Exploring innovation in travel and health insurance

1 & 2 October 2025
Convene, 133 Houndsditch, City of London

 INNOVATE THIS

Watch the INNOVATE THIS 2024 post-event video 

INNOVATE THIS – from the Travel & Health Insurance Series – is an in-person conference exploring the most important innovations happening across the travel and international health insurance ecosystem.

Our packed conference agenda addresses innovation in product design, insurance distribution, claims handling, customer experience, traveller assistance, risk analysis, and much more.

Join us at INNOVATE THIS 2025 to discuss what’s new in this space, network with potential new partners – and be part of the future of travel and international health insurance.

Never been to one of our events? Download the Event Brochure now to find out more.

INNOVATE THIS 2023 partners

Speaking at INNOVATE THIS 2025

Taking to the stage at INNOVATE THIS 2025 are some of the brightest minds
shaping the travel insurance and IPMI space today.      
Keynote speaker: Alex Hunter

Consumer behaviour &
customer experience expert

former global head of digital, virgin group
Sasha Gainullin

CEO 

battleface
Kishore Suppiah

Head, Global Travel Partnerships

malaysia airlines
Joyce Segall

Global Head, Insurance & Innovation Strategy

pattern
Eran Tirer

Founder & CEO

LEDGERTECH
Brett Dyason

Co-founder & CEO

Hepstar
Amy Brown

Founder & CEO

authenticx
Manny Soccoro

Strategic Account Director, Insurance

Flywire
Phil Denman

CEO

CAPACITY INSIGHTS
Ges Lonsdale

Head of Partnerships

Cover-more europe
Andrew Commins

Founder

Rightpath Insurance Solutions
Tony Tarquini

Founder & CEO

5189 Limited
Florian Schubert

Insurance Vertical EMEA Lead

Garmin Health
Rodger Cook

General Manager – Global Security Services

World Travel Protection
Daisy Qi Dong

Group Head of Product Proposition

bolttech
Matt Harris

Accounts Management Director, Europe

Cover-more
Sharon Solomon

Head of Medical Assistance 

Allianz Partners UK & Ireland
Quentin Colmant

CEO & Co-founder

qover
Russell Corbould-Warren

VP Insurance – EMEA

cover genius
Kim-Fredrik Schneider

Co-founder & CEO

abi
Stephen Grant

Conference Chair

INNOVATE THIS
Angel Pavon

Head of Revenue & Strategy

m47 labs
Lisa Hard

Senior manager – UK Travel

zurich uk
David Beeney

Founder

Breaking The Silence
Mark Lee

Partner

penningtons manches cooper
Colin Hayes

Senior Associate

penningtons manches cooper
Joanne Vengadensen

Partner

penningtons manches cooper
Dan Kaine

Managing Partner

inherent risks
Andrew Winton

Chief Marketing Officer

TRUTH ENGINE
Daniel Mohacek

CEO

truth engine
Stefan Ramershoven

Co-founder & MD

deepopinion
Alex Tataran

Senior Technical Sales Manager

deepopinion
Pieter Viljoen

Head of Data & Analytics

Allianz Partners
Pieter Viljoen

Chief Data Officer

allianz partners

If you’re interested in speaking at INNOVATE THIS 2025, please get in touch.

INNOVATE THIS 2025 agenda

At INNOVATE THIS, we explore the trajectory of innovation in the global travel insurance and IPMI space – covering everything from product and solution development to emerging partnership opportunities, tech evolution in different regions to customer-centricity.

Click the links in the agenda to explore session details and speaker insights for INNOVATE THIS 2025.

We’re continuously updating the agenda with new sessions and exciting speaker announcements. 

Sign up to the event mailing list and be the first to hear the latest updates!

Innovate THIS 2023 – tickets


SUPER EARLY BIRD RATE – £645 
 

EARLY BIRD RATE – £895 – until 17 July

Register NOW and save over £250 on the full ticket cost

 
FULL TICKET PRICE – £1150 (from 18 July 2023)
 
Discounts for early-stage startups. Contact hello@this-network.com for details.

DAY 1

registration & morning coffee

Check in, grab your coffee, and kick off a day full of learning and networking
9-10am

CHAIR'S WELCOME ADDRESS

10am

OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Announcement coming soon!

