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INNOVATE THIS – from the Travel & Health Insurance Series – is an in-person conference exploring the most important innovations happening across the travel insurance ecosystem.
Our packed conference agenda addresses innovation in product design; payments processing; insurance distribution; data management; claims handling; customer experience; traveller assistance; risk analysis, and much more.
Join us at INNOVATE THIS 2025 to hear what’s new in the travel insurance arena, network with those enabling innovations in this space – and be part of the future of travel insurance.
At INNOVATE THIS 2024 in London, we explored innovation in travel insurance and IPMI product design and delivery, and answered questions such as – How is traveller protection evolving? Where do new partnership opportunities lie for travel insurers? How is process automation enhancing the insurance experience for travellers? How is regulation set to affect the insurance landscape? Plus much, much more.
Click on the links in agenda below to see the session synopses and speakers in each session.
Innovate THIS 2023 – tickets
EARLY BIRD RATE – £895 – until 17 July
Register NOW and save over £250 on the full ticket cost
MEETING INSURER PAIN POINTS WITH TECH: FINDING WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION AND GROWTH IN EUROPE’S NEW REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
EVOLVING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SOLUTIONS: LOOKING AFTER THE TRAVELLER OF TOMORROW
Taking to the stage at INNOVATE THIS 2024 were some of the brightest minds shaping the travel insurance space today. The speaker and moderator line-up included representatives from global insurers, insurtechs and travel trade organisations – all of who are pushing boundaries to create innovative new protection products and solutions – to meet the constantly evolving expectations of international travellers and expatriates
Click on the photos below to read the full speaker bios.
Consumer behaviour &
customer experience expert
CEO
Head, Global Travel Partnerships
Global Head, Insurance & Innovation Strategy
VP Mobility & Travel Protection
Founder & CEO
Head of Innovation & Digital Transformation
CEO & Founder
Director, Strategic Accounts – Insurance
Co-founder
Open Futurist
CEO & Co-founder
Insurance Vertical EMEA Lead
General Manager – Global Security Services
Group Head of Product Proposition
Founder
Head of Medical Assistance
Head of Revenue & Strategy
CEO & Co-founder
Co-founder & CEO
Accounts Management Director, Europe
Conference Chair
Senior manager – UK Travel
VP Insurance – EMEA
Partner
Senior Associate
Partner
Managing Partner
Chief Marketing Officer
CEO
Co-founder & MD
Senior Technical Sales Manager
Head of Data & Analytics
Chief Data Officer
If you’re interested in speaking at INNOVATE THIS 2024, please get in touch.
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.
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.
FULL TICKET PRICE (from 24 July) – £1150
SOLD OUT
Includes both conference days, all refreshments and lunches, inclusion in the event app, Stay & Play, and the THIS Industry Networking Party.
Chief Commercial Officer
Blink Parametric
Chief Operating Officer
Head of Insurance Strategy
Managing Partner
Founder & Managing Director
Insurance & Reinsurance Director
Deputy CEO & CPO
CEO
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.
DOCK GALLERY is at the end of the quayside walkway. PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE ON WAPPING LANE.
///woods.origin.tribe
Location
Located in the heart of East London’s thriving enterprise zone, Tobacco Dock is a former trading post situated within walking distance of Tower Bridge. Now a Grade 1 listed building, it’s set among one of the city’s most charismatic areas – Wapping.
The nearest Tube stations to Tobacco Dock are:
Shadwell Station (5 min walk)
Tower Hill Station (15 minute walk)
Car parking can be pre-booked.
We have an allocation at the Hyatt Place London City East with preferential rates.
For more information or to secure a room, please contact concierge@this-network.com.
The Tobacco Dock also offers very good rates on nearby hotels via its accommodation service.
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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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.
Alex will delve into the challenge of getting consumers to buy travelinsurance, shifting the perception from ‘What am I going to do with this?’ to ‘What would I do without you?’
He’ll explore how storytelling is key to building loyalty and why innovation needs to go beyond technology – recognising that behind every click is a human being. Travel is emotional, and our approach to customer experience should reflect that.
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.
