Building Tomorrow's Insurer

Most insurers are asking how to add AI to existing workflows. Kyle Nakatsuji thinks that's the wrong question. In this episode of Building Tomorrow's Insurer, Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with the founder of Clearcover and Dearborn Labs to explore why the first wave of digital transformation in insurance may already be outdated. After spending a decade building one of the world's best-known te...

Everyone in financial services is being told to move faster on AI. Boards want innovation. Teams want automation. Regulators want stronger governance. The problem is that most organisations are trying to balance all three at the same time. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer , Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Davy Ek, a senior leader with more than 20 years’ experience across opera...

Why do insurance executives keep funding AI pilots that never reach production — and what does it actually take to break the cycle? In this episode of Building Tomorrow's Insurer, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with James Benham, Founder and CEO of JBK and Terra, to diagnose the structural reasons AI transformation stalls in insurance organisations and what it takes to move f...

What does it actually take to embed financial services into a platform? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer , Nigel sits down with Michael Nuciforo , founder of Thriday (now part of Tyro), to explore how fintech platforms are reshaping distribution by owning the customer workflow. This is not a conversation about theory. It’s about execution. Michael shares how platforms like Thriday in...

When a single virus can wipe out computers worldwide in 24 hours, who picks up the pieces? Meena Wahi, Australia's first cyber insurance broker and founder of Cyber & Data Risk Managers, reveals how the cyber insurance landscape has evolved since 2013—and where it's headed next. From the CrowdStrike outage that shocked boards worldwide to the fragmented nature of supply chain risk, Meena break...

Are you still trying to figure out if agentic AI is hype or reality? Alex Taylor, Global Head of Emerging Technology at QBE Ventures, cuts through the noise in this no-nonsense conversation about what's actually working in insurance AI - and what's failing spectacularly. Discover why agentic AI isn't just "fancy RPA," how insurers are running shadow mode tests to prove AI can outperform human unde...

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....

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 opportu...

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 manag...

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 cult...

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...

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...

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 leadin...

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 cha...

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,...

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 ta...

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 unpac...

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 t...

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...

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 cla...

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 an...

Insurance is no longer just about policies—it’s about meeting customers where they are. As embedded insurance transforms how coverage is delivered, are insurers keeping pace with shifting expectations? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer , host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Angus McDonald, CEO of CoverGenius, to unpack the company’s remarkable journey. From disrup...

Is the insurance industry stuck in its old ways? In an era where digital media drives brand loyalty and tech reshapes customer expectations, insurance companies might be missing out on huge opportunities. Featured in Feedspot's Top 10 Insurance Podcasts, Kanopi’s Building Tomorrow’s Insurer brings you insights from leaders who are redefining insurance.   In this episode, host and Kanopi CEO Nigel...

Is the traditional insurance cycle dead? As capital, technology, and consumer expectations shift at an unprecedented pace, insurers can no longer rely on historical patterns of hard and soft markets to drive their strategies. In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer , host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman sits down with Bryan Falchuk—bestselling author, insurtech advisor, and CEO of PLR...

The insurance industry is at a crossroads. While technology reshapes distribution, embedded insurance gains traction, and climate risks surge, are insurers truly prepared for the future? In this episode of Building Tomorrow’s Insurer , host and Kanopi CEO Nigel Fellowes-Freeman speaks with Steve Tunstall—board director, risk expert, and founder of PARIMA.org and Inzsure. With over 30 years of expe...