FIRESIDE CHAT

UNDERWRITING AGILITY AND THE RISE OF THE REBEL MGA

 

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Fuel up and spark conversations that matter

PRESENTATION

Details coming soon
1:30pm onwards

WORKSHOPS

3 to choose from – Details coming soon

NETWORKING LUNCH

Refresh, network, and make the most of every conversation
1-2pm

LIGHTNING TALK

MEET THE ENABLERS: USE CASES IN TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE – PART 1

FIRESIDE CHAT

HOW TO INCREASE CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN A HYPER COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE 

STAY & PLAY NETWORKING SESSION

As day one winds down, the conversations keep going – stay, sip, and spark something new with drinks hosted by Flywire
4:10-5:30pm

THIS Industry networking party

An evening of networking, fine drinks, and exquisite canapés at the elegant Engel Bar, set within the iconic Royal Exchange

DAY 2

registration & morning coffee

Fuel up and dive into day two, packed with even more insights, connections, and exciting sessions

chair's welcome

9:30-10:30AM

fireside chat

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE ASSISTANCE INDUSTRY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH INSURERS AND INSUREDS?

LIGHTNING TALK

MEET THE ENABLERS: USE CASES IN TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE – PART 2

9.30-10.30AM

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Time to recharge – with refreshments and conversations    that count
10.30-10.35AM

PRESENTATION

Details coming soon

fireside chat

TRAVEL INSURANCE – THE NEW FRONTIERS: WHERE DO FUTURE DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES LIE?

Networking lunch

1:30pm onwards

INNOVATE THIS 2025 Advisory Committee

Anja Willeitner

Global Head of Products
– Travel

Allianz Partners
Anthony Borgman

Head of GB Affinity

WTW
Barbra Taylor

President

Travel Insured International
Carl Carter

CEO & Founder

CSC Global Partners
Kieran Brown - INNOVATE THIS
Kieran Brown

Managing Director UK

 

SIP Medical Family Office
Daisy Qi Dong - INNOVATE THIS
Daisy Qi Dong

EVP of Product

 

Loadsure
Glynn Hughes

Senior European Commercial Portfolio Manager

 

TUI
Alerah Turner

Chief Operating Officer

World Travel Protection

What to expect at INNOVATE THIS

Inspiring agenda topics

International speakers

Keynote presentations

Expert moderators

Workshops

AI-powered
event app

Stay and Play

Targeted networking

Join us for the latest industry thinking, insightful presentations, stimulating panel sessions, and fireside chats that deep-dive on trending topics.

Learn from those at the forefront of travel insurance industry innovation. Share your own insights with other conference attendees. Network, connect and drive positive change in the industry – through exciting new collaborations.

Registration price: £1150 + VAT

Download the 2022 Innovate THIS agenda

INNOVATE THIS 2025 takes place at CONVENE

133 Houndsditch, City of London 

The venue is a dedicated event space, with plenty of room to network; all-day Nourish stations for help-yourself drinks, snacks and hot drinks; and – of course – we’ll be bringing the THIS vibe.

Location 
Conveniently situated near both Aldgate and Liverpool Street tube stations in the heart of the City of London.

Guests networking at insurance event

THIS Industry Networking Party

As day one of the INNOVATE THIS conference draws to a close, we invite event attendees – as well as the wider industry – for networking with a difference at the THIS Industry Networking Party.
 
This year, we’ll be gathering at Engel Bar – on the mezzanine floor of the Royal Exchange, in the heart of the City of London.
 
For those attending the INNOVATE THIS conference, a place at the Networking Party is guaranteed. 

Travel

The nearest Tube stations to Convene 133 Houndsditch are:  

Aldgate Station (4 min walk) 

Liverpool Street Station (5 min walk) 

More travel information.

Accommodation

We have allocations at the Wilde Aparthotels Liverpool Street Wilde Aparthotels Tower Bridge and Motel One with preferential rates.

All are a short walking distance from Convene.

For more information or to secure a room, please contact concierge@this-network.com.

INNOVATE THIS 2025 - tickets 

SUPER EARLY BIRD OFFER - £645 - NOW ENDED

EARLY BIRD RATE – NOW LIVE  – £895

FULL TICKET PRICE (from 31 July) – £1150

Includes both conference days, all refreshments and lunches, inclusion in the event app, Stay & Play, and the THIS Industry Networking Party.

Discounts for startups and small businesses. Contact hello@this-network.com for details

INNOVATE THIS 2024 Unwrapped

Read the recap and key take-aways from each session – from the riveting opening keynote, to the fireside chats, presentations, lightning talks and workshops. And get a taste of the powerful networking opportunities intrinsic to INNOVATE THIS.

Your hub for information
at INNOVATE THIS

From conference information to intelligent networking, the event app is the go-to place for conference updates and connecting with fellow attendees.


The app’s AI-powered matchmaking allows for intent-based connections – providing relevant and meaningful matches to participants in seconds. All with the aim of facilitating meaningful conversations.


