The opening day was super busy, with packed speaker zones, networking and new ideas across the insurance chain. There were plenty of free pens on offer – and ducks – plus a chance to play desktop curling at the SSP stand. Seriously. Your roving Editor will post a report later this week but for now, here’s the feedback from the organisers of Insurtech Insights at The Intercontinental 02;
AI has led the conversations at day one of Insurtech Insights Europe 2025, which has seen a record number of attendees so far.
Lemonade CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Schreiber delivered the main stage opening keynote address to a packed audience, with standing room only and overflow areas filled with attendees watching via livestream. His presentation set the tone for a conference focused on innovation and disruption.
Schreiber shared how AI is fundamentally transforming insurance, from customer service to risk assessment, saying: “AI transforms them more than anything else—serving customers and assessing risk.”
Innovation and strategy
How companies are applying new strategic innovation, was another key subject of discussion, with leaders from Aviva and MAPFRE taking part in the CIO Forum: The Next Phase of Innovation in Insurance (Opportunities and Challenges)
“We try to operate at different latitudes, and adapt as quickly as possible to what we’re faced with.” He continued: “[We’re] Very excited about the application of AI in getting people to the desired outcome as fast as possible. Humans are not going to be excluded from the equation any time soon,” said Arslan Hannani, Chief Innovation Officer at Aviva
Hannani added: “Innovation is completely different from R&D. I don’t see a separation between innovation and the pathway of our life.”
Leire Jimenez, Chief Innovation Officer at MAPFRE & CEO MAWDY (MAPFRE Worldwide Digital Assistance), also made several points about the role of innovation.
She said: “We want to make sure that innovation is not just something theoretical, but that it impacts the whole organisation, from sales to tech. Fear might be an industry change that we’re about to face. Political instability and unemployment rates bring lots of uncertainty. I’m still very optimistic, but I’m hoping fear doesn’t arrest this great wave of innovation that we’re starting to embrace.”
She added: “Biggest opportunity is viewing AI as a way to make companies more human and proactive towards customers. We use ROI for our pilot projects as a comparison for growth of all our future projects.”
Female leadership
DEI also led conversations. In the session The ROI of Gender Diversity: Breaking the Glass Ceiling for Women in Leadership
“We as women often look to be the most qualified to apply for something. What needs to happen is more advocating for clear progression charts and overall transparency from companies. When women know what the steps are, they are more likely to ask for that progression and promotion,” said Anisah Osman Britton, Director of Operations at unlock VC
“McKinsey reports that executive leadership teams with female representation have 39% more chance of achieving profitability than those who do not,” said Victoria Repice, Solera’s SVP Product Management
She added: “Advocate for yourself. Own your voice and find a good sponsor. You should have someone to carry your paper”
Day 1 Highlights
● Keynote Address by Daniel Schreiber, CEO and Co-Founder of Lemonade: Daniel Schreiber delivered a compelling keynote address to a packed main stage, with standing room only and overflow areas filled with attendees watching via livestream. His presentation set the tone for a conference focused on innovation and disruption.
● CIO Forum with Leire Jimenez, Group Chief Innovation Officer, MAPFRE: Jimenez contributed to a robust discussion during the CIO Forum, addressing the evolving role of technology in insurance innovation.
● Fireside Chat: Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration on Large Risks with Paolo Mantero, Group Chief Strategy Officer, Zurich Insurance: Mantero engaged in a thought-provoking fireside chat exploring the critical role of public-private partnerships in managing large-scale risks.
● Session: Influence of Insurance on Society: Impact, Protection, Prevention with Sirma Boshnakova, Board Member, Allianz: Boshnakova’s session tackled pressing industry challenges and the societal impact of insurance, sparking engaging dialogue.
● Fireside Chat with Luisa Barile, Group CEO, ManyPets, and Carolina Brochado, EQT Growth: Barile and Brochado discussed growth strategies and the future of pet insurance in a lively fireside chat.
A warm reception
The conference, which runs until later this afternoon, saw record attendance – with over 4,000 delegates registering in person at the region’s premier insurance technology conference before noon. A similar number of visitors are expected at the second day of the conference tomorrow.
Insurtech Insights Europe, which draws a diverse audience including CEOs, Board Members, Group Chief Innovation Officers, AI leaders, and Founders, solidified its position as a critical platform for industry leaders to share their perspectives and drive innovation within the insurance sector.
Be the first to comment