Introduction 

AI is reshaping insurance, but successful transformation isn't just about adopting the latest technology. It's about designing tools that people actually want to use. 

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Dani Katz, Co-founder and Director of Optalitix, to explore why the future of pricing lies in bringing underwriters and actuaries closer together rather than forcing them into the same way of working. 

Drawing on recent industry research and practical experience supporting insurers and reinsurers, Dani explains why human-centred design is becoming just as important as technical innovation. From the enduring role of Excel to the rise of natural language AI, the conversation explores how technology can remove repetitive work while giving insurance professionals more time to focus on judgement, strategy and commercial decision-making. 

You'll also hear why Dani believes AI will create new opportunities across the insurance market rather than replace the next generation of talent. 

In this episode you'll learn: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. 

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Introduction 

Insurance has never been short of technology promises. From Blueprint 2 to successive waves of digital transformation, the ambition has often outpaced the results. According to Elizabeth Wooliston, that's beginning to change. 

Joining Robin Merttens on the podcast, Elizabeth draws on more than 30 years in the London Market to explain why the current wave of intelligent automation feels fundamentally different. It's not simply that AI has become more capable. Market conditions have shifted, brokers have embedded digital strategies into their operating models and carriers are under increasing pressure to respond to risks faster without compromising underwriting quality. 

The discussion explores where automation is delivering value today, from follow markets and facilities to the far more complex challenge of open market placements and policy servicing. Elizabeth also explains why organisations should think beyond AI itself, arguing that success depends on structured data, specialist insurance knowledge and governance rather than simply adopting the latest large language model. 

They also discuss how attitudes towards technology are changing across the market. Instead of replacing underwriters, intelligent automation is increasingly being viewed as a way of removing repetitive administration, allowing experienced professionals to spend more time applying judgement, developing client relationships and mentoring the next generation of talent. 

In this episode you'll learn: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. 

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For decades, catastrophe modelling has largely been about choosing the best view of risk. But what happens when no single model can capture the full picture? 

In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Rob Newbold, President of Catastrophe and Risk Solutions at Verisk, about why the future of catastrophe modelling is becoming more open, collaborative and accessible. 

Rob explains the thinking behind Verisk's new Model Exchange platform and why enabling insurers to access third-party models alongside Verisk's own is less about changing strategy and more about continuing a long-standing commitment to giving clients greater choice. The conversation explores how broader access to catastrophe and cyber models could help organisations build a more complete understanding of risk while making advanced analytics available to a much wider audience. 

They also discuss why the global protection gap remains stubbornly difficult to close, why parametric insurance has not yet delivered on many of its early promises and where new modelling capability is still urgently needed, from flood to wildfire. 

Looking ahead, Rob shares his perspective on how agentic AI could fundamentally change catastrophe modelling workflows, allowing insurers to automate scenario analysis, respond more quickly to emerging events and make sophisticated risk analytics available without requiring specialist modelling expertise. 

In this episode you'll learn: 

Rob's recommendations: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 

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Innovation in insurance is no longer just about creating entirely new products. Increasingly, the biggest opportunities lie in rethinking how existing products are underwritten, distributed and delivered. 

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Tom Graham, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Chaucer, and Iryna Chekanava, Senior Innovation Underwriter, to explore how insurers can innovate without losing sight of the fundamentals. They discuss why technology alone is no longer a competitive advantage, what separates successful innovation partners from the rest and why deep customer understanding still matters more than the latest AI tool. 

The conversation also looks at the changing role of underwriting, the rise of smarter follow models, why closing the protection gap remains such a difficult challenge and how innovation teams can work alongside traditional underwriting rather than in isolation. 

Whether you're building an MGA, investing in insurtech or leading innovation inside an insurer, this episode offers practical insight into what insurers are really looking for and where the next wave of opportunity is emerging.  

This episode is particularly valuable for: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. 

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In just twelve months, the conversation around Agentic AI in insurance has changed dramatically. 

What began as curiosity about autonomous AI agents has evolved into a much more practical discussion about implementation, governance, economics and competitive advantage. 