Book meetings in the app, message attendees, visit exhibitors’ virtual exhibition booths,
read speaker bios, see the full agenda, and receive alerts that will keep you in the loop on all things INNOVATE THIS before and during the event.

2024 networking app proudly sponsored by

Who should attend INNOVATE THIS?

Insurers, reinsurers, brokers, distributors, insurtechs, fintechs, payments specialists, investors – and anyone working to accelerate growth and enable impactful innovation across the entire travel insurance value chain.

Why attend?

Sponsoring INNOVATE THIS

Creative, conversation-starting packages

Raise your profile at INNOVATE THIS with by partnering with us. Do you have a unique product or service you’d like to display? Looking for brand elevation? Want to gain more traction for your business in the travel insurance industry?

From not-your-average conference swag, to bespoke activations, we work hard to make sure each sponsored item has maximum impact.

Contact us today to talk through ideas – or request the INNOVATE THIS Partnership Deck.

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alex hunter

Expert on consumer behaviour and customer experience
Former Global Head of Digital, VIRGIN GROUP

This keynote address is sponsored by ALLIANZ PARTNERS UK & IRELAND

Alex Hunter is one of the world’s leading speakers on consumer engagement, consumer behaviour and consumer experience. As Virgin Group’s Global Head of Digital, overseeing the Virgin brand’s entire global digital strategy, Alex was responsible for optimising Virgin customers’ online experience, and maximising their sense of loyalty and engagement with the brand. Alex was also responsible for Sir Richard Branson’s personal digital strategy.

Alex was previously part of the team that founded award-winning airline Virgin America in California. His work there was covered by Time magazine, CNN, and CNBC, amongst others.

As a speaker Alex helps some of the world’s biggest organisations bring “WOW” to their customer experience and branding. Past clients include Volkswagen, Twitter, L’Oreal, Pepsi, GE, Adobe, Shell, Salesforce, Facebook, GSK, and IKEA. In his speeches and workshops, Alex talks about the art and science required to create a long-lasting bond with customers. By showing the human side of brands, exploring the psychology of brand loyalty, and revealing some of the best tactics for keeping customers happy, Alex inspires audiences all over the world with his high-energy sessions.

Alex currently splits his time between London and Northern California.

SASHA GAINULLIN

CEO
BATTLEFACE

With over 25 years’ experience in the travel insurance industry, Sasha knows how to deliver on customer needs in emergency travel, medical assistance, emergency evacuation and claims management. For today’s travellers, Sasha combines this experience with a team-based approach to find innovative tech-based solutions for delivering relevant products and services.  Prior to battleface and Robin Assist, Sasha worked for AIG Travel Guard and the Tangiers Group, where he focused on customer service while developing and leading international medical, logistics, and travel assistance operations.

 Often, you’ll find Sasha working alongside his team, answering phones, selling travel insurance policies, and managing emergency assistance cases. This gives him a real sense of what global customers are truly looking for in today’s environment. 

Connect with Sasha on LinkedIn

kishore suppiah

Head, Global Travel Partnerships
MALAYSIA AVIATION GROUP

Kishore is responsible for overseeing the Global Travel Partnerships scope for Malaysia Aviation Group, which encompasses Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and AMAL.

With an engineering background, he effectively integrates operational efficiency, data analytics, and digital innovation to drive commercial success and improve customer experiences for partnership products across all airline touchpoints.

His career commenced in the rental car industry, after which he successfully launched a chain of hotels in ASEAN, the UK, Australia, and India.

Currently, he is deeply engaged in the aviation sector, bringing extensive experience from the broader travel ecosystem into managing strategic partnerships for products such as travel insurance, car rental, and transfers.

joyce segall

Global Head, Insurance Innovation & Strategy
PATTERN

Joyce’s insurance career spans 30 years of cross-functional experience within multinational insurance companies as well as for MGUs/MGAs, Reinsurers, and non-insurance service providers . Her previous roles have included leadership positions focused on innovation, underwriting, end-to-end product development and strategy on a global scale.

Joyce’s product expertise includes travel, accident and health, and event liability for B2B, B2B2C and  DTC. Additionally, she has developed niche products focused on gaps in coverage, addressing unmet needs in specialist areas, including car-jacking, maternity and surrogacy.

Joyce’s role at Pattern has a global reach; she uses her knowledge to ideate, develop and implement new and enhanced insurance products and services such to assist partners in creating protections that give lasting value, customer loyalty and ancillary revenue.  

Joyce has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Boston University.

ERAN TIRER

Founder & CEO
LEDGERTECH

Eran Tirer is the founder and CEO of Ledgertech, a digital insurance technology company transforming Embedded Insurance with its award-winning low-code/no-code platform.

