Spotlight on Insurance 2025 program
PROGRAM
Tuesday 4 March 2025 | Shangri-La, Sydney
Time
Session
Speakers & Chairs
9:00am
Registration and coffee/tea
9:30am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Mary Delahunty, Chief Executive Officer, ASFA
9:40am
Session 1
The Role of Insurance in Super – Achieving Equity and Fairness
This opening session will provide insights into how we can overcome systemic, exclusionary biases to make insurance more accessible and transparent and ensure adequate insurance cover is provided. Our panel of experts will discuss how applying a member lens leads to fairer and more transparent insurance offerings and compassionate and respectful processes.
Chair: Mary Delahunty, Chief Executive Officer, ASFA
Speakers:
Tamara Bailey, Head of Group Claims, MLC Life Insurance
Drew MacRae, Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer, Financial Rights Legal Centre
10:20am
Session 2
This session will unpack how employers, super funds and insurers can support their members to navigate life transition points, particularly when unexpected and unplanned, by ensuring they have adequate insurance, are well-informed and remain connected to the workplace which ultimately increase rates of return to employment.
Chair: Sarah Penn, Chief Executive Officer, Mayflower Consulting
Speakers:
Dr. Natalie Flatt Ph.D., Chief Mental Health Advisor, SuperFriend
Keely O’Brien, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Strategy, CALI
Lina Saliba, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer, MetLife
11:00am
Morning Tea
11:25am
Session 3
Regulator Update
Hear from ASIC and APRA on current priorities for the superannuation sector.
Chair: Sarah Yu, Partner, King & Wood Mallesons
Speakers:
Heather Gray, Lead Ombudsman, Superannuation, AFCA
Peter Kohlhagen, General Manager, Superannuation, APRA
Pippa Lane, Acting Senior Executive Leader, Superannuation and Life Insurance, ASIC
12:05 pm
Session 4
Improving Transparency in Insurance Offerings
Does your insurance offering meet member needs and expectations? Do the terms of your PDS meet the SIS Act requirements? This session will provide an overview of court decisions with a view to providing insights into best practice insurance offerings.
Speaker:
Craig Parrish, Principal Lawyer and State Litigation Leader, Superannuation and Insurance, Maurice Blackburn
12:25pm
Session 5
Improving the Claims Management Process
Given the recent Government announcement on setting minimum service standards, the expert panel will share their perspectives on how the insurance in super ecosystem of administrators, service providers, technology and staff all play a critical role in streamlining the claims management process to improve member trust. Hear about the vision being led by ASFA to develop ‘voluntary standards’ to uplift member experiences to meet member expectations.
Chair: Zein El Hassan, Partner, Financial Services, Mills Oakley
Speakers:
Will Barsby, General Manager, Life & Casualty, EML
Jocelyn Furlan, Principal, Furlan Consulting
Mary Payne, Chief Product Officer APAC, SS&C Technologies
1:05pm
Lunch
1:45pm
Session 6
Delivering an Integrated Digital Member Experience – Insights and Learnings from a Transformation Journey
The benefits of an integrated ecosystem that works seamlessly are well understood but to get there is not an easy journey to start. This session will explore the power of integration, sharing insights and learnings from Aware Super’s journey in transforming their member insurance journey into a digital-first experience.
Chair: Jenny Oliver, Chief Executive – Group Life & Retirement, TAL
Speaker:
Belinda Nicholson, Head of Protect (Insurance and Claims), Aware Super
2:25pm
Session 7
Election Insights: Insurance and Super
Exclusive insights into what the current political environment and forthcoming election mean for insurance and super.
Chair: Adam Siddique, Head of Public & External Affairs, Zurich
Speaker:
George Megalogenis, Australian Journalist, political commentator and author
3.05pm
Afternoon tea
3:30pm
Session 8
Why Insurance Companies Are Incorporating ESG Considerations Into Operations
Insurance companies are increasingly incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into their operations, recognising the significant impact of ESG factors on their business. This shift is driven by growing stakeholder pressure, regulatory requirement, and the need to manage emerging risks. Hear how by embracing ESG considerations, insurance companies can reduce risks, capitalise on new opportunities, and contribute to a more sustainable future
Speakers:
Rebecca Gunn, ESG Senior Manager, AIA
Ingrid Thorn, Head Underwriting L&H ANZ, Swiss Re
4:10pm
Session 9
Insurance in Super: The Role of the Trustee
The session will start with an overview of FAR and trustee responsibilities followed by a panel discussion on the complexities trustees face when exercising their legislative and governance responsibilities whilst complying with the fund processes and policies and acting in the best interests of fund members.
Chair: Gary Dransfield, Chair, ASFA
Speakers:
Lisa–Marie McKechnie, Partner, Piper Alderman
Alana Heffernan, Director, NESS Super
Jim Minto, Chair, Mercer Superannuation
Helen Rowell, Independent Director, Australian Retirement Trust
5.00-6.00pm
Networking Drinks
6:00pm
Event Concludes
