to every wave: he sent New Zealand's first commercial email, then helped clients win with eCommerce, mobile web, mobile apps, and now AI. As founder of Game Changer and Willzee, he isn’t just advising on disruption. He’s building it.

Presentation Synopsis: More Tech. More You.

Everyone in this room now has access to the same AI, so where does your advantage actually come from? Clint, early to every technology wave since sending New Zealand's first commercial email, will argue the winners won't be the brokers with the best tech, but the ones who use it to become more human.

Monica Maharaj is a strategic and highly respected insurance leader with extensive experience leading high-performing teams and managing complex liability claims. As Liability Claims Lead at NZI, she combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on risk, governance, and stakeholder relationships, overseeing complex claims matters and providing technical leadership across her team. Monica is also an active contributor to the insurance industry, serving on the New Zealand Insurance Law Association National Committee and the ANZIIF Liability Conference Committee. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she is passionate about developing people, strengthening industry partnerships, and driving excellence in claims management.

The Issue of Recklessness - A Case Study

An interactive case study exploring recklessness and the often-blurred distinction between negligence and reckless conduct.

Dr Nic Warren is General Manager Product, Pricing & Analytics for QBE Pacific.

His work focuses on insurance product innovation, underwriting transformation, and the use of data and analytics to improve customer and business outcomes. Nic is known for translating complex technical concepts into practical business decisions and has led initiatives spanning underwriting digitisation, climate risk, resilience, pricing, and portfolio optimisation.

Nic has a PhD in mathematics, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries Australia and the New Zealand Society of Actuaries.

Outside of work, he serves as a full-time supporter, part-time coach, and unofficial taxi driver to his three children transporting them between their various sporting endeavours.

Presentation Synopsis: From recovery to resilience

Nic will explore how QBE is redefining its role beyond traditional insurance, partnering with customers to build resilience before, during and after risk events. Through innovative solutions, data-driven insights and meaningful partnerships, the session will demonstrate how QBE is helping businesses thrive in an increasingly complex risk landscape.

Mikayla Dixon is the Underwriting Manager – SME & Connected, with extensive experience in commercial underwriting and specialist expertise in liability insurance. Passionate about broker partnerships and customer-focused solutions, Mikayla works closely with brokers to navigate complex risks, support SME clients and deliver practical underwriting outcomes in an evolving insurance market.

Presentation Synopsis: Emerging Risks

Join Mikayla Dixon, Underwriting Manager - SME & Connected, and Shayne Dodd, Risk Management Specialist, as they explore the risks and opportunities arising from increased solar panel uptake. With government incentives expected to drive growth, they'll discuss installation standards, risks, battery safety, and how Vero is helping customers embrace renewable energy safely and confidently.

Shayne Dodd brings 16 years of electrical industry experience, including time as an Electrical Inspector, to his role as a Risk Management Specialist. With a strong background in residential electrical work and solar installations, he helps customers identify and manage risks before they lead to loss. Having personally experienced the impact of a major loss, Shayne is passionate about helping businesses improve resilience and protect what matters most.

Presentation Synopsis: Emerging Risks

Join Mikayla Dixon, Underwriting Manager - SME & Connected, and Shayne Dodd, Risk Management Specialist, as they explore the risks and opportunities arising from increased solar panel uptake. With government incentives expected to drive growth, they'll discuss installation standards, risks, battery safety, and how Vero is helping customers embrace renewable energy safely and confidently.

Adrian Sweeney is General Manager, New Zealand for Zurich Insurance. With nearly 40 years of international insurance experience, he has held executive leadership roles across underwriting, operations, risk, and strategy in multiple global markets. Adrian brings deep global expertise in the industry with a strong focus on delivering sustainable customer and commercial outcomes.

Global Insurance Challenges and their Impact on New Zealand

There are 4 global drivers of change that are impacting the insurance market New Zealand. This presentation evaluates their potential and what can be done to understand and mitigate their impacts.

Steven Tuften is a technology leader specialising in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies within the global insurance industry. As Director of AI & Emerging Technology at Steadfast, he leads the development of AI governance, risk management, and adoption strategies across a diverse network of brokers, subsidiaries, and international operations.

With over 20 years’ experience in insurance and technology, Steven is recognised for his pragmatic approach to AI, focusing on translating emerging capabilities into safe, scalable, and value-driven outcomes. He is known as an “AI Realist”, cutting through industry hype to help organisations make informed, commercially sound decisions about AI adoption.