With over 30 years of experience in software and insurtech, Eran has held
executive leadership roles, including founding and serving as CEO of EZSource, later acquired by IBM.

Under his leadership, Ledgertech enables insurers to launch and scale customer-centric digital insurance products in weeks, seamlessly embedding coverage
into customers’ everyday digital experiences.

A recognised industry innovator, Eran is redefining insurance distribution with a
cloud-native core digital insurance platform that enhances engagement,
streamlines operations, and unlocks new revenue streams.

Brett Dyason

Co-founder & CEO
HEPSTAR

A Chartered Accountant and CFA with over a decade of experience bridging the travel and insurance industries, Brett is the driving force behind Hepstar’s continued growth.

Far from the typical finance professional, Brett’s passion for technology and travel fuels innovation in ancillary product distribution.

Under his leadership, Hepstar has emerged as a travel-tech pioneer, optimising revenue and reshaping how global travel brands approach ancillary product strategy.

amy brown

Founder & CEO
AUTHENTICX

Amy Brown is the founder and CEO of Authenticx – the conversational intelligence platform that analyses and activates customers’ voices at scale to reveal transformational opportunities in healthcare. 

Amy built her career as a rising executive in the healthcare industry, during which time she advocated for underserved populations, led and mobilised teams to expand healthcare coverage to thousands of Indiana residents, and learned the nuance of corporate operations.  

In 2018, Amy decided to leverage her decades of industry experience to tackle healthcare through technology. She founded Authenticx with the mission to bring the authentic voice of the customer into the boardroom and increase positive healthcare outcomes.   

manny socorro

Strategic Account Director
FLYWIRE

Manny Socorro is a Strategic Account Director at Flywire, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance and payments industries. His career spans leadership roles at major organizations including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and One Inc., where he specialized in driving client success and operational efficiency through innovative payment solutions.  At Flywire, Manny leverages his deep industry expertise to help insurers streamline complex payment processes that drive down costs and enhance the customer experience.

Phil Denman

CEO
CAPACITY INSIGHTS

Phil Denman brings extensive expertise in travel and health insurance, international employee benefits, and innovation within the travel insurance sector. With over 30 years of industry experience, he is now CEO of Capacity Insights, a specialist underwriting MGA that combines deep industry knowledge with a fresh perspective to deliver tailored, customer-focused insurance solutions. 

Working with insurance distributors, travel entities, banks, SMEs and corporates – Capacity Insights has a particular focus on creating bespoke travel, health, dental, and personal accident schemes.

 

GES LONSDALE

Head of Partnerships, Europe
COVER-MORE GROUP

Ges Lonsdale is Head of Partnerships for Cover-More Europe, a travel and specialist insurance provider operating as a broker & MGA. Cover-More is a Zurich Group company. Ges has more than 30 years’ experience in commercial and consumer insurance, including 22 years’ global travel insurance experience. His expertise across insurance functions has enabled him to build and grow profitable and sustainable businesses for companies and their shareholders.

 

andrew commins

Managing Director RIGHTPATH INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

With three decades of expertise in travel insurance claims, Andrew established Rightpath Insurance Solutions in 2007 to focus on innovation and third-party administration services. He loves to imagine and loves to build. 

Rightpath develops all its own tech and has grown to operate in a wide range of verticals, subsequently being recognised in over 20 business and innovation awards.

tony tarquini - INNOVATE THIS 2025 conference chair

Founder & CEO
5189 Limited

Tony Tarquini is a respected thought leader, advisor, and speaker in insurance IT and consulting. A former international athlete, he applied competitive lessons from sport to build a high-profile consulting career, co-authoring the best-selling InsurTECH Book and winning awards for IT innovation.

With degrees from the University of Dundee, INSEAD, and Henley, he has spoken at conferences for over 35 years and is regularly quoted in industry and national media.

Known for his engaging insights, Tony shares thought leadership on platforms like LinkedIn, sparking debate and offering clear perspectives on the insurance market’s challenges and opportunities.

florian schubert

Insurance Vertical EMEA Lead
GARMIN HEALTH

Florian Schubert is responsible for the insurance vertical for EMEA of Garmin Health. Garmin Health offers solutions around corporate benefits/employee health, customer acquisition/retention, engagement and reward programs, behavioral change, disease prevention/management, risk assessment, and personalized/dynamic underwriting.

