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Welcome to our Annual Conference 2024

Together, Driving Change

Our flagship Annual Conference will bring together key industry decision-makers to discuss major issues affecting the insurance and long-term savings industry. 

Sessions will explore what firms can do to continue to build trust and confidence, reduce complexity and improve transparency, how to shape an effective market, and how we must support a healthy and diverse workforce.

The 2024 conference is our biggest to date including:

  • A larger venue at the QEII Centre in the heart of Westminster allowing you to network with more colleagues

  • 12 breakout sessions to choose from on areas such as general insurance, financial inclusion and many more

  • Over 45 sector-leading speakers 

 

Book before Friday 22 December and enjoy a 10% discount on all tickets using promo code: ABIConf24-XMAS10.

79
Days
14
Hours
42
Minutes
5
Seconds

 

When: 27 February 2024

Time:  09:00 to 17:00

Where: The QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE

Registration: 08:15

This event will be followed by a networking drinks reception.

 

Price

   In person
 Members | Associate Members | Partners £425
 Non-Members £585


Please note: All members must be logged into their ABI member account to receive the members pricing. All prices shown above do not include VAT.

Bookings close at 17:00 on 26 February 2024.

OVER
500+
attendees
WE HearD from
40+
industry leaders
we met
40+
exhibitor representatives
 
55%
attendees at
Director + level

Take advantage of 5.5 hours of CPD with this CII accredited event.

 

Keynote Speakers

Confirmed Speakers

Conference Chair

Louise Minchin, Broadcaster and Journalist

Keynote Speakers

Mary Portas, Businesswoman, Broadcaster and Author

 

Speakers

Tim Bailey, President of the ABI and UK Chief Executive, Zurich

Chira Barua, CEO, Scottish Widows and CEO Insurance, Pensions and Investments, Lloyds Banking Group

Hannah Behrendt, Director of Health, Behavioural Insights Team

Harriet Boughton, General Counsel, Flood Re

Geoff Carter, CEO, Sabre Insurance Group

Martin Coppack, Director, Fair By Design

Liz Fernando, Chief Investment Officer, NEST

Selina Flavius, CEO and Founder, Black Girl Finance

Tara Foley, CEO UK and Ireland, AXA

Michele Golunska, Managing Director, Wealth and Advice, Aviva

Paddy Greene, Head of Money Policy, Which?

Dr Ali Hasan, CCO, Vitality

Colm Holmes, CEO, Allianz UK

Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive, ShareAction

Hannah Gurga, Director General, ABI

Ross Liston, CEO Wealth Advice, M&G

Max Mawby, Founder Behavioural Insight and Advisory, Thinks Insight and Strategy 

Stephen McGee, CEO, Scottish Friendly

Louise Murphy, Economist, Resolution Foundation

Sarah Murrow, CEO UK and Ireland, Allianz Trade

Ken Norgrove, CEO, RSA UK and International

Alex Perry, CEO, Bupa Insurance

Jason Richards, CEO, Swiss Re

David Richardson, Group Chief Executive Officer, Just Group

Sacha Romanovitch OBE, CEO, Fair4All Finance

Adrian Smith, Chief Executive, Reclaim Fund

Mark Till, CEO, Unum

Sam White, Founder and CEO, Stella Insurance

Tina Woods, Founder and CEO, Business for Health

Morning Plenary Session

Securing the future of the General Insurance Market amidst widening expectation and protection gaps

The future of the General Insurance Market is under scrutiny as the gap between expectations and protection widens. Amidst difficult times, consumers are increasingly seeking comprehensive insurance policies, while insurers grapple with a multitude of complex and evolving risks and challenges.

In this session, we will seek to answer: How can insurers bridge the protection gap? How are the regulators approaching the expectation gap and what do they expect from insurers? What impact might these issues have on the industry? What are consumer expectations? How can insurers effectively communicate cover to consumers? 

Speakers include:

  • Colm Holmes, CEO, Allianz UK - Chair
  • Tara Foley, CEO UK and Ireland, AXA
  • Martin Coppack, Director, Fair By Design
  • Sam White, CEO, Stella Insurance

- Morning Break Out Sessions

Breakout A - Regulation - AI principles into practice

Bringing together experts from across different disciplines within the insurance and long-term savings industry, this session will explore how firms can plan for, and manage, AI risks and opportunities. 

It will discuss how to put the Government’s high-level principles for AI into practice, including who needs to be involved and some of the key steps that need to be taken, to ensure responsible use of AI.

Breakout B - Saving lives with data 

The session will explore how the healthcare system, including insurers, can better utilise health data to improve the population’s health whilst building trust amongst patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers and regulators.  

