Close
  • Home
  • Agenda
  • Speakers
  • Get Tickets
  • Home
    • Agenda
  • Charter
  • Speakers
Get Tickets
  • Home
    • Agenda
  • Charter
  • Speakers
  • Home
    • Agenda
  • Charter
  • Speakers
Get Tickets
  • Home
    • Agenda
  • Charter
  • Speakers
Destination
Insurance

15 January 2026 @ The Minster Building, London

Shaping the future of the UK insurance workforce

Welcome to Destination Insurance – a brand-new conference from Insurance Times. This inaugural event is your essential forum for tackling the UK insurance sector’s most pressing workforce challenges. It’s where the industry comes together to close the skills gap, attract diverse talent and champion our reputation. Expect fresh thinking, dynamic collaboration and the spark of innovation needed to drive real, actionable change.

Join us and be part of the solution. As the centerpiece of a broader campaign, Destination Insurance introduces a vital industry charter and content series – a roadmap to a more inclusive, skilled and dynamic insurance community. This is your opportunity to help shape a stronger, more resilient future for the entire sector.

Have your say: Complete the Talent Development Survey 2025

Now in its second year, the Talent Development Survey is collecting detailed insights into how the industry recruits, supports, and retains its people. The survey is anonymous, takes just five minutes to complete, and is expanding its reach across the UK this year. It closes at the end of November.

The findings will be published in the Talent Development Report 2026 – a central resource for discussion and action at the conference. Ensure your voice is heard by clicking on the button below to take the survey.

Complete the Survey

A new era for insurance

A workforce fit for the future

Agenda

  • Fenchurch Room


  • Lombard Room


  • Minster Room


  • Yiannis Kotoulas
    11:00 - 11:30
    Incentivise This: What Keeps Leaders Beyond Pay?
    By Yiannis Kotoulas Deputy Editor at Insurance Times

    Discover what truly motivates insurance leaders to stay and thrive beyond financial reward. This session explores the roles of purpose, culture, growth, recognition and how leaders can feel valued, inspired, and committed for the long term.
    Retention

  • Yiannis KotoulasSimon CaplanClaire Davies
    11:30 - 12:00
    Lateral Moves: Keeping Talent in the Industry
    By Yiannis Kotoulas Deputy Editor at Insurance Times, Simon Caplan Chief Innovation Officer at Arthur, Claire Davies HR Director at Gallagher, Amanda Vaughan Chief People Officer at Axa UK & Ireland

    In a mirror of real life (where new customers get the better deals), often we are faced with the truth that those applying from another organisation or industry will get a better deal than those moving laterally from another part of the business. This session will discuss how we can put this myth to bed, and ensure that jobs are given fairly to those internally and externally.
    Retention

  • 12:30 - 13:30
    Lunch time!

  • Caroline WagstaffYiannis KotoulasAdam Harper
    12:00 - 12:30
    Creating a Shared Talent Attraction Strategy
    By Caroline Wagstaff Chief Executive Officer at The London Market Group, Yiannis Kotoulas Deputy Editor at Insurance Times, Adam Harper Executive Director of Strategy, Advocacy and Professional Standards at the CII, George Hudson Head of Client Relations at Arthur Financial

    How can brokers, insurers & trade associations work together to create a successful ecosystem for the whole insurance industry? The session will weigh up how far we need competition in the hiring department to regress to help sustain the future of talent in the sector. What practices can be put into place to encourage and enhance the hiring teams and empower candidates?
    Collaboration

  • Katie ScottMandy HuntRuth Poulten
    14:00 - 14:30
    How to position Insurance as a career with purpose, impact and security
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times, Mandy Hunt Managing Director at MGA at Clear Group, Ruth Poulten People Experience Lead, Intact Insurance UK

    Job description drivers are completely different for younger generations entering the job market. Some of the key criteria for candidates include environmental & ethical concerns - so how can we prove that insurance is both an industry worthy of this title and one at the heart of change.
    Reputation

  • Yiannis KotoulasOscar Patrick
    14:30 - 15:00
    Digital Fluency: Identifying and training tech that will be at the core of the business
    By Yiannis Kotoulas Deputy Editor at Insurance Times, Oscar Patrick Director of Operations at Markel

    Talent leaders will discuss how to spot critical digital skills, embed them into training programmes, and prepare teams to adapt as tools evolve, ensuring long-term competitiveness.
    Future-proofing skills

  • 12:30 - 13:30
    Lunch time!

  • Vanessa Riboloni
    11.30 - 12.30
    ROUNDTABLE: The Value of Continuous Upskilling
    By Vanessa Riboloni Head of research and insight at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

    Business leaders will share approaches to equipping managers with the skills, confidence, and tools to coach effectively, turning everyday management into a powerful driver of growth across insurers, brokers, and trade associations.
    Future-proofing skills

  • 14:00 - 15:00
    ROUNDTABLE: Managers as Mentors

    How can continuous upskilling support retention, adaptability, and performance across the insurance sector? Talent departments will discuss how to create a culture of ongoing learning that keeps pace with change and businesses stay competitive in a dynamic market.
    Retention

  • 15:00 - 16:00
    ROUNDTABLE: The Case for Academies

    This roundtable examines the case for establishing academies led by industry bodies to develop and train a shared talent pool. Will it work?
    Collaboration

  • Katie Scott
    10.00 - 10:15
    Welcome Address
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times

  • Katie Scott
    10.15 - 11:00
    Keynote Address: Leadership in 2026
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times

    Insurance leaders face rising pressure to steer their organisations through economic uncertainty shifting regulation and rapid technological change. Success depends on building teams that adapt quickly and integrate human insight with responsible AI to improve claims handling and customer trust. Strong leaders promote clarity of purpose and support collaboration across underwriting and operations to close productivity gaps. They also invest in skills that help staff navigate new tools while protecting core expertise. The most effective approach recognises that resilience grows from transparent decision making and thoughtful communication that guides people through ongoing transformation to ensure stable growth across the decade.