Florian joined Garmin in September 2023. Previously, he worked for Munich Re, Swiss Re, and Scor in various claims, underwriting, client management, innovation, and product development roles. He holds an Innovation Manager degree and is a Scrum Master II, Product Owner, and Prince 2 Agile Practitioner. He supports Plug n Play, The Israeli InsurTech Accelerator, and InsurTech Hub Munich as a pro bono startup mentor.

Garmin Health provides custom enterprise business solutions that leverage Garmin’s extensive wearable portfolio and high-quality sensor data for applications in the corporate wellness, population health, and patient monitoring markets.

daisy qi dong

Group Head of Product Proposition, and Head of Product & Pricing, Europe
BOLTTECH

As an accomplished product leader and qualified actuary, Daisy has a wealth of expertise spanning insurance product development, pricing, implementation and distribution. Her distinguished career trajectory, including tenures at esteemed organisations like Swiss Re, Vitality, and Standard Chartered Bank before joining bolttech, has endowed her with a comprehensive understanding of the broader industry ecosystem, encompassing reinsurance, insurance, insurtech, and fintech.

As an active member of the Insurtech and Innovation Working Party at the UK’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Daisy spearheads research initiatives focusing on global insurtech innovation trends, from customer journey optimisation to risk underwriting advancements. She is deeply passionate about developing relevant and scalable solutions that are poised to revolutionise the conception, marketing and delivery of insurance products across diverse channels and geographic markets.

 

 

 

MATT HARRIS

Account Management Director, Europe COVER-MORE

Matt leads all partnership relationships at Cover-More in Europe.  He has 16 years’ experience in consumer lines insurance, predominantly in Travel Insurance within Europe for both major insurers and MGAs. He is experienced in launching products with partners from various industries, on a pan-European and a global basis, driving additional revenue for these partners and products that deliver positive customer outcomes.

Sharon solomon

Head of Medical Assistance
ALLIANZ PARTNERS UK & IRELAND

Sharon joined Allianz Partners in July 2023 and has nearly 20 years’ experience in medical assistance.

As Head of Medical Assistance for the largest travel insurer in the UK, Sharon ensures our millions of customers receive the appropriate help when they need it.

She manages 40 colleagues in the medical assistance team which provides vital support to our holidaymakers in their time of need.

quentin coLmant

CEO & Co-founder
QOVER
Quentin Colmant is the CEO of Qover, which he co-founded alongside Jean-Charles Velge in 2016.

Prior to launching the company, he had a successful career in the insurance industry, holding a series of top management positions at Allianz Benelux in both general and life insurance.

Quentin has an MBA and two masters degrees: a Master’s in Engineering Science & Applied Mathematics and a Masters in Finance.

russell corbould-warren

Vice President - Insurance, EMEA
COVER GENIUS

Russell is Vice President, Insurance in the EMEA region at Cover Genius, the insurtech for embedded protection. 

In his role, Russell is responsible for leading his global insurance team to build strategic insurer partnerships that deliver long-term value and leverage our deep capabilities to meet the needs of our rapidly growing customer base.

He has more than 20 years experience of creating transformative insurance solutions and leading teams at Uber, Zurich, Allianz, Europ Assistance and most recently at Onsi – the benefits platform for the flexible workforce. 

At Uber, Russell successfully partnered with the largest insurers and most innovative insurtechs to redesign traditional insurance capabilities to fit the modern mobility and on-demand worker models and launched motor, liability, accident and income protection insurance for millions of customers, drivers and couriers in 42 countries across EMEA.

kim-fredrik schneider

Co-founder & CEO
ABI

Kim has solidified Abi as the premier next generation virtual care provider. Since 2016, he’s led the company on a significant growth trajectory – with health professionals in 40 countries accessible to more than 10 million people

Prior to founding Abi, Kim had more than 15 years leadership experience in high-growth tech firms in Europe, USA and Asia. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

 

stephen grant

Conference Chair
INNOVATE THIS 2024

Stephen Grant is an award-winning comedian, writer, and one of the most experienced performers in the UK comedy scene. He regularly headlines at The Comedy Store in Leicester Square and performs at clubs and corporate events across the UK and internationally.

As the former host of the Krater Comedy Club at Komedia from 1999 to 2022, Stephen helped the venue earn the title of Best Comedy Venue in the South numerous times. In January 2022, he launched the Forge Comedy Club in Brighton’s newest and most advanced performance space, where he now serves as curator.

As a writer, Stephen’s credits include work on popular TV shows such as QI, Mock the Week, Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show, and Channel 4’s Stand Up For The Week. He is a recipient of the BBC Radio and Music Award for Comedy and has directed and script-edited over 120 shows for more than 50 different comedians, earning him the reputation of being Britain’s top director of stand-up comedy.

