08.15-08.55

Registration and Coffee in the Pre-Function Area sponsored by Noria

PLENARY SESSION

08.55-09.00

Welcome Address: Grant Attwell, Managing Director, Cannon Events

09.00-09.20

Keynote Address: Transforming Tomorrow – Pioneering Innovative Risk Strategies for a Sustainable Energy Future

In this dynamic keynote session, Mike Gosselin, Chief Underwriting Officer at AXA XL, will unveil the transformative role of the insurance industry in spearheading the global energy transition toward a low carbon economy. Addressing the pressing challenges faced by oil and gas companies, Mike will present innovative strategies that not only support their sustainable practices, but also unlock new opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape. He will emphasise the power of strategic collaboration between insurers and energy producers, showcasing AXA XL’s groundbreaking Green Tech Expert Groups and partnerships that ignite climate tech innovation. Mike will delve into how adaptive risk management can drive not just compliance, but genuine progress in sustainability efforts. Furthermore, the discussion will spotlight the shared responsibility of governments, corporations and the insurance sector in combating climate change, advocating for a holistic approach that enhances community resilience and mitigates physical risks.

Presenter: Mike Gosselin, UK and Lloyd’s Chief Underwriting Officer, AXA XL

09.20-10.00

Panel Discussion: Back to the Future – State of the Market

The insurance market has regular cycles, so in this session we consider the current state of the energy market and the likely direction of travel for the year ahead, given the geopolitical upheavals and consequences for insureds. We also consider whether London is maintaining its lead in this market, or whether insureds are choosing other locations in which to place their business.

Moderator: Iftikhar Ali, Partner, Global Risks Team, DWF Law

Panellists: Andrew Herring, Chief Executive Officer, Energy and Power, Marsh

James Boyle, Head of Energy London, Liberty Specialty Markets

Kashe Sambhi, Head Upstream Energy, Swiss Re

Alison Clarke, Renewables Leader, Aon Global Natural Resources

10.00-10.20

Fireside Chat: A Changing World – Energy Transition

The world has been moving away from fossil fuels, however the switch to renewable sources of power cannot happen overnight. We discuss the need for a rebalancing in investment between fossil fuels and renewables, but also the need for a clear transition journey. As part of that, we will look at the ways in which renewable resources are vulnerable to climate change in a way that fossil fuels rarely are and consider the implications for insurance claims.

Participants: Dele Fajimolu, Senior Executive, Technical Underwriting, Lloyd’s Market Association

Fraser McLachlan, Chief Executive Officer, GCube Underwriting

10.20-10.50

Coffee and Networking in the Pre-Function Area

10.50-11.30

Panel Discussion: The Trump Effect and “Drill Baby, Drill”

Both fossil fuel and renewable developers work on long time frames. However, the return of President Trump to the White House has certainly reinvigorated the energy conversation worldwide. In this panel, we explore the likely outcome of the changing tack in the US.

Moderator: Rod Rennison, Senior Vice President Global Energy Services, Rimkus

Panellists: Mridul Anahat, Senior Underwriter, Downstream Energy and Power, AXA XL

Rory Thompson, UK Head of Offshore Renewables and Upstream Energy, Allianz

Michel Krenzer, Head of Energy, Scor

Ian Conway, Executive Director, Upstream Research, S&P Global

11.30-11.50

Presentation: Capturing the Carbon Opportunity

The UK has just licenced two carbon capture clusters, so in this presentation we hear more about these clusters and the new opportunities for insurers. We look at how carbon is being captured, transported and stored and what it could mean for future supply chain challenges.

Presenter: Susan Swails, Natural Resources, Energy Transition, CCUS Lead, Aon

11.50-12.10

Presentation: A Silver Anniversary for Welcar

Welcar is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, so in this presentation we take a look back at those 25 years and ask if the wording is performing and how it has changed through the years. We will also consider the informal ‘Windcar’ and ask whether it is time for a formal arrangement to match Welcar. 

Presenter: Patrick Foss, Partner, Kennedys

12.10-12.30

Fireside Chat: Keeping the Supply Chains Safe

We discuss the changing nature of energy supply chains and the new threats, covering everything from geopolitical tensions to sabotage and genuine accidents. We look at how the threats vary from fossil fuels to renewables and discuss the ways in which insurance can play its part. 

Participants: Dr. GuangQuan Xu, Offshore Renewable Underwriter, New Energy Practice Head, Scor

Joe Dutton, Energy Innovation Lead, AXIS

12.30-13.20

Lunch in the Pre-Function Area

13.25-14.25

ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS

Each roundtable will run for 25 minutes. There will be a 5-minute break to allow delegates to change tables and the tables will then be repeated in a second 25-minute seating.

14.25-14.30

5 minutes allocated to relocate to main auditorium

14.30-15.10

Panel Discussion: Claims on the Rise (Again)

Claims inflation has become a pernicious reality of the insurance market as every element of the claims process is now costing more, so whether it is a market changing event or the continuous attritional losses, the overall impact on the insurers’ books is the same – it costs more. We look at this year’s trends and the concerns for the year ahead.

Moderator: David Cox, Director, Kintsugi

Panellists: Roy Munoz, Global Head of Claims, GCube Underwriting

Sean Brennan, Team Leader, Senior Claims Adjuster Energy, Marine and Construction Claims, Zurich

Kit Hollis, Director, INDECS

Sophie Draper, Renewable Energy Engineer, AXIS

15.10-15.30

Case Study: A Problem to be Solved – Batteries

Battery storage remains a challenge. Insurers can all point to the recent and very costly fire in Moss Landing, California as an example of what can go wrong. We look at this example to see how and what insurers can do with their insureds to help reduce the risks for the future.

Presenter: John Colquhoun, Director, Rimkus

15.30-15.50

Coffee and Networking in the Pre-Function Area

15.50-16.10

Presentation: Environmental Liabilities – Why are they Different?

Environmental damage events are being looked at more and stringently by regulators worldwide. This talk will introduce some key issues that are particular to environmental damage claims such as how damages can be calculated, what the right ‘clean-up’ standards are and who is entitled to claim for ‘loss of use’ of the environment.

Presenter: Graeme Baird, Partner, Kennedys

16.10-16.30

Fireside Chat: The Burden of Proof

Subsea cables break on a fairly regular basis, however depending on the cause, the law remains uncertain. In this discussion, we ask about the burden of proof and how the insurance market can interpret that to establish exactly what is covered. We also consider how the market will react going forward and whether there will ever be any consistency of cover.

Participants: Robert Bates, Partner, NARDAC

Rob Earrey, Founder, InterProtect

16.10-16.30

Fireside Chat: Blowing in the Wind

With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, plenty of armchair pundits were predicting a surge in renewable projects as countries looked for greater energy security. Now, we take a look back and at the present day to see how many of the predictions came true and consider the reality on the ground to see what the true barriers to develop have been, from costs to nimbyism and the role that insurance might play in shaping the future of energy.

Presenter: Justin Brunette, Senior Associate, DWF Law

Anthony Hobley, Deputy Chair, Climate Risk and Resilience, Howden Group

16.55-18.00

Closing Drinks Reception – Pre-Function Area