Australian insurers are heading into one of their most closely scrutinised periods yet, according to the newly released Insurance Outlook Report 2026 from software company Drova, which maps five critical priorities for Boards, brokers and carriers in the year ahead.
The report highlights a sector facing simultaneous pressure from CPS 230, climate-driven losses, AI adoption and tighter governance expectations. Klipin’s contribution zeroes in on something more operational: the cumulative weight of regulation and what it does to broker and client experience.
As he notes in the report, regulation has not been introduced on a ‘one in, one out’ basis.
“In reality, it’s one plus one plus one plus one, and over many years you layer on lots of regulation. It becomes complex, it becomes costly, it becomes difficult to manage - and clients can get confused.”
The Outlook reflects his concern that rising complexity can draw time and focus away from the advisory and advocacy functions where brokers deliver the most value.
For NIBA members, that’s a live issue: how to maintain high-touch service and advocacy in a world of heavier oversight and documentation.
The Insurance Outlook Report 2026 also points to a clear trend: brokers are becoming more central to how organisations think about resilience, not just placement. As climate events, cyber incidents and operational disruptions become more frequent, the ‘moment of greatest need’ is increasingly where the broker relationship is tested - and, in many cases, strengthened.
Klipin reinforces this point succinctly in the report:
“When something goes wrong, the first person you call is your broker.”
This is not just a responsibility, but an opportunity; brokers can advocate through claims, interpret policy in real-world scenarios, and support clients in understanding what true resilience looks like.
With nearly 380 member firms and 14,000+ brokers represented, NIBA sits on a uniquely broad cross-section of industry experience. In the report, Klipin sketches a future where aggregated broker data could help shape policy settings and support smarter regulation, highlighting the potential value of converting this insight into a more coordinated view of the sector and assisting organisations in navigating new requirements.
“Anecdotes are great but data is what matters… A good peak body harnesses the aggregate view - quantitative and qualitative - and folds it into ‘what this means’.”
The report doesn’t spell out all the answers, but it does point to the broker channel as a critical feedback loop between insurers, regulators and customers.
Rather than offering a final verdict on where the market will land in 2026, the Insurance Outlook Report 2026 is framed as a starting point:
1. Five themes that will define the year aheadKlipin’s contribution adds a crucial broker lens to that picture - one that recognises both the challenges and opportunities of operating at the intersection of clients, carriers and regulators.
For brokers, it’s a reminder that their role is not just to place risk, but to help shape how the sector evolves from here.
Download the free report here