Australia is set to play a more prominent role in international insurance intermediation after National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) president Nick Cook (pictured left) was elected vice president of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (WFII) and Australia was named host of the federation’s 2027 annual conference. Cook’s election and the 2027 hosting decision were confirmed at WFII’s annual meeting in Cape Town, South Africa last week.
The meeting brought together senior representatives of intermediary associations from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, the US, South Africa and Europe to consider developments affecting brokers and agents globally. Over three days, delegates discussed topics including the use of artificial intelligence in distribution, the global protection gap and changes in risk and regulatory settings that are shaping intermediary business models.
Cook is executive general manager – Australasian networks, broker, and insurer services at Steadfast Group, with responsibility for the strategy and performance of Steadfast’s broker networks across the Asia-Pacific region. He has worked in insurance and financial services for more than three decades, including previous roles at Zurich, and serves as NIBA president, representing brokers’ interests at industry and government level.
His appointment as WFII vice-president places an Australian representative in the federation’s senior leadership during a period of ongoing scrutiny of regulation, data use, and technology in intermediation across multiple jurisdictions. “I’m humbled to accept the appointment as vice president of WFII and grateful for the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the late Graham ‘Bear’ Stevens who forged the way as WFII President in 2016. The challenges we face are increasingly global in nature, from technological disruption to regulatory change and a growing protection gap. I look forward to working with colleagues from around the world to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and support better outcomes for clients and communities,” Cook said.
WFII also confirmed that Australia will host its 2027 annual conference, which is expected to bring together association leaders and intermediary representatives from its five regional chapters: North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific Rim. The conference is likely to give Australian brokers and underwriting agencies more direct contact with overseas peers on market conditions, capacity trends, cross-border placements, and the development of advisory and placement models.
NIBA chief executive Richard Klipin (pictured right) said the Cape Town outcomes reflected the participation of Australian intermediaries in international forums. “This is a significant moment for NIBA and for Australia. Nick’s appointment as vice president of WFII, alongside Australia being confirmed as host of the 2027 Annual WFII Conference, reflects the strength of our profession and the contribution we can make internationally. As our sector navigates increasingly complex and interconnected challenges, sharing knowledge capital and practical insights with peer insurance bodies around the world is more important than ever. These global forums strengthen our collective ability to respond to emerging risks, advocate for the value of intermediaries, and deliver better outcomes for clients and communities,” Klipin said. NIBA thanked the Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa for hosting the 2026 meeting in Cape Town and said it plans to use the lead-up to 2027 to progress the work program initiated there.
WFII was established to represent insurance intermediaries – including brokers and agents – in dealings with international institutions and regulatory bodies, and to articulate shared positions on issues that affect cross-border distribution. According to the federation, its objectives include promoting the role of intermediaries in supporting risk transfer, advising clients, and facilitating access to insurance markets. It coordinates information exchange among national associations on regulatory change, competition policy, consumer outcomes, and distribution technology.
WFII members support liberalisation of intermediary markets and state that competition between distribution channels should occur under comparable rules. The organisation engages with regulators and policymakers at national, regional, and global levels to argue for frameworks that, in its view, provide a level playing field for different forms of insurance distribution. The World Council is WFII’s governing body, setting policy direction and priorities and holding all formal powers. It meets at least once a year and includes representatives from each of the five regional chapters. The Executive CSE Committee acts as a consultative body to the World Council and governing board and meets alongside the World Council to review ongoing issues and provide input on strategic matters.
Cook’s vice presidency and the 2027 hosting rights are expected to increase opportunities to participate in international discussions on artificial intelligence in underwriting and distribution, management of systemic and catastrophe risks, and approaches to addressing protection gaps. The decisions taken in Cape Town also indicate that Australian broking and intermediary practices may feature more often in global conversations about regulatory consistency, intermediary remuneration, data use, and digitalisation. NIBA has indicated it will use the period leading up to 2027 to engage further with counterpart bodies in other regions and to relay WFII insights to its members, with an emphasis on operational, client-service, and compliance implications for intermediaries in the Australian market.