In this special solo episode, InsTech's Zoja Wojcik reflects on the developments that have shaped the market since InsTech's first Agentic AI event in November 2025. Drawing on conversations with insurers, brokers, MGAs, technology providers and industry leaders, she explores how the industry has moved beyond experimentation and towards a more challenging question: where does the commercial value actually come from? 

Along the way, you'll hear insights from Simon Torrance, Erdal Atakan, Gina Gill, Elena Maran, Max Richter and Ian Thompson, alongside examples of how organisations including CFC, McGill & Partners, AIG, Duck Creek and hyperexponential are bringing Agentic AI into real insurance operations. 

Whether you're still trying to understand what Agentic AI means for insurance or already evaluating deployment opportunities, this episode offers a practical snapshot of where the market stands today and the questions leaders should be asking next. 

Want to continue the conversation? Join us in London on July 7 for 'The age of Agentic AI: from strategy to commercial value'.

00:00 - What is Agentic AI and why has it become one of insurance's most discussed technologies? 

03:15 - Looking back at the industry's first major Agentic AI event in November 2025 

05:45 - Simon Torrance on why Agentic AI should be viewed as a new workforce, not simply another software tool 

06:20 - Early deployment examples from across the insurance market: 

08:15 - Why moving from pilot projects to production remains difficult 

10:00 - The defining question of 2026: proving commercial value and ROI 

12:15 - Intelligence Capital, competitive advantage and why buying AI tools may only create parity 

13:30 - Orchestration, governance and maintaining trust in agentic systems 

15:00 - Workforce transformation and practical lessons for insurance leaders 

16:00 - What questions should insurance organisations be asking next? 

For listeners looking to explore the themes discussed in this episode: 

Agentic AI & insurance 

Strategy & commercial value 

Governance & Responsible AI 

What do ocean rowing, flood modelling and insurance innovation have in common? More than you might think. 

In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Harry Vardigans, Head of Insurance at Fathom, for a conversation that spans Atlantic Ocean rowing, catastrophe modelling and the evolving nature of risk in insurance. 

Later this year, Harry will join three teammates in an attempt to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, travelling from the Canary Islands to Antigua in a nine-metre boat. What starts as a discussion about one of the world's toughest endurance challenges quickly becomes a fascinating exploration of how individuals and organisations prepare for uncertainty, manage risk and make decisions in complex environments. 

Drawing on both his upcoming expedition and his work helping insurers better understand flood risk, Harry reflects on the parallels between navigating an ocean crossing and navigating today's insurance market. From weather forecasting and route optimisation to insurance availability and regulatory change, the conversation highlights how better data and improved modelling can transform previously uninsurable risks into manageable opportunities. 

In this conversation, Harry shares: 

Follow Harry's Atlantic crossing

Harry and his crew, Rogue Wave, will be sharing updates as they prepare for and complete their Atlantic crossing.

The team is also raising money for two charities, The HALO Trust and the Cocktower Foundation, with donation links available through their social channels.

Harry's recommendation

Harry recommends Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? by Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge. The book explores how a relentless focus on actions that directly contribute to your goal can drive exceptional results, a philosophy that has shaped both his approach to business and his preparation for crossing the Atlantic.

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 

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In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Mark Twigg, CEO of Agentiv-x, and Rob Agnew, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, to explore how neurosymbolic AI could reshape commercial insurance broking. 

While much of the insurance AI conversation has focused on underwriting automation, Agentiv-x is taking a different approach: helping brokers make faster, more consistent and more explainable placement decisions in increasingly complex commercial markets. 

Drawing on backgrounds in financial services regulation, governance and insurance technology, Mark and Rob explain why they believe the next generation of AI tools must go beyond black-box automation. Instead, they argue the future lies in combining the pattern recognition power of large language models with structured reasoning and transparent decision-making. 

The discussion centres on the practical application of neurosymbolic AI, an emerging approach designed to deliver the benefits of generative AI while improving explainability, consistency and regulatory accountability. Through their placement copilot platform, Agentiv-x is aiming to help brokers compare policies more effectively, evidence the quality of their recommendations and reduce the risks associated with manual decision-making. 

