Insurance professionals with ideas on climate risk or emerging digital threats now have a new pathway to funding and industry exposure, as applications open for the 2026 ANZIIF Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship.
The programme is currently accepting entries until May 30, with shortlisted applicants to be assessed in July and winners announced in August. It is aimed at individuals developing proposals that respond to evolving risks across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region.
Applicants are required to submit a one-page pitch outlining an original idea, alongside a current CV. Entries must follow specific submission guidelines, including a one-page limit, Arial 11-point font, and PDF format with a prescribed file name. Visual elements such as diagrams may be included.
Those selected will present their proposals to a judging panel composed of representatives from Lloyd’s Corporation, ANZIIF, and Insurtech Australia.
The scholarship focuses on two areas this year. One centres on climate resilience, reflecting the region’s increasing exposure to floods, bushfires and severe storms, as well as the pressure these events place on insurance affordability and catastrophe modelling. Submissions under this theme are expected to explore ways to improve community resilience, address transition risks, and respond to climate-related disclosure requirements.
The second theme examines digital risk and the growing role of artificial intelligence in insurance. It highlights vulnerabilities linked to cyber threats, cloud infrastructure, and algorithmic systems. Applicants may propose solutions such as cyber insurance products for small and medium-sized enterprises, governance frameworks for AI-related risks, or new approaches to modelling complex or overlapping risk events.
Successful applicants will receive a package tied to professional development, including enrolment in the ANZIIF course “Lloyd’s Demystified,” financial support towards an ANZIIF Diploma valued at up to $5,000, and a one-year Individual Insider membership with Insurtech Australia valued at $462.
In addition, winners will be invited to a “day-in-the-life” experience at the Lloyd’s Australia Sydney office, with travel at their own expense, and will be matched with a mentor through Insurtech Australia to further develop their proposal.
In 2025, the winning recipient was Ismail Balikoowa, a client relations manager at Alexander Forbes.
