The Women in Insurance Summit Australia 2026 is scheduled for August 26 at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney, with organisers noting that early bird pricing – offering more than 15% off the standard individual pass – closes July 25.
The event, presented by Insurance Business Australia and organised by KM Business Information, has been approved for six Continuing Insurance Professional (CIP) points by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).
Individual passes are available at $970 + GST under the early bird rate, compared to the standard price of $1,155 + GST – a saving of $185. Team passes are also available: a four-delegate pass is priced at $2,910 + GST (standard: $3,465 + GST), and an eight-delegate pass at $5,060 + GST (standard: $5,750 + GST). Group rates for five or more delegates can be arranged through [email protected] or by calling 02 84374724.
Registration is open at australia.ibwomenininsurance.com.
This year’s agenda is structured around what organisers describe as a shift from awareness to action, with sessions focused on commercial leadership, executive progression, the use of data and artificial intelligence to track gender equity outcomes, and strategies for maintaining influence during periods of industry disruption.
The program opens with “The Art of Orchestration,” a session led by Tim Collins, conductor at BeChallenged, in which attendees will observe principles of leadership and collective performance through live music, including isolated instrument demonstrations and a full orchestral piece performed without a conductor.
A panel titled “From Expert to Executive: Accelerating Your Path to the C-Suite” is scheduled for 9:35am. The session will draw on data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to examine the transition from technical roles to commercial leadership. Panellists include:
The session will be moderated by Jess McCorkill, head of business development at ARC Projects.
An afternoon panel, “Career Resilience: Building Momentum in Times of Disruption,” will address economic conditions affecting the Australian insurance market, including claims inflation, elevated interest rates, and reinsurance cost pressures. Panellists include:
Other agenda items include a fireside chat on credibility and risk voice featuring Shalini Sharma, deputy chief risk officer, Australasia, at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, and Milia Xystros, head of TPA claims at Crawford and Company (Australia); a session on AI and leadership judgment delivered by Debbie Gregory, general legal counsel at Attvest; and a data-driven panel on closing the gender gap featuring Jessie Khan, director of underwriting, terrorism, and premium audit at Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC).
The summit’s closing keynote will be delivered by Taryn Brumfitt, the 2023 Australian of the Year. The session, titled “GET IT! How to Back Yourself, Lead Bravely, and Take Action,” is billed as a practical session on building resilience, addressing self-doubt, and taking values-driven action in professional settings. Brumfitt is a filmmaker and author known for her work on body image and self-acceptance.
The program also includes a structured peer-to-peer networking session at 10:15am, designed for attendees to exchange insights with colleagues across the insurance sector, as well as a networking lunch and post-event drinks sponsored by Brooklyn Underwriting.
Gold sponsors for the 2026 summit include AIG, ARC Projects, Attvest, Canopius, Crawford and Company, HDI Global, UAA Group, and Mecon Insurance. Flynn Builders is the barista coffee sponsor, Brooklyn Underwriting is the networking drinks sponsor, AAMC is the associate sponsor, and BeChallenged is the experience sponsor.
