Australian authorised representative (AR) broker networks are no longer just licensing vehicles. Brokers are increasingly selecting networks based on culture, peer community, and leadership rather than compliance needs alone, according to new research from the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA).
The report, Culture to Capability: What’s Driving Australian Broker Networks, was released at the 2026 NIBA Convention on the Gold Coast on October 20. Produced in partnership with Community Broker Network (CBN), it draws on surveys of 10 of Australia’s largest AR networks and six major insurers, discussion groups with AR business owners, and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) data on authorised representatives and AFS licensees.
The 10 networks surveyed reported combined gross written premium (GWP) of $4.79 billion in FY2025, up from $1.15 billion in FY2015, an increase of approximately 316%. They expect that figure to reach almost $6.0 billion in FY2026.
For context, the broader Australian general insurance market wrote $71.3 billion in direct GWP in 2025, according to KPMG’s General Insurance Insights and Analysis 2026. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) intermediated general insurance statistics for the six months to December 2025 recorded $22.97 billion in premiums invoiced through intermediaries, with 1,766 intermediaries placing business during that period.
The network sector’s growth rate over the past decade has outpaced the wider market, suggesting AR networks are capturing a growing share of intermediated business rather than riding premium inflation alone.
Collectively, the 10 networks represent more than 1,400 AR businesses and approximately 5,000 employees.
The research identified 99 AR networks with five or more authorised representatives operating across Australia. Together, they hold 5,563 AR appointments, split between 3,769 individual ARs and 1,794 corporate ARs. The 10 largest networks account for roughly 70% of all AR appointments.
“AR networks now support thousands of brokers and billions of dollars in premium, and they are a significant part of how insurance advice reaches Australian small businesses. Understanding what brokers value in a network, and what networks need to get right, matters for the whole profession,” said NIBA CEO Richard Klipin.
Read more: Sentencing exposes supervision gap in authorised representative networks
SMEs make up 63% of AR client portfolios, compared with 41% for self-licensed brokerages. The networks serve industries including construction, property, retail, transport, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Six insurers surveyed – Allianz, CGU, Chubb, QBE, Vero, and Zurich – said they are investing in the AR channel through dedicated underwriting teams, service hubs, and digital integration. Their stated reasons included access to SME clients, growth opportunities, scale efficiency, risk diversification, and lower cost to serve.
The report found that compliance frameworks and technology are now standard across networks. For brokers weighing their options, the differentiator has shifted to culture, leadership accessibility, and peer relationships.
Over the past decade, networks have added technology platforms, insurer access, professional development, operational support, and peer communities to their offering. For many brokers, joining a network is now a strategic business decision that allows them to retain ownership while gaining support that would be costly to build independently.
Peer support and community were identified as a key reason brokers stay with a network after their licensing needs are met.
The broker discussion groups conducted for the report reinforced this. Klipin said brokers told NIBA “they want to own their businesses and have the support to run them well.”
“AR networks have entered a new phase of maturity. Their long-term success will depend on combining strong capability, technology investment, broker support, and culture with the independence and entrepreneurial spirit that attract brokers to the model. The networks that get that balance right will help shape the future of insurance broking in Australia,” said NIBA president Nick Cook.
Read more: Insurers are waking up to the AR segment
The research flagged a dual responsibility as the sector expands. Networks need to keep investing in governance, compliance, technology, education, and broker support. Brokers need to continue building the technical capability required to serve clients well.
The report found the greatest risk arises when inexperienced brokers operate within networks that lack adequate governance, supervision, and support. That finding carries added weight following ASIC’s investigation into the collapsed Sphere Insurance Group, a Queensland-based AR network that entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation in June 2026, and a July 2026 court sentencing that highlighted supervision gaps in how licensees oversee AR trust accounts.
“At Community Broker Network, we see every day the contribution ARs make to Australian insurance broking. They are business owners, trusted advisers and local advocates who support communities, family businesses, and SMEs across Australia. This research shows that networks have evolved well beyond licensing and compliance. As they continue to grow, the networks that succeed will be those that deliver scale and expertise while preserving the accessibility, support, and sense of community that brokers value,” said Richard Crawford, CEO of CBN.
Looking to 2035, the report projects that the most successful networks will use technology to strengthen broker capability and client outcomes while maintaining the personal relationships brokers value.
“As complexity increases across the profession, NIBA will keep working with networks, insurers, and brokers to lift capability and professional standards, so that clients receive high-quality advice whichever model their broker operates under,” Klipin said.
