NZSA | Financial Services Forum

New Zealand Society of Actuaries

2025 Financial Services Forum: Innovation, Regulation & Risk in a Changing World

Date: Wednesday 26 November 2025, 8.30am-4.15pm
Venue: Rangitoto Brown Room, Mövenpick Hotel, 8 Customs Street East, Auckland

Forum Introduction

In an era of regulatory reform, climate volatility, rapid advances in data science, and shifting consumer expectations, the financial services sector is entering a new phase of transformation. The NZSA Financial Services Forum provides a vital platform for dialogue across industry, government, and the actuarial profession.

Bringing together regulators, insurers, reinsurers, academics, and financial services professionals, this year’s forum focuses on the key forces shaping the sector—from insurance regulation and conduct standards to the latest in genetic testing, climate risk, and AI-driven innovation.

Who Should Attend?

• Actuaries and insurance professionals

• Financial services leaders and strategists

• Government regulators and policy advisors

• Risk and compliance managers

• Data, tech, and innovation specialists

Join the Conversation

The 2025 Financial Services Forum is a rare opportunity to engage with a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, working together to strengthen the future of New Zealand’s financial system. We look forward to welcoming you.

Programme (subject to change)

Morning Session: Regulatory Landscape and Evolving Risk Factors

8:30 AM – Registration and Networking Tea and Coffee

9:00 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
NZSA President, Lee-Ann du Toit
Setting the scene: the changing face of financial services, and the value of cross-sector collaboration in times of transformation.

9:15 AM – RBNZ Regulatory Update on IPSA
Annette Crequer, Manager Policy & Regulatory Stewardship, Neesha Morar, Advisor, Prudential Policy, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Facilitated by Ben Coulter, Convenor, NZSA IPSA Working Group

An in-depth look at proposed changes under the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act review, implications for insurers, and the process and path ahead for legislation, followed by Q&A.

9:45 AM – COFI and the Contracts of Insurance Act: What You Need to Know
Jane Brown, Head of Insurance, Financial Markets Authority
A focused session on compliance expectations under the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) regime, and how the new Contracts of Insurance Act is reshaping disclosure obligations, fairness in product design, and consumer outcomes.

10:15 AM – Morning Tea

10:45 AM – Climate Change and Life Insurance: Global Perspectives and Local Impacts
Dr Andreas Armuss, Chief Medical Officer for the Asia-Pacific region, Munich Re - via MS Teams. Introduced and facilitated by Darren Fleming, Convenor NZSA Sustainability Interest Group
A global reinsurer’s perspective on how climate change is influencing longevity, health, mortality, and morbidity risks—with a particular focus on Australia and insights from other regions such as Europe— and the critical steps New Zealand may need to take. Climate change and climate-related risks—including natural disasters and emerging infectious diseases—pose a complex challenge to human health globally. To remain resilient, life and health insurers must better understand the implications for underwriting, portfolio management, and claims, drawing lessons from international experiences while considering local adaptation strategies.

11:30 AM – Genetic Testing: Opportunities and Challenges for Insurers

Professor Andrew Shelling, University of Auckland, and Fay Sowerby, Chair of Breast Cancer Cure.

This session will consider an insurer’s rights with regards to genetic test results. Andrew established “AGenDA” [Against Genomic Discrimination in Aotearoa] and Fay has worked alongside Andrew with that endeavor. AGenDA has called for a ban on insurers to be able to ask for and use genetic test results in life and health insurance underwriting decisions. Fay and Andrew will present their position and then take questions from the floor. We look forward to a session not to be missed.

12:30 PM – Networking Lunch

Afternoon Session: Technology, Transformation, and Emerging Trends

1:30 PM – AI in Life Insurance: Underwriting and Anti-Fraud Innovation
Seema Bangera, Chief Claims Officer at Fidelity Life, Mariette Van Niekerk, Director Trustworthy AI expert at Deloitte, Jamie Auld, Technical Claims Manager at AA Insurance.
A practical exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming life insurance—from faster, smarter underwriting to enhanced fraud detection. Includes real-world case studies and discussion on responsible AI adoption.

2:15 PM – Reimaging TPD
Mark McClenahan, Head of Pricing Australia & New Zealand and Michael Paff, Head of Client Markets and Product at Swiss Re

Is presenting the TPD experience in Australia. Has TPD had its day? In response to poor experience in Australia Swiss Re is supporting a severity based TPD product as a solution to the problem. Is a severity based product the answer? Will Australian experience be replicated in New Zealand? Swiss Re have recently announced they have paused new business activities in Australasia for life insurance until the market demonstrates a clear shift to sustainable product design, an unprecedented step. This session will surely be thought provoking and not to be missed.

3:00 PM – Voice of the Actuary : What’s on the Minds of Actuaries? Driving Change Through Data and Influence
Jenny Parker, Partner - Compliance, Risk, Legal & Actuarial, Convergence

Discover what today’s actuaries are really thinking. Drawing on fresh survey results and behavioural insights, this session explores how actuaries are shaping strategic decisions, guiding organisations through uncertainty, and using their unique skillsets to influence change in an increasingly complex world.

3:15 PM – Afternoon Tea

3:45 PM – Technology & Innovation: reshaping how financial services are developed and delivered

Featuring Neill Law, General Manager Operations, NZ Police Association. Introduced by Nathan Thomas, NZSA Council member.
Digital innovation is reshaping how protection products are developed, underwritten, and delivered. This session spotlights the NZ Police Association’s new insurance and underwriting platform, a purpose-built solution designed to modernise risk assessment and enhance the insurance experience for members.

We’ll explore how this initiative reflects broader trends in digital transformation across insurance, including:

• Smarter, faster underwriting through technology

• Customised solutions for affinity groups

• The evolving role of actuaries in platform design and implementation

Join us to see how innovation in protection is setting the pace for the future of insurance.

4:15 PM – Closing Remarks and Key Takeaways

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM NZSA AGM, Followed by Networking Drinks