Prior to Steadfast, Steven held senior roles at ACORD, where he led Asia-Pacific standards initiatives and drove the adoption of digital insurance data standards across the region. His work included the design of industry-first API standards for claims lodgement and contributions to global standards for delegated authority reporting and blockchain applications.

Steven is a passionate advocate for digital literacy and capability uplift, ensuring that organisations are equipped not just with technology, but with the skills and governance frameworks required to use it responsibly and effectively.

An accomplished and engaging speaker, Steven is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and has presented at conferences and industry events to audiences of up to 1,500 people. He is known for delivering clear, practical insights that help business and technology leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Steven holds a Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence from Deakin University, where his research focused on advanced deep learning techniques for image segmentation using satellite imagery.

Presentation Synopsis: AI without the hype. What every broker needs to know

AI is changing the way brokers operate, communicate, and make decisions, but knowing where to start – and how to use it responsibly – can be challenging. In this practical and accessible introduction to AI, we explore how it is already being used in insurance broking, the opportunities it can create for you, and how it can give you more time to spend with your clients.

The session will also cover important considerations when adopting AI, including how to approach privacy, accuracy, and risk and prepare for an Agentic future.

Anthony Masciangioli is the General Manager – Operational Risk Management at Steadfast Workplace Risk and a recognised specialist in operational, health and safety, and psychosocial risk management. With more than 20 years’ experience across consulting, energy, infrastructure and other high-risk industries, Anthony has helped organisations strengthen governance, manage critical risks, improve workforce wellbeing and enhance organisational resilience.

Anthony has led major operational risk reviews, psychosocial risk assessments, workplace investigations and control effectiveness reviews across both the public and private sectors. He is particularly passionate about helping organisations understand the connection between psychosocial risks, workplace wellbeing, workers’ compensation outcomes and insurance exposures.

Anthony also has extensive experience working with organisations across New Zealand, providing practical advice on workplace health and safety, psychosocial risk management, injury prevention and workforce wellbeing. His trans-Tasman experience enables him to deliver practical, commercially focused strategies that improve business performance, reduce claims costs and strengthen risk management outcomes.

Presentation Synopsis: Psychosocial risk management in workplaces

Psychosocial risk management is rapidly becoming a key area of focus for employers. In addition to their legal obligations, many organisations are experiencing increasing challenges associated with psychological injuries, workplace behaviours, mental health concerns, absenteeism, turnover and overall workforce wellbeing.

Using current claims data, legal precedents, and insurer behaviour, the session explores the rising impact of mental health and psychosocial hazards on EPL, income protection, and TPD insurance. Brokers will gain insight into common operational and cultural red flags, insurer expectations, and emerging legal obligations for employers.

For brokers, this presents an opportunity to engage clients in broader risk management conversations that extend beyond insurance placement and focus on helping clients prevent and manage emerging people-related risks before they result in claims.

Katherine Wilson is the Chief Executive of IBANZ (Insurance Brokers Association New Zealand). Previously, she was Head of Advocacy at Property Council New Zealand, a fellow membership organisation, representing commercial, industrial, retail and residential property. Katherine led national and regional campaigns on issues such as; FENZ levies, risk and liability settings, and resource management reform. Katherine holds a law degree from Otago University and a politics degree from Auckland University. A social runner, football player and Wellington Phoenix fan, Katherine lives with her family in Auckland.

Presentation Synopsis: Panel Session: Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand and Insurance Council of New Zealand

This panel session will explore the forces shaping New Zealand’s insurance industry and what they mean for you and your clients including the impact of economic market conditions, rising claims and repair costs, climate-related risk, regulatory change, cyber exposures, technology and evolving client expectations.

Kris Faafoi became Chief Executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand in April 2024, bringing a unique blend of political leadership and media expertise to the role.

Kris served in Parliament from 2010-2022, holding multiple ministerial portfolios including Justice, Immigration, Broadcasting, and notably Commerce and Consumer Affairs where he oversaw insurance law reforms. A graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School, he began his career as a journalist with TVNZ and BBC before transitioning to politics as Chief Press Secretary to Labour leader Phil Goff.

Presentation Synopsis: Panel Session: Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand and Insurance Council of New Zealand

This panel session will explore the forces shaping New Zealand’s insurance industry and what they mean for you and your clients including the impact of economic market conditions, rising claims and repair costs, climate-related risk, regulatory change, cyber exposures, technology and evolving client expectations.