Advertise on podcast: Building Tomorrow's Insurer

As insurers look ahead to 2026, one question looms large: how do you stay trusted, relevant, and competitive in a world shaped by platforms, AI, and rising customer expectations? In this standout end-of-year episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, Kanopi Founder & CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman is joined by Emma Fawcett, CEO of Compare Club - Australia’s largest independent comparison platform. Emma brings a rare perspective shaped by leadership roles at MYOB, News Corp, and now the centre of insurance distribution. Together, they explore what insurers can learn from platforms that sit closest to customer decision-making. This conversation dives into: Why value matters more than price in modern insurance How comparison platforms are reshaping trust, advice, and distribution The role of data and AI in delivering personalisation without crossing the “creepy” line Where insurers are missing opportunities across claims, complaints, and lifecycle moments How partnerships, ecosystems, and comparators can fuel smarter product design What agentic AI really means for insurers, and where human expertise still matters most If you’re thinking about customer experience, platform partnerships, AI adoption, or the future of insurance distribution, this is a must-listen conversation to close out the year.

Payments might be the least glamorous part of insurance — but they’re one of the most powerful levers for customer experience, efficiency, and competitive advantage. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Ed Wiley (Head of Growth, Monoova) and David Greene (Chief Commercial Officer, Monoova) to unpack one of the most overlooked transformation opportunities in insurance: how money actually moves. Monoova’s team has spent decades reshaping payment infrastructure across industries. Today, they break down what insurers need to know — and what they can learn from more advanced sectors like e-commerce, utilities, and cross-border payments. In this episode: Why insurance payments are “stuck in the ’90s” How real-time payments (NPP & PayTo) unlock instant customer delight The hidden cost of direct debit — and why BECS deprecation makes change unavoidable What e-commerce can teach insurers about conversion and checkout journeys Automating reconciliation: the 5% problem that drives 95% of customer complaints How partners can help insurers modernise without multi-year transformation The future of payments: ubiquity, automation, and AI-enabled money movement Whether you’re an insurer, an underwriter, or an insurtech founder — this episode gives you a clear view of where payments are heading, and why the next five years will redefine how premiums and claims flow.

What happens when you build one of Asia’s most successful digital insurers—then decide to start over? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, Walter de Oude, Founder and CEO of Chocolate Finance (and previously Founder of Singlife), joins Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman for an honest conversation about risk, reinvention, and the blurry lines between banking, insurance, and asset management. Walter shares his journey from actuary to founder, including: The hard-won lessons of launching Singapore Life from scratch Why branding and customer trust can be a company’s strongest assets How he’s now building Chocolate Finance, a capital-light model for smarter, happier money What the future of financial ecosystems might look like as banks, insurers, and asset managers converge This one’s for anyone fascinated by where finance goes next—and what it takes to build something truly new.

How do you grow a business fast—without losing what made it special? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Katie Stranaghan, Head of Financial Lines at High Street Underwriting Agency, to explore how High Street scaled from a small family business to one of Australia’s leading underwriting agencies while keeping people and culture at the core. Katie shares her journey from joining High Street straight out of school to helping shape its next chapter of growth, technology, and leadership. Tune in as she discusses: Building technology that enhances—not replaces—human connection Maintaining authenticity during rapid expansion How culture drives customer experience The next evolution of underwriting and broker partnerships For anyone scaling a business or leading through change, this episode is packed with lessons on staying grounded while moving fast.

Underwriting agencies are evolving fast — balancing growth, culture, and technology while staying relevant to brokers and customers. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Marc Crossman, Executive GM of Distribution and Strategy at UAA Group, to unpack what it takes to lead transformation in today’s market. Tune in as Marc shares: Why distribution strategy is shifting from visibility to value How UAA is embedding tech and culture to drive transformation Lessons from leading teams across Australia and Singapore The future role of underwriting agencies in insurance For leaders navigating change and growth in underwriting, this episode is a must-listen.

