The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has today revealed that its 2021 annual conference will take the form of a digital conference and exhibition experience. Commenting on the news, BIBA conference director Lindsay Campbell, said the decision was made after much consideration of the current situation in the UK, and that it would be “impossible and unwise to hold a physical event next May.”
“However,” she said, “we have invested in researching the means to bring you an amazing digital conference and exhibition experience at BIBA 2021.”
BIBA 2021, the theme of which has been announced as ‘Strengthening Resilience’, will be delivered on May 12 and 13, 2021, via a customised platform which will provide AI-powered, profile matchmaking allowing delegates to connect with exhibitors, and making networking and deal-making as accessible as possible. The full line-up will be announced in the new year.
BIBA CEO Steve White said that 2020 had been the most challenging year that the insurance sector and its customers had ever faced and that the COVID-19 crisis had highlighted the importance of resilience and the need for organisations, individuals and the government to ramp up their resilience in the coming months and years.
“Insurance brokers are solution makers, building resilience in their businesses and helping their customers to weather the storms they face,” he said. “We intend to examine this, providing inspirational speakers and sessions where you can have your say. BIBA 2021 will help to drive a resilient culture and find a successful road through the challenges and changes brought about by, among other things, the pandemic and Brexit. We look forward to linking with you there.”
Meanwhile, Shaun Hinds, CEO at Manchester Central, where BIBA 2021 was originally supposed to take place said the annual conference has been a highlight of Manchester Central’s calendar for many years. He noted that, while the decision to make next year’s conference a digital event is understood and respected, delegates, exhibitors and visitors truly value the live experience that makes the conference so unique and the return of BIBA to this venue and to Manchester in the years to come is greatly anticipated.