With his unique blend of energy, intellect, and years of corporate experience, Stephen is the ideal conference host. He has successfully hosted several fintech events and is ready to bring his energy to the INNOVATE THIS stage.

angel pavon

Head Revenue and Strategy
M47 LABS

With over 14 years in the insurance/assistance market and 12 years in IT/innovation, Angel has held executive positions at AXA Partners, including Global Head of Operations and Networks and Americas COO.

Currently, as Head of Revenue and Strategy at M47Labs, he drives AI initiatives.

Angel holds a Bachelor’s in Electronic Engineering and a Master’s in Operations and Innovation from ESADE.

lisa hard

Senior Manager - UK Travel
ZURICH UK

Lisa has a wealth of experience in general insurance, specialising in travel insurance for the last 16 years and works across the full spectrum of distribution models.  She has a fierce passion for the product and creating bespoke, innovative solutions that deliver for both partners and customers. She is delighted to be participating in this event.

david beeney

Founder
BREAKING THE SILENCE

David Beeney enjoyed a successful career in newspapers and magazines for over 30 years, he was the MD of a regional daily newspaper and Commercial Director for Auto Trader.

However, since outing himself in 2016 about his secret battles with panic attacks he believes that he has now found true purpose and has committed to spend the rest of his life eradicating the stigma of mental health.

His business Breaking the Silence has quickly established itself as one of the leading advisors in the UK on ‘mental health in the workplace’ and David has helped many of the leading brands in the UK to create kinder more compassionate cultures of trust.

He was recognised again in 2024 as one of the top 101 global influencers on employee engagement and is the author of ‘Breaking the Silence’.

David is a qualified Mental Health Counsellor affiliated to the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Practitioners) and has been a trustee for Mind.

mark lee

Partner
PENNINGTONS MANCHES COOPER

Mark heads the travel law team and is lead partner of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Group. Mark’s team acts as the panel solicitors for various UK travel insurers and Lloyd’s syndicates, receiving instructions to act on behalf of policyholders for claims arising from accidents abroad.

As a trusted advisor to the travel insurance industry, he also assists with the subrogated recovery of insurers’ outlay and advises on policy wordings and other contentious issues. Mark works closely with colleagues in the firm’s Paris, Madrid, Piraeus, and Singapore offices on a range of disputes.

colin hayes

Senior Associate
PENNNGTONS MANCHES COOPER

Colin is a senior associate in Penningtons Manches Cooper’s commercial dispute resolution team in London. He assists with a broad range of matters relating to commercial and financial disputes.

Specialising in complex group action claims, Colin frequently acts for large groups of claimants in cases against various professional advisors including solicitors, brokers and insurance professionals.

Before joining Penningtons Manches Cooper in 2020, Colin worked at an international law firm where he gained extensive experience in commercial insurance litigation and advised on high-value commercial disputes, often with an international angle.

Joanne Vengadesen

Partner
PENNINGTONS MANCHES COOPER

Joanne is a commercial lawyer, specialising in technology transactions and data protection. Her work encompasses structuring and negotiating contracts for complex technology projects, IT agreements, intellectual property and technology licensing, e-commerce and consumer law issues. Joanne has particular expertise in the electric vehicle technology sector, where she has been assisting a client on its contracts with key partners in relation to electric vehicle charge point infrastructure, as well as on consumer law issues.

As an expert in data protection laws, she advises numerous clients on data protection compliance and strategy, including in relation to use of artificial intelligence tools and data licensing. She also has expertise in brand protection, and she and her team manage intellectual property portfolios on behalf of a wide range of clients.

dan kaine

Managing Partner
INHERENT RISKS

Dan leads Inherent Risks’ crisis advisory practice and is widely considered an expert on providing assistance in, and directing security evacuations from, challenging environments.

In a career spanning 27 years, he has held key roles at military and corporate levels, including extensive tenures in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and most recently, Ukraine.

Dan holds qualifications from several universities, including global business management, crisis management, disaster response, complex incident management, mediation, and family liaison. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management and a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

matt teumer

Director of Strategic Accounts, Insurance
FLYWIRE

Matt Teumer is the Director of Strategic Accounts at Flywire, leading the company’s expansion into the insurance sector.

With over 12 years in global payments, Matt’s expertise spans both payments and insurance, enabling effective collaboration with insurers, MGAs, TPAs, and assistance companies.

He is dedicated to introducing innovative solutions to the digitally underserved insurance industry, driving change with his strategic vision.

Outside of work, Matt is a Boston sports fan who enjoys time with his wife and two children in Austin, Texas.

