Lloyd’s Australia and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) have named Alexander Forbes client relations manager Ismail Balikoowa as the 2025 Lloyd’s Innovators Scholarship recipient, after he proposed a parametric microinsurance model aimed at climate‑exposed communities.
Balikoowa’s concept focuses on using satellite-derived rainfall indices and other measurable data triggers to support automatic payouts when pre-defined thresholds are met. The structure is intended to reduce claims handling steps and enable faster, pre-agreed payments to communities exposed to recurring climate events, particularly in low-income or underinsured environments.
The proposal also includes mobile-based distribution and a scalable product framework designed for customers who may have limited access to conventional insurance channels. For insurance professionals, the model aligns with broader market activity around parametric structures in microinsurance, agriculture, and climate‑related covers.
ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the scholarship is designed to support commercially focused ideas that address evolving risk needs. “This scholarship is about enabling bold ideas that strengthen communities and reshape the future of insurance. Ismail’s concept reflects ANZIIF’s commitment to supporting professionals who pursue excellence and drive real-world impact,” she said.
Balikoowa described the recognition as a notable point in his career. “It’s a moment where years of trying to make something meaningful in a rigid system gets seen and valued,” he said. He also linked parametric structures to claims experience and timing. “Parametric insurance isn’t just technical progress; it’s maintaining dignity. When climate shocks hit, people need timely support, not bureaucracy,” Balikoowa said.
The Lloyd’s Innovators Scholarship is open to brokers, general insurance practitioners, and loss adjusters holding Tier 1 or AICLA-level credentials. According to the organisers, the program is aimed at practitioners seeking to progress their qualifications and increase their exposure to the Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance marketplace in Australia and overseas.
Each award provides up to $5,000 towards a diploma-level qualification, helping recipients move from Tier 1 or AICLA’s Certificate in Loss Adjusting to the next stage of study. The package includes enrolment in ANZIIF’s “Lloyd’s Demystified” course and a day-in-the-life experience at the Lloyd’s Australia office in Sydney, with travel costs paid by the winner.
The 2025 scholarship was assessed by a panel comprising:
The experience of the inaugural winner, Agile Underwriting Services underwriting assistant Angela Mosedale, offers one example of how recipients have developed their careers after receiving the scholarship. Mosedale received the 2024 Lloyd’s Innovators Scholarship for a confidential proposal focused on using technology to support the Lloyd’s brand. “I imagine there were many great ideas out there. To win the inaugural scholarship was very special. By nature, I am a shy person, so to put myself out there and present my idea to three senior insurance professionals was daunting, to say the least,” Mosedale said.
Mosedale entered insurance after working in hospitality as a revenue analyst for a five-star hotel chain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she reassessed her career and joined Agile Underwriting Services in a finance role. After two years working alongside underwriters, she completed her Tier 1 in general insurance and moved into an underwriting assistant position with the firm’s support. In her current role, Mosedale works across multiple classes of business. She says she is attracted to the technical and analytical aspects of complex risks and values the opportunity to collaborate with her team, while noting that regular remote working can limit informal, on-the-job learning and day-to-day office interaction.
Following her scholarship success, Mosedale played a key role in securing Accident and Health binder authority for Agile Underwriting Services’ Syndicate AUS 2427, which gained Lloyd’s approval to commence operations in May 2024. She has since concentrated on building expertise in drones and aviation, with a medium-term objective of obtaining underwriting authority in these lines and a longer-term aim of moving into a senior role and mentoring newer entrants to the industry. “Winning the scholarship has opened new doors for me, and I am looking forward to a successful future in the industry,” Mosedale said.
Mosedale says the scholarship has broadened her professional network and reinforced her focus on ongoing development. “It has given me the confidence to pursue underwriting further and the desire to keep learning and improving my skillset,” she said.