How do insurers balance innovation with an ever-tightening web of regulation? In this episode, host Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with award-winning litigator and regulatory specialist Kezia David to unpack the forces reshaping insurance in Australia and beyond. Kezia shares: Why ASIC’s crackdown is changing every stage of the policy lifecycle The biggest blind spots insurers still face—and how to address them How innovation and compliance can (and must) work together What startups need to know to avoid regulatory pitfalls Why proactive, customer-first approaches to Nat Cat events matter more than ever A sharp, timely conversation for anyone navigating the next wave of accountability and customer expectation in insurance.

Insurance for small businesses has always been complex, expensive, and underserved. But what if technology and partnerships could change that? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Eric Mignot, Founder and Chairman of +Simple, to explore how one of Europe’s most ambitious digital brokers is reshaping SME insurance. From CFO at Suez, to leading Hiscox, to launching +Simple, Eric’s journey shows how insights from telecoms, utilities, and digital banking inspired him to reinvent insurance distribution. Tune in to hear: Why expense ratios—not loss ratios—are the real challenge in SME insurance How +Simple scaled to 14,000 brokers across five countries The role of technology in simplifying underwriting, claims, and accounting Why programmatic M&A and capacity pooling became game-changers Eric’s lessons on raising capital, partnering smartly, and scaling across Europe This is a must-listen for anyone building insurtech, rethinking distribution, or leading digital transformation in insurance.

Insurance policies aren’t just complex - they’re overwhelming. For brokers, underwriters, and customers alike, navigating thousands of pages of wording can feel like an impossible task. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Jasmin Flori-Hess, Co-Founder of Raindrop, to explore how her startup is tackling one of insurance’s most overlooked challenges: policy complexity. From Switzerland to Darwin, Jasmin shares her journey from corporate communications and change management to founding an insurtech powered by AI, machine learning, and natural language processing. Raindrop is on a mission to make policy wordings clearer, compliance more accurate, and the customer experience more transparent. Tune in to hear: Why policy complexity is one of the industry’s biggest risks—and opportunities How Raindrop builds AI pipelines trained by insurance experts, not just generic models The role of trust, accuracy, and explainability in insurance AI What a future of hyper-personalised, customer-first insurance could look like If you’re a broker, underwriter, or insurtech builder, this episode is packed with insight into how AI can simplify the most complex part of insurance.

When disaster strikes, speed and coordination make all the difference. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Sam Ratcliff, COO of InsureBuild, to explore how technology, logistics, and human connection come together to transform claims. From building a nationwide subcontractor network to deploying RPA and machine learning in repair management, Sam shares how InsureBuild is streamlining the claims process—without losing sight of the customer. Tune in for insights on: Building and managing a 1,700-strong contractor network Using automation and AI to reduce claim cycle times Designing tech to serve people first, not just processes Why builders are the unsung heroes of disaster recovery For anyone working in claims, repair, or customer experience, this is a must-listen.

What if the future of broking isn’t automation—it’s craftsmanship? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with John Warburton, CEO and Co-Founder of Konsileo and Co-Chair of InsurTech UK. From cutting his teeth in regional branch offices to building a tech-driven brokerage with a people-first model, John shares a refreshingly human take on the future of insurance. 🔹 Why the real disruption in broking is cultural—not just digital🔹 The untapped potential of brokers as “insurance artisans”🔹 What insurers can learn from Robocop, Iron Man—and the SAS🔹 How Konsileo is rethinking everything from commissions to capability This episode is a masterclass in blending technology with human insight—and why the next wave of insurance innovation might feel more personal, not less.

When climate volatility rises, the need for fast, transparent insurance has never been greater. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman speaks with Lynn Roehrig, Head of Business Development at Descartes Underwriting, about the growing role of parametric insurance in a world where natural catastrophe (nat cat) risks are accelerating. They unpack how parametrics shift the conversation—from loss adjustment and delays to real-time data, pre-agreed payouts, and clarity for risk managers and brokers alike. 🎙️ Tune in to hear: How parametrics are complementing traditional insurance—not replacing it Why speed, transparency, and automation matter more than ever What clients and brokers are asking for in the face of climate risk How underwriting is evolving through AI, satellite data, and modelling at scale This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in commercial lines, reinsurance, NatCat, or product innovation.