Set against a backdrop of growing regulatory scrutiny, increasing compliance demands and rapid AI adoption across financial services, the conversation explores what responsible AI implementation in insurance could look like over the next decade. 

At the heart of the episode is a key question: as brokers become increasingly reliant on AI-assisted decision-making, how can the industry balance automation with transparency, accountability and human judgement? 

In this conversation, Mark and Rob share: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. 

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This week, the tables turn as Matthew Grant steps behind the microphone solo to reflect on seven years, 400+ episodes and the lessons learned from building one of insurance innovation’s most recognisable podcast platforms.  

From storytelling and interview technique to AI-assisted editing and the evolving role of podcasts in B2B marketing, Matthew shares an honest look at what works, what doesn’t and how InsTech is thinking about the future of content in an increasingly crowded landscape. 

Rather than focusing on technology alone, this episode explores something more fundamental: why people listen, what makes conversations memorable and how meaningful stories cut through industry noise. 

Listeners will hear Matthew’s practical insights on: 

Matthew also reflects candidly on his own interviewing habits, what AI revealed about his style and why continuous improvement matters even after hundreds of episodes. 

Along the way, he highlights standout conversations from previous episodes, including discussions with Sasha Haco of Unitary and serial entrepreneur Mark Cunningham of PriceHubble, both examples of how compelling personal stories can bring complex insurance innovation to life. 

Whether you host a podcast, appear as a guest or simply want to communicate ideas more effectively, this episode offers a thoughtful masterclass in creating content people actually want to listen to. 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 

Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

In this episode, we revisit a live panel discussion from last year’s Agentic AI event, moderated by Robin Merttens featuring Ian Thompson of IMT Advisory, Sasha Haco, Co-founder and CEO of Unitary, Dr Paul Dongha from NatWest Group, and Nick Williams-Walker, Group COO at McGill and Partners.  

Recorded at a moment when Agentic AI was beginning to dominate conversations across insurance, the discussion explores what the industry might look like three to five years into widespread AI adoption — and what it will take to get there. 

The panel examines where insurers are already deploying AI agents, from claims investigations and underwriting support to real-time risk analysis and customer servicing. But alongside the optimism sits a more cautious conversation around governance, regulation, data complexity and the growing gap between experimentation and operational reality. 

Throughout the discussion, there is a recurring tension between ambition and execution. Some panellists argue the winners will be organisations willing to move quickly with focused, incremental deployments. Others warn that poorly governed AI systems, unrealistic expectations and “fear of missing out” decision-making could create entirely new risks for the sector. 

The conversation also raises broader questions about how insurance itself may evolve as AI capabilities mature — from the rise of highly automated brokers and MGAs to changing expectations around service, talent and human expertise. 

With InsTech and AI Risk returning on 7 July for this year’s expanded Agentic AI event in London, this episode offers a useful opportunity to look back at the predictions, concerns and opportunities shaping the conversation just one year ago. 

In this conversation, the panel discusses: 

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In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Carrie Thomas, Account Director at Datos Insights, for a deeply personal look at what happens when insurance risk becomes a lived reality. 

Having spent years working closely with insurers, Carrie brings a rare dual perspective, both as an industry insider and as a homeowner navigating one of the most challenging insurance markets in the world. After relocating from the Carolinas to Florida, she found herself caught in a system where cover is not only harder to access, but increasingly difficult to justify. 

The conversation centres on her experience trying to secure homeowners and flood insurance in a state where carriers are withdrawing, pricing is volatile and eligibility rules create unexpected gaps. Despite not being in a designated flood zone, Carrie faced rising premiums, limited options and ultimately the decision to go without flood cover altogether. 

Set against the backdrop of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, she shares what it is like to experience storm risk first-hand, from uncertainty around evacuation to the aftermath of storm surge and its impact on communities.  

At the heart of the episode is a difficult but important question: when the cost of protection continues to rise, how do individuals, insurers and governments respond? 

In this conversation, Carrie shares: 

Carrie’s recommendations: 

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.