Going ‘Beyond the Status Quo’ at the 2024 NIBA Convention

Last year’s Convention was a resounding success – and this year – NIBA plans to go above and beyond in more ways than one. 

Hear from the 2024 Convention Committee Chair and past NIBA President Di Phelan about why this year’s theme – ‘Beyond the Status Quo,’ is important for brokers and what makes this Convention stand out.  

The theme for the 2024 NIBA Convention  

A new Convention brings with it a new theme. This year’s theme is: ‘Beyond the Status Quo’. Di elaborated on the rationale behind picking this theme.  

“In 2023, the theme was ‘Reimagine – Think Differently’, and the sessions were all about how we all need to start or – for some – continue the journey to change our thoughts about the way we interact with our clients and how we can use technology as our critical tool, to avoid it becoming a threat to our existence,” she said.  

“Beyond the Status Quo’ theme came about after much discussion and deliberation. We wanted to build on last year and received tremendous feedback from those who completed the Convention survey. Some trends came from this information, all of which will be catered for in the sessions this year.   

“Status quo is a Latin phrase meaning the ‘existing state of affairs’. This year, we wanted to go beyond the here and now with content that will include some practical solutions and suggestions on actions to take for all attendees to go ‘Beyond the Status Quo,’ and so the theme was formed.  

Why is this theme relevant for brokers?  

With the broking landscape evolving, this year’s theme is particularly relevant for brokers. It’s a call to action for the broking community to embrace change, be adaptable, and stay ahead of the curve.   

“The world is changing around us at a pace that is challenging to keep up with,” said Di. Traditionally, brokers and insurance have generally been slow to change and adapt to new ways of thinking and acting. There is little doubt that the world will continue to change, not at the current pace but probably at an increased pace, and we run the risk of being left behind if we do not start to think beyond the here and now.”  

“To do this successfully, many brokers are already thinking differently and investing in change—change in their people, change in their culture, change in their technology, and change in their client demographic. 

Change is never easy and is often incredibly difficult to manage. It is also time-consuming, and there is little thanks in the end, but that should never sway our decisions.”  

The NIBA difference – what makes this Convention stand out  

The NIBA Convention has always held a coveted place, capturing the hearts and minds of all attendees. Di elaborates on what makes this Convention different from others out there.  

“The fact that NIBA continues to be the strong ‘one voice’ of the insurance broking community is an incredibly powerful and unique position that general insurance brokers have when making representations to and discussing with government and regulators,” said Di.  

“The NIBA Convention is an unmissable event for networking, collaboration, learning, and strengthening together. I would encourage all members to consider sending some of your team to the NIBA Convention this year if you have not done so before or to ensure you continue supporting this unique event. It would be wonderful to see every member represented this year, ensuring that the knowledge gained during the two days will be taken back to your teams.”  

The full version of this article will be in the April issue of Insurance Adviser, which will be available next week.   

Keep an eye out. Super early bird tickets for the 2024 NIBA Convention will be available soon. NIBA member tickets are just $990 ex GST—that’s a saving of $390 off the standard price.