Underwriting Agencies Council Ltd

Claims Outlook 2026: trends, coverage fault lines, and emerging risks for brokers and underwriters
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney)
Presenters: Mark Birbeck (Principal Lawyer) & Isabel Cusumano (Special Counsel)
Delivered by Meridian Lawyers’ legal experts, this webinar distils the risk dynamics that shaped Australian liability portfolios in 2025 and translates them into practical underwriting and broking priorities for 2026.
The webinar will spotlight how liability portfolios have absorbed persistent claims inflation, and heightened litigation around psychiatric injury and worker to worker incidents. As well as examining emerging risks like forever chemicals and related environmental and product liability considerations, the session will focus on the trends that matter, highlight why they are accelerating, and the pragmatic actions brokers, underwriters, and claims teams can take to protect portfolios and advise insureds effectively in 2026.
Learning objectives
Attendees will gain an understanding of:

The top liability claims themes of 2025
The areas to prioritise in 2026
How to decode claims inflation
Psychiatric and nervous shock claims
Managing worker to worker exposures
Differentiating PI v PL responses
Issues around notification practices
Emerging risks

Registrations: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Redefining Cyber Insurance: What a Good Policy Looks Like in 2026
2026-03-02 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: Connor McKay & Laura Mansfield
Presentation Summary:

What you should look for
Hype from reality
AI

Registration: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e63b1b2a-85e4-4b52-aa59-f50dc6a0e118@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

Offshore Staffing: The Secret Tips To Transform Your Business
2026-03-03 12:00 - 13:00
Presenter: Daniel Breese – GM Growth
Presentation Summary:

How and When To Look At Offshore Staffing.
Which locations are best.
How to ensure data security and compliance.
What the best businesses do, and you can replicate.

Registrations: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

How climate risk is impacting Australian insurance markets
2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: TBC
With insurance affordability in the spotlight across many classes, climate issues are adding extra pressure today and are also likely to drive uncertainty in claims costs and insurance markets going forward. For MGAs, this presents both challenges and opportunities: navigating capacity provider expectations, responding to reinsurance market shifts, and ensuring underwriting and pricing approaches remain sustainable and competitive. Underwriting agencies also play a key role in supporting brokers and distribution partners in explaining changing risks and premium movements to customers.
This session will enable underwriting agencies to get up to speed on climate risk and its impacts on their relationships with insurers and capacity providers.
Learning Objectives:
1. Increase the depth of participants’ familiarity with some key parts of the National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan and current and future potential impacts on insurance markets
2. Increase the depth of participants’ familiarity with the key parts of mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, who is impacted directly, what needs to be disclosed and how it is likely to impact insurance markets
Registration: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

The Productivity Edge: Offshore Solutions for Brokers and Underwriters
2026-03-09 12:00 - 13:00
Presenter: Drew Schnehage – Director Global Business Development
This webinar will explore how insurance brokers and underwriters can strategically leverage outsourcing and offshore staffing to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and scale their businesses—without compromising service quality or compliance.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Identify key operational challenges facing brokers and underwriters in today’s insurance landscape, including cost pressures and talent shortages.
Understand the concept of offshore staffing, including its structure, common roles, and how it differs from traditional outsourcing.
Evaluate the strategic benefits of offshore staffing for insurance professionals, including productivity gains, cost efficiency, and scalability.
Apply best practices for maintaining service quality, data security, and regulatory compliance when working with offshore teams.
Analyze real-world case studies to extract actionable insights and lessons learned from successful offshore staffing implementations.
Develop a roadmap for integrating offshore staffing into their business operations, including partner selection, onboarding, and performance tracking.

Registrations: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5bc90ac8-7dab-4bb8-b27f-6a0a5ab1abee@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

Attracting Top Talent Across Generations: How to Sell Your Business Story
2026-03-11 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: Danielle Marshall – Co-Founder/Director & Jo Aitken – Client Solutions & Training Manager
This session explores how leaders can attract, engage, and retain talent across all ages and career stages by understanding what truly drives candidates today. Learn how to position your business and roles in a way that resonates with everyone from emerging Gen Z professionals to seasoned industry experts and build your brand as an employer of choice in a changing market.
Learning Objectives:

Understand: Gain insight into what motivates and attracts candidates across generations within the General Insurance industry.
Apply: Implement practical and proven strategies to effectively position your business and roles to appeal to diverse talent.
Enhance: Build and refine a strong employer brand that highlights growth, purpose, and flexibility.
Attract: Position your organisation as an employer of choice, promoting a culture that engages and retains talent across all career stages.