Through an exploration of some of the key innovations in the global travel insurance space, this session will assess the pros and cons of different types of travel protection products – and how they are utilising innovation and technology. It will look at how new solutions fit into the existing marketplace. And ask how we ensure that evolving travel-related cover is meeting shifting consumer expectations while shoring up insurer integrity.
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.
Discover how the partnership between ERGO and Miss Moneypenny Technologies led to the introduction of digital policy cards that streamline doctor searches, delivering a seamless customer experience while reducing costs through optimised claims processes.
FIDA (Financial Data Access) and the evolution of open insurance is creating unprecedented opportunities for financial institutions to create innovative and more personalised traveller protection products – at speed. This session will provide an overview of current data sharing legislation, its effects on insurance marketplace competition, and how insurance providers can maximise the opportunities available to them through open insurance initiatives.
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.
At the end of day one, attendees have the opportunity to deep dive into a topic of their choice by joining one of our specialised workshops.
If you’re attending INNOVATE THIS 2024, please let Team THIS know your preferred workshop choice asap – hello@this-network.com – as places in each workshop are limited and spaces fill up quickly.
Workshop 1
CREATING WORK CULTURES WHERE PEOPLE FLOURISH
Hosted by: David Beeney, Founder, Breaking The Silence
As a consultancy, Breaking The Silence is one of the leading advisors in the UK on ‘mental health in the workplace’ – and has helped many leading brands to create kinder, more compassionate cultures of trust.
David’s workshop will explore how business leaders can optimise the performance of their organisation by creating cultures that drive the energy of their employees.
Workshop 2
AN INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES OF SHARING FRAUD DATA IN TRAVEL INSURANCE
Hosted by: Penningtons Manches Cooper
Led by representatives from Pennington Manches Cooper specialising in travel law, data protection and commercial disputes, this interactive forum will explore the path to better industry collaboration when it comes to travel insurance fraud.
By looking at different types of legal challenges around data sharing, assessing types of fraudulent cases in travel insurance, and learning from the experience of other participants, this workshop will start the conversation that will culminate in a dedicated round table on this topic in London next year – hosted by THIS (more details coming soon!)
Workshop 3
INSURING THE GREY SWAN: WHERE RIKS ARE ANTICIPATED BUT WARNING ARE UNHEEDED
Hosted by: Dan Kaine, Managing Partner, Inherent Risks
Unlike Black Swan events, which are unpredictable with severe consequences and – prior to them occurring – are inconceivable and unpredictable, White Swan events frequently occur, have reasonable impact and are inherently preventable. Lying in wait in between is the Grey Swan. Risks that are known and, yet, despite their impact likely being significant, most people intrinsically believe that they are unlikely to happen.
In this workshop, participants will look at Grey Swan events that have resulted in significant insurance claims, and how they could have been planned for – and mitigated. Participants will also explore data-predicted Grey Swans that are conceivable but are being neglected.
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.
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.
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.
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?
These mini talks will showcase innovative technology being harnessed by the travel and health insurance industry – to provide an insight into the digital evolution of this marketplace. Through dual presentations – with both the insurer or assistance provider, and the ‘enabler’ – attendees will learn how different technologies work in practice to solve real-life industry challenges. How is technology making the complex simple? What exciting tech solutions are shaping today’s travel and health insurance industry? And what’s the ROI?
Travel organisations are the original affinity partners for travel insurers, but new technologies have revolutionised the customer experience when it comes to purchasing travel cover via these partnerships. At the same time, travel organisations have realised tremendous revenue growth via ancillary offerings, including travel insurance. So, how can insurers best meet the needs of these distributors? What are these distributors looking for from their insurance partners? And how do we overcome some of the inherent challenges of working together?
Travel and medical assistance providers are agile by nature, adapting to fast-changing situations in their day-to-day work, and building out their solutions to meet shifting traveller and expatriate expectations – in all parts of the world. This session will explore some of the key innovations in travel and medical assistance, assess the importance of meaningful limits for medical coverage, and explore how the role of emerging technologies such as generative AI and wearables will develop in this space.
TruthEngine will discuss the current state of consumer reviews, their importance to customers’ buying experiences globally, and the challenges that fake reviews pose in light of new AI advances.
