Now that it’s October, conference season is in full swing. Renewal discussions are well underway, and everyone is trying to fit yet another meeting into an already packed schedule.
For an insurance journalist, this is the worst, and the best time, to be doing the job. There’s a lot of news coming out every day, a lot of developments and a lot of exciting things to be talking about. At the same time, everyone is so busy, trying to carve out that hour to sit down and talk with them is pretty difficult.
I’m not complaining, of course. I haven’t decided to stay in this industry for a decade just because scheduling is tricky. The highlights of conference season always make up for the minor annoyances and the overwhelming amount of work.
This month has been particularly eventful. The conversations around climate resilience, and parametric insurance solutions have reached a new level of sophistication. What started as experimental products just a few years ago are now becoming mainstream offerings, driven by both regulatory pressure and genuine market demand. The recent hurricanes have only accelerated these discussions, with carriers and reinsurers alike recognising that traditional models need fundamental adjustments.
Speaking of adjustments, the technology integration we’re seeing across the board continues to impress and occasionally concern. AI-powered underwriting is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s happening right now, in real time, across multiple lines of business. The question isn’t whether AI will transform insurance; it’s how quickly the industry can adapt to these changes while maintaining the personal relationships that have always been at its core.
I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with several industry leaders over the past few weeks, and there’s a palpable sense of optimism mixed with urgency. The market is hard, yes, but it’s also innovative. Capital is flowing into InsurTech startups at a pace we haven’t seen since 2021, suggesting that investors still see tremendous opportunity in this space.
One theme that keeps emerging in my conversations is the generational shift happening within organisations. Younger professionals are bringing fresh perspectives on risk assessment, customer engagement, and operational efficiency. They’re not just adapting to new technologies – they’re driving their adoption. This dynamic creates interesting tensions but also unprecedented opportunities for growth and evolution.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, I expect we’ll see continued consolidation in some sectors and surprising new partnerships in others. The companies that are thriving aren’t necessarily the biggest or the oldest – they’re the ones that have figured out how to balance tradition with innovation, relationship-building with efficiency, and local expertise with global reach.
As always, we’ll be here to cover these developments as they unfold. Thank you for reading, for sharing your insights, and for making this industry as dynamic and engaging as it continues to be. A
Ahmad Zaki
Editorial director
Asia Insurance Review