  • Katie ScottAjay MistryDonna Scully
    11:00 - 11:30
    Embedding Awareness into Everyday Practice
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times, Ajay Mistry Co-Founder and Co-Chair at iCAN, Donna Scully Director at Carpenters Group

    This session equips talent leaders across insurers, brokers, and trade bodies with actionable insights to drive meaningful behavioural change, ensuring that awareness is not a one-off initiative but a sustained part of organisational culture and employee experience.
    DEI

  • Katie ScottEllie JacksonAnthony Lewis
    11:30 - 12:30
    Case Study: Real stories from apprentice successes in UKGI
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times, Ellie Jackson Sales Development Manager at Robert Gerrard, Anthony Lewis Apprenticeship Manager at Zurich, Neal Lumb Verlingue


    Apprenticeships were the backbone of new hires and recruitment, but is that still the case? This session puts the spotlight on successful schemes in place across brokers & insurers. We'll aim to hear from those who have worked their way up the ladder from an apprentice, people who are just starting out on an apprenticeship and those in charge of the model at respective businesses.
    Apprenticeships

  • 12:30 - 13:30
    Lunch time!

  • Katie Scott
    13:30 - 14:00
    The Insurance Times' Charter
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times, Nicola Maguire Head of Commercial at Biba

    Katie will open the afternoon with reference to the charter document that was signed and published in October. Katie and guests will outline what the charter is set to achieve in 2026 and beyond.

  • Yiannis KotoulasSteve CollinsonSimon Cooper-Williams
    14:00 - 15:00
    Social Mobility, Neurodiversity and Representation
    By Yiannis Kotoulas Deputy Editor at Insurance Times, Steve Collinson Chief Human Resources Officer at Zurich, Simon Cooper-Williams Managing Director of International Portfolio Analytics at Markel, Jackie Girow Executive Director at LIIBA

    This session offers talent leaders fresh perspectives on building inclusive environments that unlock diverse strengths, foster innovation, and reflect the full breadth of society helping shape teams that are both equitable and successful.
    DEI

  • Katie ScottJacob DiggleLaura Griffiths
    15:00 - 16:00
    Claims and More: Insurance’s Social Value to Gen Z
    By Katie Scott Editor at Insurance Times, Jacob Diggle Chief Impact Officer at UK Youth, Laura Griffiths Head of L&D at Gallagher

    Falls under the 'reputation' challenge - this session focuses on how the industry can appear more attractive to school leavers, university graduates and all young people entering the working world
    Reputation
    Retention


Don't wait! Get your tickets now

Insurance Times Subscriber

£149 + VAT

  • Reduced price ticket***
  • Copy of Insurance Times magazine
  • Copy of Talent & Development report
Buy Now

Non-subscriber

£249 + VAT

  • 1 month free subscription trial*
  • Copy of Insurance Times magazine
  • Copy of Talent & Development report
Buy Now

Association

£199 + VAT

  • Reduced price ticket**
  • 1 month free subscription trial*
  • Copy of Insurance Times magazine
  • Copy of Talent & Development report
Buy Now

* Valued at £140
** 20% discount on full priced ticket
*** 40% discount on full priced ticket

Meet

The Speakers

Katie Scott

Editor at Insurance Times

Yiannis Kotoulas

Deputy Editor at Insurance Times

Simon Caplan

Chief Innovation Officer at Arthur

Rebecca Chappell

Head of HR at Verlingue

Steve Collinson

Chief Human Resources Officer at Zurich

Simon Cooper-Williams

Managing Director of International Portfolio Analytics at Markel

Claire Davies

HR Director at Gallagher

Jacob Diggle

Chief Impact Officer at UK Youth

Jackie Girow

Executive Director at LIIBA

Laura Griffiths

Head of L&D at Gallagher

Adam Harper

Executive Director of Strategy, Advocacy and Professional Standards at the CII

George Hudson

Head of Client Relations at Arthur Financial

Mandy Hunt

Managing Director at MGA at Clear Group

Ellie Jackson

Sales Development Manager at Robert Gerrard

Anthony Lewis

Apprenticeship Manager at Zurich

Neal Lumb

Verlingue

Gemma McWilliam

Chief People Officer at HDI UK & Ireland

Nicola Maguire

Head of Commercial at Biba

Ajay Mistry

Co-Founder and Co-Chair at iCAN

Oscar Patrick

Director of Operations at Markel

Want to become an event sponsor?

Being a sponsor gives you a unique opportunity to connect with a highly engaged audience of senior executives, c-suite and HR leaders, whilst also showcasing your brand. To explore tailored sponsorship packages and maximise your visibility, get in touch.

Aisha Roberts
Head of Commercial
020 7618 3408
Email

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

MEET THE TEAM

EVENT MANAGER

General event enquiries
(incl tickets)

Mandy O’Connor
Head of UK Events

020 7618 3470
EMAIL

AGENDA

Programme enquiries

Jack Richards
Senior Producer

020 7832 2328
EMAIL

SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship opportunities

Aisha Roberts
Head of Commercial

020 7618 3408
EMAIL

Bits & Bobs

Venue

The Minster Building
21 Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AG

Nearest Tube: Bank, Monument, Tower Hill
Nearest Overground: Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street

Timing

9am – Registration & networking
10am – Sessions start
4pm – Conference close


Published by Newsquest Media Group Limited, registered in England & Wales with number 01676637 at The Echo Building, 18 Albert Road, Bournemouth, England, BH1 1BZ – a Gannett company

Privacy Policy