A brief overview – and assessment of the impact of – new global regulations, and how brands should and must respond, will wrap up the session.
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.
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 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’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.
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.
Carl Carter is the CEO and Founder of CSC Global Partners, a premier consulting firm that drives innovation, differentiation, competitive advantage, and growth by connecting global travel insurers and brands with insurtechs and service providers worldwide.
Previously, Carl served as Chief Commercial Officer leading the global sales, marketing and distribution for Blink Parametric, a multi-award-winning leader in travel insurance parametrics and real-time assistance.
With 30 years of experience in innovation, marketing, development, and executive leadership within the UK and international insurance, assistance, and financial services sectors, Carl has extensive knowledge of the UK, EU, US, Canadian, and global travel insurance markets. He has developed, underwritten, distributed, and administered travel and health insurance products globally.
Carl has held President, CEO, and Managing Director roles at major travel insurance providers, a global health/travel insurance MGA, and international travel and assistance organisations.
With a strong background in global strategic product innovation, diversification, and distribution, Carl is a Chartered Marketer and an industry-recognized keynote speaker. He has also been a guest lecturer at Oxford University and was the long-serving Chairman and co-founder of the Association of International Medical Insurance Providers. Additionally, he has served on the executive committee of the UK Association of Travel Insurance Intermediaries.
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 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.
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.
Michael has held several C-Suite positions across operations and technology for leading fintech B2B and retail B2C companies. Michael is a co-founder at Claim Technology, an award-winning platform helping the insurance industry re-imagine the claims experience for both customers and claims teams. Michael has also served as a contributing editor for Modern Insurance Magazine, where he authored the series “Thinking Upside Down,” offering counter-intuitive insights on digital transformation, competitive differentiation, and building high-performance teams. Michael is an alumnus of the London School of Economics, a keen student of history and enjoys cycling.
In her role as Open Futurist, Marie utilises her unrivalled insight to help countries and businesses create opportunities in the emerging data economy.
She is Cambridge University’s honorary expert on consented data sharing market progress, and module author and tutor of the University’s Open Banking & Open Banking for Regulators course. Marie is also an advisor to the UK Government’s Smart Data Council and regularly advises central banks and regulators around the world.
Marie is interested in the possibilities that open data ecosystems like open finance can deliver – and how we can get there. Since 2016, she has been bringing together the best people and ideas in open banking, open finance and openX: highlighting progress, analysing the impact of new possibilities, and helping people to have the necessary conversations.
Marie also runs open-conversations.org, where she curates a daily list of the most interesting news headlines and insights. This non-profit is an independent and free source of discerning information on progress in open banking, open finance, and openX. Marie was previously the founder of market intelligence platform Open Future World.
Anna Bojic is CEO and founder of Miss Moneypenny Technologies, creator of Wallet Studio, a platform that transforms Google and Apple Wallets into communication and process hubs for businesses.
With multiple degrees from prestigious institutions, Anna’s diverse academic background has been key to her success in driving innovation and setting new industry standards.
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.
Rodger joined World Travel Protection (WTP) in 2020 as Security Director in the Brisbane-based Command Centre.
He works closely with clients that come from a diverse range of businesses, including universities, security firms, travel management agencies, business continuity advisors and human resources consultants, to identify potential travel risks and provide expert security advice and support.
Rodger has valuable experience gained in some of the world’s hotspots including places like Rwanda, East Timor and Iraq. He has held senior roles for mining, oil and gas companies, living and working in Indonesia, Madagascar, Zambia and Papua New Guinea.
That depth of experience and having worked client-side before joining the travel assistance world means Rodger understands what clients are looking for when it comes to developing a robust travel risk management program.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
Stefan Rammershoven is Co-founder and Managing Director of DeepOpinion. He is a serial entrepreneur, Forbes 30 under 30, and has helped companies like HannoverRe, Uelzener, CED and Markel realize touchless processing of their complex knowledge work.
With over 10 years of experience in Automation, Alex has delivered cutting-edge technology to various FTSE100 organizations. At DeepOpinion, Alex is leading Technical Sales, serving as trusted consultant to drive AI and Agentic automation adoption across enterprises.
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.
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