INNOVATION IN TRAVEL INSURANCE: OPPORTUNITIES AND OBLIGATIONS

Innovation is no longer a choice in today’s insurance world. Digitisation and rapidly emerging technologies allow insurers to create bespoke insurance offerings and bring to market ground-breaking protection products at an unprecedented pace. And this is disrupting the travel insurance marketplace in exciting ways. In this session, Innovate THIS chair Chris Frankland, Founder of InsurTech360, will be in conversation with Matt Connolly, CEO of Sønr Global, discussing insurtech and fintech trends, the importance of innovation, and how to start – or accelerate – your tech-led journey.     

TRAVEL INSURANCE AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: ARE WE MEETING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS?

Moderator: Carl Carter, Blink Parametric

Panellists:
Joyce Segall, Pattern
David Stirling, Crispin Speers & Partners
Daren Rudd, CGI

Continuously evolving technology is changing the way travel insurance is bought and serviced – but do technology providers know what insurers really want, and are insurers considering what the consumer wants? 

This session will explore the latest tech trends shaping today’s travel insurance ecosystem, look at how to decide on the best technology for your business, and assess how tech providers and insurers can better work together. 

We’ll also be asking how far we should go when it comes to travel insurance product innovation and to what extent differentiation is friend or foe.

UNDERWRITING AGILITY AND THE RISE OF THE REBEL MGA

In conversation with: Phil Denman, Capacity Insights; Ges Lonsdale, Cover-More Europe

MGAs – known for their underwriting agility, product specialisation, and tech-driven innovation – are gaining an increasing share of travel and health insurance business.

 This session will explore the reasons behind this growth and assess the wider insurance industry’s response to the expansion of MGA activity in the travel and health insurance space.

MEETING INSURER PAIN POINTS WITH TECH: FINDING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Moderator - Carl Carter, CSC Global Partners
Panellists:
Quentin Colmant, Qover
Matt Teumer, Flywire
Michael Lewis, Claim Technology
Angel Pavon, M47 Labs

Across the entire travel insurance and IPMI lifecycle, automated processes are driving efficiencies, speed to market, real-time underwriting, and fraud detection. Resultantly, customers reap such benefits as friction-free insurance purchasing, straight-through claims processing, and in-path policies customised to their specific needs. 

By looking at a range of successful tech-led innovations in travel insurance and IPMI, this session will assess how technology is helping insurers to address key pain points – in their business and for their customers. 

And by way of an interactive forum, it aims to help insurers find the right tech solutions to meet their current challenges. 

ADOPTING AN EXPERIENCE MINDSET

Hosted By: Tom Ross, Senior Account Manager, Armadillo
Customer attraction and retention are just two of the drivers behind the seismic shift towards customer-first design in insurance. In this session, we’ll hear how travel insurers are reaping the benefits of investing in the enhancement of their customer experience (CX) and user experience (UX) approach. And we’ll be answering questions such as: How do today’s travellers want to buy trip cover? What do they want the claims process to look like? How are insurers meeting these desires? How can travel insurers go beyond customer expectations to build trust and loyalty among consumers?

TRAVEL INSURANCE - THE NEW FRONTIERS: WHERE DO FUTURE DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES LIE?

In conversation with: Brett Dyason, Hepstar

This session will explore travel insurance and IPMI distribution channel trends and identify emerging opportunities for future insurance distribution. We’ll be looking at distribution trends in different parts of the world, predicting where the travellers of tomorrow will expect to purchase their insurance, and asking how we overcome the challenge of meeting customers where they are.

 This session will explore untapped schemes and underserved demographics, look at new types of distribution partnerships and discuss shifting customer expectations around access to travel and health protection.

MEET THE ENABLERS: USE CASES IN TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE

Presenters announced soon!

Showcasing boundary-pushing partnerships between insurers and their tech partners, our lightning talks provide a unique insight into how these partnerships came about, how the involved parties work together, and the benefits for all stakeholders – including the end customer.

HOW TO INCREASE CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN A HYPER COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE

Moderator: Manny Soccoro, Flywire

In conversation with: Eran Tirer, Ledgertech; Amy Brown, Authenticx

With customer acquisition costs rising, customer retention is more important than ever – but what should insurers and brokers be focussing on in order to increase customer loyalty? What are some of the innovative ways that the industry is driving customer retention in the travel and health space? And how do insurers enhance customer engagement beyond the point of claim?

In this session, we’ll be exploring some of the ways that forward-thinking insurers are building long-lasting relationships with customers, assessing how different models of insurance are enhancing customer engagement, and how we build value for insureds even when there is no claim.

stay & play

Sponsored by Flywire

Hosting the ‘Stay & Play’ networking session, Flywire invites you to join them and raise a glass to innovation and conversation!