Registrations: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/28c60e2a-19ae-42a9-8214-7f5d0326a5ba@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

Cyber Insurance Objection Handling: Overcoming Common Misconceptions
2026-03-17 12:00 - 13:00
Presenter: Katrina Hickson – Head of Distribution
This session will provide practical responses and insights to help brokers guide clients toward a clearer understanding of the value and relevance of cyber insurance.
Learning Objectives:
– Recognise and address common misconceptions and objections to cyber insurance.
– Develop informed responses to address client concerns.
– Enhance client understanding of the value and relevance of cyber insurance.
Registrations: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/87abc0d9-93a5-4999-981e-5333bb176263@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

UAC 2026 Gold Coast Market Exchange
2026-03-19 09:00 - 14:00 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, 2684-2690 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach, QLD, 4218
The UAC event app will be available for broker registration 3 weeks out from the market exchange and supports scanning exhibitor QR codes.
Certificates will be issued 2-3 weeks post the market exchange electronically using data from the App. Minimum 15 scans.

Any questions relating to the Market Exchange, contact Tracey Claridge: traceyclaridge@uac.org.au or mobile: 0433 447 574

Introduction to technology risks
2026-03-23 12:00 - 13:00
Join Stella Gilson for a webinar on understanding the landscape of technology-related risks. Stella will unpack different types of tech companies in today’s market, explore the key exposures these businesses face, and outline what a truly comprehensive insurance policy should cover. She’ll also share real-world claims examples to illustrate how these risks materialise and what to look out for when placing tech-related accounts.
Defined Learning Objectives:
1. Define what constitutes a technology company and identify the characteristics that distinguish it from other business types.
2. Recognise key exposures faced by tech companies, including operational, legal, and cyber-related risks.
3. Understand the essential components of a comprehensive tech insurance policy, and what coverage should be considered.
Registrations: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/703b46ad-87e6-402e-a774-1db14c58bc66@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

Property Risk Mitigation - Best practice when insuring your property
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: Edwina Feilen – Head of Growth & Partnerships & Andrew Squires – Executive Director

An overview what risk mitigation means for your property assets, the application of best practice principles to follow to derisk your property and the flow on impact applied when looking to obtaining insurance for your property assets.
Learning Objectives:
1. What is risk mitigation?
2. The process of risk mitigation (what involved in and assessment & why)
3. How risk mitigation applies to your property asset
4. The impacts of what can happen if best practice is not followed.

Registrations: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e92f077d-7485-438a-a1d3-3a09eed3a0e4@6d96f8f2-00e8-4ea1-9ba7-fd86f83ec1b3

Where to Start: Marketing for Underwriting Agencies
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: Andrew Silcox – Managing Director, Maria Gonzalez – Insurance Marketing Expert & Kim McNeil – Insurance Marketing Expert
Many underwriting agencies run without a dedicated marketing team. You need a simple starting plan that supports brokers and leads to qualified enquiries. This highly practical session explains what to do first and what to pause.
Including:

Set one 90 day goal tied to enquiries, quotes or meetings
Translate risk appetite into a clear customer and broker profile
Write a plain English one line message with three proof points
Fix website basics: home page, one product page, short quote or contact form, visible phone number

Registrations: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

UAC 2026 Canberra Market Exchange
2026-04-22 09:00 - 14:00 | Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT, 2600
The UAC event app will be available for broker registration 3 weeks out from the market exchange and supports scanning exhibitor QR codes.
Certificates will be issued 2-3 weeks post the market exchange electronically using data from the App. Minimum 15 scans.

Please note venue has a strict limit of 80 tables.
Any questions relating to the Market Exchange, contact Tracey Claridge: traceyclaridge@uac.org.au or mobile: 0433 447 574

UAC 2026 Wagga Wagga Market Exchange
2026-04-23 09:00 - 14:00 | Wagga Wagga Rules Club, 188 Fernleigh Road & Glenfield Road, Glenfield Park, NSW, 2650

UAC CFC 2026 Melbourne Market Exchange
2026-05-13 09:00 - 14:00 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
The UAC event app will be available for broker registration 3 weeks out from the market exchange and supports scanning exhibitor QR codes.
Certificates will be issued 2-3 weeks post the market exchange electronically using data from the App. Minimum 25 scans.

Any questions relating to the Market Exchange, contact Tracey Claridge: traceyclaridge@uac.org.au or mobile: 0433 447 574

UAC Prism 2026 Brisbane Market Exchange
2026-07-14 09:00 - 14:00 | The Star Brisbane, 33 William Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000

UAC 2026 Adelaide Market Exchange
2026-08-12 09:00 - 14:00 | Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

UAC 2026 Hobart Market Exchange
2026-09-15 09:00 - 14:00 | Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, 1 Davey Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000

UAC 2026 Geelong Market Exchange
2026-10-08 09:00 - 14:00 | Geelong Convention & Event Centre – Nyaal Banyul, 80 Western Beach Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220

UAC IIS 2026 Perth Market Exchange
2026-11-11 09:00 - 14:00 | Optus Stadium, 33 Victoria Park Drive, Burswood, WA, 6100