Health data is information about an individual’s or population’s physical and mental health, as well as the biological, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that influence it. This data can be collected from a variety of sources, including clinical records, clinical trials, disease registries, electronic health records (EHRs), research studies, medical devices and data from phone apps and wearables.

Health data can be used to improve our understanding of disease, develop new treatments, and deliver more personalised care and prevention. It can also be used to track the health of populations and identify areas where interventions are needed. The use of health data is growing rapidly, as new technologies make it easier to collect and store data. However, there are also challenges associated with the use of health data, such as ensuring privacy and security, and making sure that the data is used ethically. To reap the benefits of the ever-growing amount of health data, it will be vital to build and maintain trust.

Breakout C - Empowering customers to make good choices 

As the Treasury and FCA’s advice and guidance boundary review and the DWP’s consultation on 'Helping savers understand their pension choices' progresses, this panel will debate what changes are needed so that savers are able to make the best retirement decisions for them.

Industry has long called for change to help customers make better decisions. In July 2023, the FCA found that Investment pathways have been working as intended, but recognised that more is needed to support customer decision making.

This panel will explore:

  • What does a good outcome of the advice and guidance boundary Review look like?
  • Which customer circumstances could most be improved by the Review?
  • What do customers want providers to help them with, and what is their appetite to pay for these services?

Speakers include:

  • George Ritchie, Senior Policy Advisor, ABI - Chair
  • Michele Golunska, Managing Director, Wealth and Advice, Aviva
  • Ross Liston, CEO Weath and Advice, M&G
  • Max Mawby, Founder, Behavioural Insight and Advisory, Thinks Insight & Strategy

Breakout D - Insuretech/data 

Details coming soon.

 

Afternoon Plenary One

Mansion House reforms for pensions: where are we now?

The Chancellor announced a package of pensions measures at his Mansion House speech in July, which was accompanied by a number of policy proposals by DWP. The Autumn Statement in November is expected to continue this focus. 

In this speech the Chancellor also announced his three golden rules:

  • To secure the best possible outcome for pension savers;
  • to always prioritise a strong and diversified gilt market
  • to strengthen the UK’s position as a leading financial centre to create wealth and fund public services.

This plenary session will: 

  • Explore the opportunities and barriers to pension funds investing in the UK.  
  • Analyse the progress of each of the strands of reform announced in the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech in July 
  • Debate whether the Chancellor’s golden rules be met. 

Speakers include:

  • Yvonne Braun, Director of Policy, Long Term Savings, Health and Protection, ABI
  • Liz Fernando, Chief Investment Officer, NEST
  • Chirantan Barua, CEO, Scottish Widows 

- Afternoon Break Out A Sessions

Breakout E - General Insurance - The commercial and speciality markets in focus

During and following the pandemic, there was a hardening market for many lines of insurance with underwriting actions from insurers including reduction of limits and push for rate after years of soft markets. How has this impacted the commercial / specialty market? More recently, there has been a step change in the reinsurance market, with increasing prices and retentions. What does the future look like for policy coverage, targeting new business opportunities and market stability? 

Speakers include:

  • Jason Richards, CEO, Swiss Re
  • Sarah Murrow, CEO, Allianz Trade UK and Ireland

Breakout F - Health, Tax and Politics

Taxation and policy measures are an important tool to change behaviour to address pressing social issues. In response to growing health-related economic inactivity, the government is taking seriously the need to use the tax system hand in hand with health and welfare policy to promote the health of the workforce and increase productivity.

Tax revenue in the UK is currently 37% of national income. This is the highest level since the 1940s. There is a risk that in the face of an ageing population and increasing health and social care costs taxes may need to continue rising. How can we use policy and taxation most effectively to support better workplace health now, to grow the economy and reduce the burden on our health and welfare systems?

This panel will focus on how the policy and taxation system can be used separately or in tandem to drive behavioural change, how it is limited by political, demographic and fiscal constraints, how this relates to health policy, wider party politics and the insurance market.

Speakers include:

  • Alex Perry, CEO, Bupa Insurance
  • Hannah Behrendt, Director of Health, Behavioural Insights Team
  • Mark Till, CEO, Unum

Breakout G - Regulation - Consumer Duty six months on

After introducing the Consumer Duty at the end of July 2023 the FCA is now looking to see real change in how insurers deliver good customer outcomes. The regulator’s top market-wide priority is embedding the Consumer Duty and that is reflected in its published priorities for both life insurers and for general insurance and protection.

What are the challenges that insurers face in delivering cover that matches price with value across often extended distribution chains? How do firms approach giving customers effective support to meet their financial objectives when the cost of living drives customers to focus mainly on price when choosing a product or service? What are the steps insurers have already taken and what more do they need to do to achieve good customer outcomes? Will the review of the advice and guidance boundary deliver the hoped-for step change in how insurers can talk to their customers? Looking ahead to the extension of the Consumer Duty to closed books of business, what lessons can we take from the first six months to apply to the large back books of life insurance and pension providers?

