The Big Question: What were the most unexpected takeaways from the Biba Conference 2025?

David Nichols, head of retail, Zurich UK

A surprising Biba outtake for me was how the conversation with brokers about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has really moved on. It is no longer the death knell for headcount in the insurance industry – it is now much more of a friend than foe.

The Biba Conference is testament to the fact that our industry is all about personal relationships, trust and a long-term commitment to our customers and partners. AI is just that – artificial. It will never replace the human connections that sit at the heart of our industry, our businesses and everything we do.

The conference was really busy this year. I noticed a real step change in the depth and strength of our relationships – not just with brokers, but with media colleagues and our partnership brands too. It felt more evident this year than ever before.

We also celebrated our recent five star eTrading rating from Insurance Times too. This was awarded by UKGI brokers that participated in the publication’s Five Star Rating Report: eTrading 2025, published in May 2025.

Myself, head of sales and distribution Jacqui Kelly, head of SME and trading Nikki Lidster and head of retail commercial Morgan Lyons donned branded aprons and served our brokers afternoon drinks at our stand’s bar by way of thanking them for their feedback.

This is a testament to what our business is about – serving brokers. Whether that’s a socially sustainable beer, alcohol free prosecco or great service, that’s why we’re here.

We’re really looking forward to building on these foundations in the year ahead. I feel the best is yet to come.

Graeme Trudgill, chief executive, Biba

The Biba Conference is the biggest event in our calendar and one that we are immensely proud of.

A whole load of detailed preparation goes into creating a conference programme and exhibition that really delivers what attendees want – great, informative and thought-provoking speakers, learning opportunities, space to get business done and a fantastic number of exhibitors.

Given this focus on delivering an event to be remembered, it is hard for us to be surprised.

There were some unexpected occurrences, however, including being able to explain in my conference address that something Biba has campaigned on long and hard – making regulation more proportionate – is going to happen, with the FCA consultation on simplifying the insurance rules being announced that very day (14 May 2025).

The extent of the positive reaction to our Ben the Broker awareness campaign, which promotes the role of brokers to SMEs, also went far beyond my expectations.

But most importantly, with the openness of professional boxer Anthony Joshua on stage, the enormous success of our first Women in Insurance Breakfast and the general buzz around the event, I think the whole emotional response to the Biba Conference 2025 was a nice surprise.

Gary Fletcher, managing director for the south, Gallagher

One of the most encouraging takeaways from the Biba Conference this year was the renewed focus on the value that brokers deliver – not just in terms of placing cover, but in providing tailored advice and risk management in an evolving world.

With risk profiles changing rapidly across sectors, our role as brokers has never been more crucial.

There was a clear consensus at the conference that brokers are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between insurance propositions and the risks that clients face. It was also good to see a fresh focus on taking a preventative approach to protect businesses.

What also stood out was the presence – and contribution – of younger people across the event. I noticed that there was more diversity at this year’s conference and it was brilliant to see.

Whether during networking sessions or informal conversations, the next generation of insurance professionals really came to the fore over the course of the conference. Their fresh perspectives and appetite to challenge traditional thinking have the power to drive meaningful change in our industry.

The Biba Conference reminded us that the industry’s future is bright – provided we continue to empower young professionals and listen to the concerns of our clients.

Kate Lyes, head of specialty lines, CFC Underwriting

I always love the theme of optimism at Biba’s annual conference – and this year did not disappoint.

Its ‘A New Era’ focus addressed emerging risks, evolving customer needs and innovation in service delivery – with an impressive array of insurance and non-insurance speakers guaranteed to provoke thought leadership.

At CFC Underwriting, we embrace technology as a tool to help us work quicker, smarter and with more accuracy, to drive improvements for brokers and clients. I was keen to hear from brokers and peers about their thoughts on the use of AI as a tool for betterment.

The unexpected takeaway for me was how the insurance market breaks down the use of AI – from operational support and the enrichment of data quality, to analysing and interpreting data to make decisions.

There is a willingness to embrace AI as a support mechanism – but maintaining the human element as part of AI processes is non-negotiable.

And perhaps it shouldn’t be unexpected, but I do get excited bumping into old friends around the conference – whether they are brokers or former colleagues. That is exactly what the Biba Conference is all about.

Ian Robinson, regional distribution manager, QBE

There was a great buzz in the air this year at the Biba Conference and I think it was the best one I’ve attended so far.

I enjoyed the many meaningful conversations we had with broker partners throughout the event – and the importance of seeing so much of the industry in one place and having those in-person connections cannot be underestimated.

We always have a number of meetings with broker partners scheduled throughout the event, but you don’t always know who you’ll see outside of your planned sessions.

We had so many people come by the QBE stand this year for a chat – and one of the best parts of Biba’s conference is forging new relationships, building on existing ones and considering risks we had not expected to see.

We now look forward to following up on those unexpected meetings and finding new opportunities with our brokers.

We were also blown away by the amazing crowd that came to QBE’s stand for our wine tasting with TV chef James Martin on Wednesday (14 May 2025). We were also joined by Henry Warde, owner of Kentish winery Squerryes.

It was wonderful to have such a strong turnout and to see so many familiar faces. It also felt like something slightly different to what we’ve done in previous years – and we were pleasantly surprised by how equally excited our contacts were about the event.