Archives: Speakers

Matthew joined the UK retail division of Hiscox in 2011 and managed a large customer service initiative that included structural changes and the identification, improvement and measurement of behaviours that focussed on customer service. In 2013 he transferred to the London Market division where he developed the e-commerce strategy for both the London and Guernsey businesses. In 2016 he moved to head up a new division within Hiscox UK, looking at innovation and disruptive trends in the insurance and fintech sector. Matthew works with start ups, VCs and entrepreneurs; finding ways to trial new ideas and innovations in a quick, cost effective way.

Matthew Reed is the managing director and co-founder of Equipsme. The first new company to launch in health insurance in a decade, Equipsme provides affordable and simple health plans to companies who want to offer something to more or all of their workforce. Most of its customers are SMEs which have never bought health insurance for their staff before. 

Matthew held a number of global and senior positions before trading corporate for start-up life, including as managing director of commercial lines for AXA P&C, and at Powerplace where he grew a digital insurance marketplace to £50m in gross written premiums. 

A senior level skilled Sales Professional identifying and solving problems relevant to the Insurance and Financial Services Markets. Having worked in software sales for approximately 20 years my role has evolved from a Consultant identifying Business Process Automation opportunities to now focusing on Customer Communication Management (CCM), driving digital communications for the Insurance and Financial Services sectors.

Daniel Pearce is a Senior Analyst at GlobalData and developed a passion for analytics whilst studying for his degree in Economics at the University of Portsmouth. Following graduation Daniel aims to provide clients with insight into emerging trends in the insurance industry, enabling them to be at the forefront of market developments. He believes research and analytics are fundamental in influencing the future of the insurance industry.

Michele is the Head of XSE (Cross Functional Smart Evolution) at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and believes that with an open mind, a vision, and ambition for change, anything is possible! With a diverse background that culminates in her current role, Michele is charged with delivering change and has the remit to explore and experiment with data, technology, and partnerships, in order to drive transformation and innovation throughout the organization.

In 2021, after a 25-year career in research and analysis, over half of which was focused on the energy transition, Stuart started work as a freelancer. He writes regularly on the intersection between emerging technologies and the energy transition, and advises companies on market opportunities

I have been living in the UK for approximately eight years, formerly from South Africa where I completed my degree through the University of South Africa majoring in Strategic Management and Finance. I have worked in Financial Services and Insurance for the past 20 years, holding various titles as I grew my career. I spent about 7 years Consulting within Insurance delivering large scale transformations under the SAP banner, specialising in Claims, Compensation Disbursements and Incentives and Commission management and worked with customers such as Zurich, Axa and the AA, to mention a few. Digital distribution not only impacted the Insurance Industries but also had a huge impact on the consultancies and thus provided me the opportunity to expand the Organisation’s Service Offerings by engaging and working with a number of Insurtech start-ups and new technologies such as Company Journey Analytics. I always had a passion for Data and Analytics, and combining that with Agile “Lean Start-up” principles I started to introduce new ways of working into a very traditional organisation. I now hold the title of Head of Data and Analytics for Aspen Insurance, managing a large globally distributed team delivering to all areas of business which includes Insurance, Reinsurance, Finance and Actuarial.

Andy started his career in the public sector, working in the NHS and the UK’s Department for Health.  His first role in the insurance industry was at the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, with responsibility for communications on industry databases as well as media handling of wider uninsured driving issues. He joined the British Insurance Brokers’ Association in 2013 and is now responsible for corporate affairs at BIBA, helping to develop the trade association’s influencing policy and represents brokers’ interests to Government. Latterly he has taken responsibility for BIBA’s work on digital innovation; driving forward the trade body’s role in helping the industry make the most of opportunities arising from InsurTech – through BIBA’s cross-industry Innovation Working Group which he set up. 

Twitter: @BIBAAndy 

Name: Andy Thornley     Title: Head of Corporate Affairs

Ed joined Lloyd’s in August 2018 following ten years as a consultant at KPMG and EY, specialising in technology and data.

He now runs the Lloyd’s Lab InsurTech programme which is running its fourth cohort in Spring 2020. His role covers all elements of the Lab programme – from meeting interested InsurTechs and insurers, through to planning and running the ten-week programme with the support of the Lab team.

An outsider to the insurance industry, having spent most of his career working with retail, consumer goods, and government clients, Ed comes with a different perspective which fits his role in the Lloyd’s Lab well.