Our expert Panel will consider these and other issues as we assess the pitfalls and opportunities on the journey to embedding the Consumer Duty into the way the insurance and LTS industry does business.

Speakers include:

  • Charlotte Clark, Director of Regulation, ABI
  • Paddy Greene, Head of Money Policy, Which? 

Breakout H - Financial Inclusion

17.5million – the number of people Fair 4 All Finance estimate to be in financially vulnerable circumstances in the UK. A staggering number. And with reports from consumer groups highlighting affordability challenges and the latest FCA Financial Lives Survey showing 6.2million people in the UK cancelling or not renewing cover last year, the challenge of how to improve financial inclusion has never been more topical or more pressing.

What can be done? Or more pertinently, who’s responsibility is it to find ways to improve inclusion for consumers?

Insurance and long-term savings firms are increasingly vocal about their role in looking after individuals, families and businesses - to protect against income shocks to help build secure financial futures. But with thin margins in parts of the market and no obligation to provide products that are not commercially viable, how can firms, government and third parties come together to improve inclusion for consumers in a financially sustainable way?

Speakers include:

  • Selina Flavius, CEO and Founder, Black Girl Finance
  • Adrian Smith, Chief Executive, Reclaim Fund
  • Sacha Romanovitch OBE, CEO, Fair4All Finance

 

Afternoon Plenary Two

Investing in healthy lives

Healthy life expectancy has increased over time, but not as much as life expectancy. This means that people are spending more years in poor health. People’s healthy life expectancy is driven by a range of socio-economic factors from deprivation to gender and ethnicity, alongside behavioural factors such as smoking, diet and exercise.

These factors are complex and interact with each other leading to differences in health outcomes for different people. These differences in health outcomes are known as health inequalities – unfair and avoidable differences in health between different groups within society.  Typically, health inequalities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health.

Reducing poor health and tackling health inequality is beneficial for society, the economy and insurers. So why has it been impossible for successive governments to act upon sound evidence that prevention, which tackles the root cause of ill health, is more cost effective than dealing with the cure? How can insurers best demonstrate their value in keeping people fit and well by incentivising healthy behaviours?

- Afternoon Break Out B Sessions

Breakout I - General Insurance - Challenge or opportunity? Insuring difficult risks

In today's insurance landscape, underwriting challenges such as flood, cladding, pre-existing conditions, and vulnerable customers are becoming increasingly prevalent. This session will provide a platform for industry experts to share their knowledge, experiences, and innovative approaches to effectively manage and mitigate challenging risks.

Speakers include:

  • Ken Norgrove, CEO, RSA 
  • Harriet Boughton, General Counsel, Flood Re
  • Geoff Carter, CEO, Sabre Insurance Group

Breakout J - Insuretech 

Details coming soon.

Breakout K - Reducing climate risk - Our sector's role in adapting to a warmer world

Details coming soon.

Breakout L - How do customers navigate investment choices

How pension funds and retail products invest has never been such a hot topic, but how do consumers make decisions about where their money is invested, and what influences these decisions?

Engagement with pensions, particularly workplace pensions, is typically poor. For those that do want to engage and make decisions about their investments, what support and tools exist to help them navigate these choices? Meanwhile, is the Government right to encourage customers to invest in Stocks & Shares rather than Cash ISAs? Is the broad public interest in sustainability an opportunity to engage people in making investment choices?  This panel will explore how providers currently help customers navigate investment choices.

Speakers include:

  • Rob Yuille, Assistant Director, Head of Long Term Savings Policy, ABI
  • Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive, ShareAction
  • Stephen McGee, CEO, Scottish Friendly

 

 

 

Conference Location

The 2024 conference will be held at QEII Conference Centre, London.

Located in the heart of Westminster and next to the biggest cultural attractions in London.

Easily accessible public transport links.

 

 

Hear what they had to say

 

Overall a great industry experience, with lots of relevant topics and provided a chance to meet and discuss the issues of the day with colleagues and peers."

Allianz

Really good balance of industry experts and special (yet relevant) guests. Super slick organisation and fantastic views and insights gained."

Third City

It was great to be back together with colleagues from across the industry, hearing about the challenges facing the industry and meeting new colleagues."

Keoghs LLP

A really good conference with very strong speakers."

Vitality Health

 

 

 

 

2024 Exhibitors

CII accredited event

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For more information about this event please contact
Lois Collier:

ABI Events

Tel: 020 7216 7664

Email: [email protected]