The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) has kicked off its 2020 Speaker Series with its first online webinar, which included a discussion on the future of insurance in a post-COVID world.
The webinar was chaired by chief executive Tim Grafton, and brought together three high-profile speakers from across New Zealand, Australia and the UK to discuss key learnings from COVID-19 for the insurance sector, both in New Zealand and around the world. It is the first in a series of discussions which are replacing ICNZ’s annual conference, and will be running regularly until November 26.
Read more: ICNZ unveils 2020 speaker series
“I want to say a special thanks to our distinguished panellists for taking part in a great, free-flowing discussion, and making some key observations on COVID-19.” Grafton said.
“I urge everyone to attend what I know will be some interesting sessions on one of the defining events of our lifetimes.”
The next webinar is scheduled for July 30 and will focus on the economic effect of COVID-19, discussing what finances, balance sheets and capital structures will look like for the sector.
It will also discuss how insurers will navigate falling premiums, larger claims and increased solvency requirements, the role of financial ratings and the potential impact on the New Zealand reinsurance market.
This will be followed by further webinars focusing on customer support and ethics, potential increases in insurance fraud and a two-part session looking at the US election and its global implications.
“The series will provide thought-provoking sessions that will encourage wide conversation while also enabling members to continue their professional development, with CPD credits earned for each webinar,” Grafton said.
“It would also not be possible without support from our sponsors, who we are grateful to have on board.”
The series is set to wrap up on November 26 with a dive into New Zealand’s climate and resilience into the future.
