Right now, it’s an exciting time at LIIBA. We have just welcomed two new starters into our team: Amy Simmons and Steve Rourke. Their support will help us further boost the services we provide to our members. Plus, in an effort to be ever more innovative and accessible in the way we communicate across our membership, we are now available via WhatsApp. But most importantly, on 4 June, we will be a sponsor of the Net Zero Delivery Summit (NZDS) being hosted by Corporation of London.
The summit marks a departure for LIIBA. We have never sponsored something of this magnitude before. And it is all feeling quite grown up. Our sponsorship came about following a rare moment of self-discipline shown by the Chief Executive. Whilst posting photos of my dogs and the magnolia tree outside my office window, I saw something on social media advertising the opportunity. It looked interesting and would be a chance to highlight the crucial role insurance – and our members, in particular – must play if society is to achieve its net zero ambitions. Then I dismissed the idea: LIIBA doesn’t do that sort of thing. But before I hit the delete button, I checked myself. Past performance is, after all, no guide to future returns. A few discussions with our Executive Committee and our Board later and here we are.
And it is an important message to promote. Consider all the things that society needs to achieve in its response to the climate challenge. Businesses and nations across the world need to transition to new, cleaner sources of energy – and that needs insurance. We need to unlock billions of dollars’ worth of green finance to fund investments– and that needs insurance. We need to develop and adopt a myriad of new technologies to deliver the carbon neutral world – and that needs insurance. And, alongside all that, firms need to embrace more resilient and sustainable operations – and the climate risk expertise of insurance brokers is vital to realising that. Insurance is the catalyst of progress across the global economy. It will be intrinsic to resolving the climate-related threats we all face.
So now, thanks to our sponsorship, insurance’s role will be central at a high-profile climate event. What particularly attracted us to NZDS is the D. D for delivery. The conference is strategically poised between last year’s COP28 in United Arab Emirates and this November’s COP29 in Azerbaijan. Its focus is ensuring that promises and commitments made at those global summits are turned into action. And we in the broking community like action – we are a coalition of doers. For probably too long, we have viewed the climate crisis as an opportunity for insurance to be part of a market-led solution to one of society’s biggest quandaries. Now we want it to become a thing.
This is not just about the here and now – or even the relatively narrow future of net zero. Another large item on our agenda is continuing to develop a more diverse talent pool from which our market can recruit. Of all the things we have learnt from our initiatives, one factor stands head and shoulders above all others. The feature of our industry that potential recruits with little experience of it find the most attractive is it delivers social good. Ensuring our market is seen at the forefront of resolving an issue of the magnitude of the climate crisis will amplify that point to the next generation of insurance professionals around the world. We can provide a better future and attract one at the same time.
So, join us at NZDS – you can register for the online stream at Net Zero Delivery Summit 2024 (theglobalcity.uk). It will be a day full of interesting, action-focussed discussions. And you can be part of shaping the way our world and our industry evolves to a brighter tomorrow.
