Session 1:  

Adapting intelligence in a tech-driven world

This keynote will explore how the concept of intelligence, human, artificial, and organisational, is evolving in response to rapid technological change. The session will highlight how insurance and financial services players must adapt decision-making, culture, and leadership to harness data, AI, and automation meaningfully, while preserving human insight, ethics, and trust. 

Graham Gordon

Sapiens

Graham Gordon joined Sapiens in 2021 as Product & Strategy Director for P&C, bringing a wealth of experience in insurance technology, product strategy, and marketing leadership. In his role, he drives the strategic direction of Sapiens’ P&C solutions, collaborating closely with clients and internal teams to enhance product innovation, strengthen market positioning, and deliver insight-driven solutions.

Graham holds a bachelor’s degree from Lancaster University, post-graduate qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, graduating from the Judge Business School’s Executive MBA Program.

Session 2:  

Humanising Digital Engagement

As insurers embrace automation, data, and digital platforms to serve customers more efficiently, a new challenge has emerged: how do we ensure we don’t lose the human touch? In this closing session, leaders from insurance, communications, and psychology explore how digital transformation can be balanced with empathy, emotional intelligence, and meaningful connection. Join this powerful conversation on how to design trust, warmth, and care into efficient client journeys, moving away from transactional to relational motivation. 

Mark Baker

CEO, MyGrow

Mark Baker is CEO of Mygrow, an Organisational Psychologist, and expert in emotional intelligence (EQ). He founded Mygrow, a tech-enabled EQ platform helping organisations drive behavioural change at scale. A sought-after speaker, Mark champions emotionally healthy workplaces that boost performance and engagement through measurable EQ growth. 

Graham Harvey

CEO Cardinal Group at Cardinal Insurance Management Systems

Graham is the co-founder and CEO of the Cardinal Group, a collective of InsurTech companies modernising short-term insurance through automation, digital transformation, and data clarity. With over 23 years of industry experience, he drives strategy, culture, and innovation. Outside work, he enjoys time with family, friends, and the outdoors. 

Wimpie Van Der Merwe

CEO at Global Choices

Pieter “Wimpie” Van der Merwe is a seasoned Architect, having earned his B.Arch degree in 1993. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, he transitioned into business, founding and directing several successful companies across diverse industries. Wimpie launched Global Choices Assets (Pty) Ltd in 2001, followed by Global Choices Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd in 2002, expanding his business footprint in lifestyle and 24hour emergency solutions. His ventures continued to grow with the establishment of Digital Path (Pty) Ltd in 2014, focusing on digital innovations, and Claim Central Africa (Pty) Ltd in 2018, enhancing service delivery in the claims management sector.

With a passion for South Africa, art, architecture, design thinking, and history, Wimpie is deeply committed to creating exceptional experiences and strategies. He is particularly fond of dogs, reflecting his nurturing nature and eye for detail in both life and work. Driven by the mantra, “Empathy is the key to unlocking client insights pro-actively targeting their needs with game-changing products,” Wimpie Van der Merwe is dedicated to leveraging empathy and innovation in crafting client-centric solutions and transformative business strategies.

Tony Van Niekerk

CEO, COVER 

Tony is the editor at COVER, Africa’s most comprehensive news, research, and skills development platform for insurance, financial advisory and risk management professionals.  He has 30 Years Insurance and Investment experience holding executive positions such as Head of Bancassurance Product Development & Distribution (Absa Life Africa), National Sales Development Manager (Sage), and Head of Marketing Legal (Momentum). 

Tony has spoken at conference across Africa, has authored numerous articles/ research reports on various aspects of financial services and interviews dozens of industry experts from across the globe, annually. He holds a BLC (UP), Post Graduate Diploma in Finance (UOFS), qualified as a CFP and holds an MBA (GIBS). 

 Find him where the industry gathers. 

Session 3:

Accountability Redefined

Auditing AI in the policy machine

The general theme to this is around that as AI takes on more responsibility in underwriting, renewals, and policy decision-making, how do we ensure it’s held to the same ethical and operational standards as its human predecessors? We can unpack the emerging compliance challenges of algorithmic decision-making in policy administration systems – I will spend some time writing out my thinking on this but there is a debate on whether our traditional notions of auditability, traceability, and accountability are ready for an AI-powered future. 

Dane Richards

CEO, JMR Software.

Dane Richards is the CEO of JMR Software, a leading provider of insurance software, data migration, and technology solutions that help insurers operate more efficiently. With proven platforms such as CloudCover and BITShift, JMR Software specialises in streamlining policy management and executing complex data migrations across a wide range of environments, enabling insurers to work smarter and adapt faster. 

Session 4: 

Redefining Productivity Through Technology

In today’s tech-driven environment, productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about achieving more with less friction. This fireside chat explores how Financial Services Providers (FSPs) can unlock real value by embracing tools that automate workflows, streamline communication, and deliver smarter client service. From integrated WhatsApp messaging to secure e-signatures and real-time business insights, Craig Grasco unpacks how platforms like FSPHub are enabling leaner, more agile advisory businesses. Hosted by Brent Munnik, this session offers a practical look at what modern productivity really means, and how FSPs can thrive without compromising their mission. 

Craig Grasko

Business Development Director at FSPHub

Craig Grasko, over 30 years’ experience in InsureTech. Business Development Director at FSPHub. Previously with Cardinal Insurance Management Systems and Regent Insurance Group. 

Role at FSPHub: Drive company growth through new business acquisition and relationship management. Identify and pursue opportunities, build client relationships, and develop strategies to increase sales and market share by leveraging FSPHub’s technology and solutions for insurance businesses. 