At the end of day 1, INNOVATE THIS conference attendees will have the opportunity to gather over wine, beer, mocktails and canapés – to discuss their key take-aways from the day’s sessions and network in a relaxed environment.

THIS INDUSTRY NETWORKING PARTY

The Libertine, Royal Exchange, City of London

Join us for a fabulous evening of drinks, canapés, and entertainment at one of London’s hottest venues.

Mingle with fellow insurers, distributors, insurtechs, and travel insurance industry partners for an unmissable evening of making exciting new connections and catching up with industry friends.

https://this-network.com/this-industry-networking-party/Your ticket for the THIS Industry Networking Party is included with your conference registration. Additional tickets are available to purchase via the Party web page.

HOW PAYMENTS ARE WINNING THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ENDGAME

Darren Snoxell, Head of Insurance EMEA - J.P. Morgan Payments

Travel and health insurers face unique challenges when it comes to making payments to international insureds. This session will give an overview of current and emerging options for cross-border payments and claims settlements. Address how payments companies are tackling key pain points for insurers faced with serving the ‘now’ generation. And look at why it matters – with a focus on the importance of understanding your customers’ emotional journey in order to deliver an enhanced customer experience and benefit from improved customer loyalty.

CAN TRAVEL INSURERS REALLY MAKE CLAIMS THEIR SUPERPOWER?

Moderator: Jennifer Milton, Compass Point Assist

Panellists: Kata Ludvig, baoba insurtech
Simon Powell, Allianz Partners
Andrew Commins, Rightpath Insurance Solutions

This session will take a thought-provoking look at claims transformation in travel insurance – and assess how far we’ve come in terms of business efficiencies, fraud prevention, and meeting customer expectations. How can your claims process shape your value proposition? How do we overcome current challenges in this field? And how can we better work together to restore customers’ faith in the claims process?

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE ASSISTANCE INDUSTRY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH INSURERS AND INSUREDS?

Moderator:
Panellists:

In this session, we’ll explore the current and emerging technologies being used by the global assistance industry in different regions of the world. We’ll be looking at the extent to which these technologies – such as AI-powered call handling, document processing, payments innovation and telehealth – are aiding and strengthening how insurers and assistance providers work together, the benefits they bring to the wider industry, and how they’re being used to improve the customer experience and help prevent problems for travellers.

We’ll also be looking at some of the challenges posed by relying on technology within the assistance space. Ask how important tech capabilities are when choosing an assistance partner. And assess how to find the right balance when it comes to consumer-facing technology.

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peter altmann

Vice President Mobility & Travel Protection, Hospitality
AMADEUS

As Vice President Mobility & Travel Protection, Peter and his team are responsible for the global distribution of car rental, transfer and travel protection content in Amadeus, and the relationship with the content providers for the three products verticals.

Originally from Germany, Peter joined Amadeus in July 2006 as Head of Product Management Cars, based in Sophia Antipolis. He then took over the Cars Business Unit at the end of 2010 and relocated to the corporate headquarters in Madrid in August 2011.

In 2015, Amadeus decided to embark into the Transfers business as part of the Mobility offering. Peter took on the challenge to make this new start-up a success. Since April 2019, Peter is also responsible for the Travel Protection Business Unit.

With over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, prior to joining Amadeus Peter held various management positions in the car rental industry in Germany, France and the USA, providing him with excellent insight and understanding of the distribution and technology needs of both, providers and travel sellers alike.

Hanbing Ma

Head of Innovation & Digital Transformation
ERGO GROUP AG

Hanbing Ma is leading the global innovation activities of ERGO. In this role, she is responsible for innovation strategy & projects, scouting activities and corporate venturing.

For digital transformation, one of her key priorities is to make use of digital technologies and scale them across the group.

Hanbing has a background in strategy, business development, finance and corporate innovation.

JENNIFER MILTON

CEO & Founder
COMPASS POINT ASSIST

Jennifer is an ardent advocate for sustainable travel and proactive healthcare, dedicating her career to transforming how we view and interact with both realms.

With a keen focus on promoting responsible tourism that aligns with environmental preservation and a deep-seated belief in universal healthcare access, Jennifer’s journey has been guided by the principles of equity and sustainability. Her operational expertise further solidifies her commitment to these causes.

Leveraging this extensive experience and passion, Jennifer launched her own travel assistance company – Compass Point Assist – aimed at fostering responsible travel and comprehensive healthcare accessibility.

Together, we’re charting a path towards a brighter, inclusive future, where both our planet and its people flourish.

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