SMEs make up 97% of businesses—but they’re often underserved, misunderstood, or stuck in analog experiences. Can insurance meet them where they are? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Skye Theodorou, Co-founder and CEO of upcover, to talk about building a digital-first insurance platform that empowers small business owners through speed, simplicity, and deep operational empathy. From founding upcover via Antler, to scaling nationally with a multi-niche strategy, Skye shares the hard-won lessons of raising capital, hiring globally, and automating 20% of her business every few months. Tune in as Skye shares: How upcover is using automation and AI to simplify SME insurance What it takes to deliver both compliance and speed in regulated markets Why trust, transparency, and customer understanding are non-negotiables How she’s scaling a remote-first team—and changing lives along the way What the future holds for SME insurance, data, and embedded experiences If you’re building in insurtech, distributing SME cover, or just want to hear how real impact meets smart innovation—this one’s for you.

What does it take to transform restaurant insurance into a data-rich, tech-forward experience that truly supports small businesses? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman is joined by Bill Deemer, Head of Insurance at Rainbow, to explore how his team is redesigning small business insurance from the ground up. From launching in high-risk markets like Texas to building a platform tailored for restaurants and service-based SMEs, Rainbow is bringing discipline and innovation back to underwriting. Tune in as Bill shares: Why restaurants were Rainbow’s first frontier—and what they learned How deeper, industry-specific data unlocks better coverage and pricing The role of agents, relationships, and real-world insight in commercial insurance Why Rainbow’s approach to prevention and risk visibility goes beyond the claims process What’s next: scaling to beauty, wellness, and beyond For anyone working in commercial lines, MGA growth, or insurance tech strategy, this is a must-listen episode on how to build coverage that truly serves small businesses.

In an era where insurance must do more than protect—it must empower—how are insurers rethinking the role of data, compliance, and design? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman is joined by Aurora Voss, co-founder and CEO of Zemble, to explore how insurers can move from monolithic systems to modular, intelligent experiences. From reimagining claims workflows to embedding governance into the fabric of insurance tech, Aurora shares a bold and deeply practical vision for the future. Tune in as Aurora unpacks: Why data isn’t just for assessing risk—it’s the foundation for stronger customer relationships How embedded governance can unlock innovation rather than restrict it What it takes to scale compliance in a digital-first world The “Zemble Manifesto” and how it’s reshaping how insurers work and think Her founder journey—from venture capital to building insurance infrastructure from the ground up Whether you’re rethinking your claims stack or designing the next-gen data layer, this is a must-listen for insurance leaders ready to break the mold.

In today’s digital world, cyber risk isn’t just an IT problem—it’s a business problem, and a growing one at that. In this episode, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman speaks with Karen Stephens, CEO of BCyber, about the shifting landscape of cybersecurity and what insurers, brokers, and business owners must do to stay ahead of emerging threats. With over two decades in financial services and cybersecurity, Karen brings sharp insight, practical advice, and a dose of dry wit as she breaks down the human, emotional and financial cost of cyber breaches—and how to mitigate them. 💥 Topics include: Why cyber is everyone’s problem, not just IT’s How brokers can better explain what’s actually covered in a cyber policy The rise of ransomware-as-a-service and AI-powered fraud The real meaning behind “progress, not perfection” in cyber hygiene Why "Trust nobody, verify everything" should be your new motto Whether you're a broker, insurer or just wondering what the heck a deepfake voice attack is—this episode will leave you informed and alert. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation about what it really takes to insure against cyber in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. #CyberRisk #Insurtech #SMEs #CyberSecurity #InsurancePodcast #BuildingTomorrowsInsurer #KarenStephens #Kanopi