Brent Munnik

Marketing Director, COVER 

Leveraging brand as the ultimate differentiator in a tech-enabled world. Passionate about the intersection of organisational psychology, technology, and marketing, I believe sustainable brand growth mirrors the wisdom of investing: it’s less about timing the market, and more about time in the market. My work focuses on building lasting value for clients and end-users in Africa’s insurance and financial services sector. 

Session 5: 

Reaching into data – The Art of Innovation

Session info TBC

Robert Attwell

Chief Executive at Discovery Insure

Robert Attwell is the Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Insure, a division of Discovery Limited. He also serves on the executive committee of Discovery Limited and is a Non-Executive Director at Cambridge Mobile Telematics. He further serves as a Director at the South African Insurance Association (SAIA).  

Robert is a driven, goal orientated and persistent leader with experience in Life Insurance actuarial valuations and analytics. Before Robert was appointed as CEO, he was responsible for the corporate actuarial and procurement functions at Discovery Insure. Robert loves time with his family, he enjoys time outdoors and spending time on his bicycle.     

Session 6: 

Shaping the digitisation journey in the insurance industry.

Digitisation in insurance is no longer a future ambition; it’s a present-day imperative. But for many insurers, the journey is complex, involving more than just technology upgrades. It’s about modernising core systems, reimagining customer journeys, redefining workforce roles, and enabling agile innovation. This panel explores how insurers are navigating this journey across different business sizes and levels of digital maturity, what’s working, what’s stalling, and how insurers, brokers, tech partners, and regulators can align around a shared vision of digital progress. 

Clinton da costa brown

Solution Sales Advisor, SSP

Clinton Da Costa Brown is a seasoned insurance professional with over two decades of experience across South Africa and the broader African continent. His career spans life insurance, short-term insurance, and medical, having worked for industry leaders such as Aon, Momentum, Sanlam, and his own independent brokerage. These roles have equipped Clinton with deep expertise in distribution, product development, pricing, customer experience, and service strategy. Clinton brings a unique perspective at the intersection of insurance and technology, combining practical industry insight with a vision for innovation.

Passionate about advancing the African insurance industry, Clinton continues to advise, collaborate, and support initiatives that deliver long-term value and measurable impact.

Elliot Schwartz 

Independent Consultant

Elliot Schwartz is a seasoned business leader and advisor with global experience. A former CEO, marketing director, and serial entrepreneur, he now holds select advisory roles and board positions. With deep expertise in strategy, marketing, and business development, he supports business leaders with insights shaped by a rich and diverse career. 

Bruce Sahd

COO at Quest Insurance Innovators

Bruce is a recognised authority on direct & digital insurance distribution in emerging markets, having been regularly invited as a speaker at international conferences by such leading organisations as Swiss Re, Continental Re, Kenya Re, Deloitte USA, International Insurance Society (IIS), and African Insurance Organisation (AIO) and Sanlam group, with several articles published in leading South African and Kenyan Insurance Journals. With over 20 years of international experience in this specialised field he has worked with clients in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India, France, UK, UAE, Lebanon and Egypt. 

Session 7: 

Data to intelligence – The missing link

Despite collecting more data than ever before, many insurance organisations still struggle to turn this data into real-time, usable intelligence. This session will examine how to solve the “last mile” problem—getting data out of silos and into the hands of decision-makers in underwriting, claims, compliance, fraud detection, product innovation, and customer engagement. 

Kali Bagary 

CEO of The Data Company

Kali B is the Chairman and co-founder of The Data Company Technologies, a firm that helps enterprises rapidly achieve digital transformation through data-driven solutions. With over 30 years in the IT industry, Kali specializes in data lifecycle management, AI, and digital services across sectors like insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. He is dedicated to providing executives with a single source of truth and actionable insights by combining innovative technology, expert consultancy, and end-to-end support to drive impactful business decisions.

Angus Black 

Co-founder of BarnOwl Data Solutions

Angus Black, co-founder of BarnOwl Data Solutions, brings deep technical expertise in insurance-focused software and data solutions. With over 15 years in short-term insurance tech, his background spans development, product strategy, and market delivery, including his pivotal role in launching the BarnOwl Insurance Data Warehouse. 

Mohammed Vadee 

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Astute FSE

Mohammed Vadee is a seasoned executive with 20+ years of cross-industry leadership in operations, IT, and digital transformation. He led digital change at Old Mutual and contributed to key African infrastructure projects. A visionary entrepreneur and board member, he is committed to innovation and developing future leaders. 

Session 8: 

From Automation to Augmentation: A Shift in Perspective

This discussion will explore the evolution from basic task automation to true human-tech collaboration. While automation has historically been seen as a threat to jobs, we’ll explore how today’s AI-powered tools are augmenting human intelligence, enhancing speed, accuracy, insight, and strategic decision-making across insurance value chains.

Ravi Govender

Group Digital and Technology Officer at Momentum

With over 15 years of distinguished service in the financial and consulting sectors, Ravi brings a wealth of experience and innovative insight to his new role. Before joining Momentum Group, he held prominent positions in digital, channel head, and strategy within the banking industry, following a successful tenure in strategy and innovation consulting. His mandate is to ensure that all the group’s digital initiatives and innovations are perfectly aligned with market demands and opportunities while ensuring seamless operational coherence across all businesses within the group.

Mark Robinson

Head of Information Technology at iTOO

Mark is a pragmatic lifelong learner who appreciates combining theory and practical experience to ensure technology acquisition and delivery alignment with business needs within the insurance vertical. He currently leads the technology function at iTOO Special Risks where the business is trying to shake legacy and ensure technology is a strategic enabler to support the business’ continued growth trajectory and digital transformation.