The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has named comedian Geraldine Hickey as master of ceremonies for the 53rd South Australian Charity Luncheon, to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on May 29, 2026, in support of Zahra Foundation. The luncheon is a regular event on the South Australian insurance calendar, attracting professionals from underwriting, broking, claims, risk, and leadership roles.
ANZIIF has confirmed that proceeds from the 2026 event will go to Zahra Foundation, an Adelaide-based organisation that works with women affected by domestic and family violence. Hickey, a stand-up performer who has appeared on national television, will oversee the formal proceedings. Her career includes recognition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and appearances on programs such as Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project, Tonightly with Tom Ballard, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem. She also co-hosts RRR’s Breakfasters and has stand-up specials available on streaming platforms. For insurance professionals, the luncheon provides an opportunity to meet peers and industry partners while contributing to a charity that deals with social risks connected to family violence and economic insecurity.
In an announcement on Feb. 5, ANZIIF said all money raised from the 2026 South Australian Charity Luncheon will go to Zahra Foundation’s programs. The foundation provides domestic violence prevention services and practical support aimed at helping women build financial and personal independence after abuse. ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the event is intended to use existing industry relationships to support community services. “The South Australian Charity Luncheon is a powerful example of insurance professionals leading with purpose: to strengthen connections while making a tangible difference in the community we serve,” Shanks said.
Shanks added that the 2026 ANZIIF South Australian Charity Luncheon reinforces the value of industry coming together not just to connect, but to lead. Zahra Foundation said the partnership would help it maintain and develop its services for women rebuilding their lives. “This partnership will enable Zahra Foundation to continue delivering practical support and long-term solutions for women rebuilding their lives after domestic abuse,” the foundation said.
ANZIIF describes the South Australian Charity Luncheon as one of the larger insurance networking events in the state, built around a three-course lunch and fundraising activities. The 2026 program will again include a silent auction, as well as other measures to raise funds during the event. The luncheon is one of several ANZIIF member events that combine networking and technical discussion with support for community organisations. For insurers, brokers, underwriters, and claims specialists, it offers a structured setting to connect with colleagues and market counterparts, while contributing to a local service working in domestic and family violence prevention and recovery. Planned elements include a three-course luncheon, networking across the South Australian insurance and finance sector, and fundraising activities scheduled within the official program.
Alongside the South Australian luncheon, ANZIIF has confirmed details of its 2026 New Zealand Liability Conference, a liability-focused event for the New Zealand market. The conference will be held on April 22, 2026, as a hybrid event at the Hilton Auckland and online. ANZIIF is aiming the conference at liability underwriters, brokers, risk advisers, and claims professionals dealing with changes in liability exposures, regulatory expectations, and claim patterns. The organisation notes that liability has attracted increasing attention from insurers and intermediaries as claim complexity and regulatory oversight have grown. The conference will bring together insurance leaders, legal practitioners, and regulatory representatives to discuss how liability is assessed, prosecuted, and insured in practice.
The 2026 liability program will look at regulatory change and case experience, including Resource Management Act reform, health and safety prosecutions, and moves by some regulators to place more emphasis on education alongside enforcement. Sessions will also cover forensic investigations, causation, and liability analysis. Case studies are expected to examine differences between product liability and recall cover, contamination incidents, regulatory notification requirements, and where policy response ends. These topics are relevant to underwriters, claims managers, and brokers who advise clients on coverage structure and risk transfer. Legal specialists in regulatory prosecution and defence, along with senior regulatory representatives, are scheduled to discuss recent practice. The conference will include expert-led sessions, regulatory viewpoints, case-based discussions, and networking, with delegates able to attend in person in Auckland or online.
The South Australian Charity Luncheon and New Zealand Liability Conference are part of a wider 2026 program of insurance and risk events. In Australia, ANZIIF’s calendar includes the 22nd Australian Insurance Industry Awards in August, an awards night recognising insurers, brokers, and service providers, and the Australian Liability Conference in New South Wales in November, which will focus on liability risks and case law.
ANZIIF will also hold its Reinsurance International Study Course in New South Wales in August and the Reinsurance Rendezvous in October, together with Member Connect and Executive Connect dinners in major states. Claims professionals will have a dedicated forum at the AICLA/ANZIIF Claims Convention (CC26), scheduled for September 2026. Now in its 19th year, the convention is a regional claims gathering that features local and international speakers on claims management, disputes, and technical issues.
Outside ANZIIF’s own program, other conferences will address the Australian market. Insurtech Australia’s InsurtechLIVE26 event in Sydney in February focused on the insurtech investment environment and the role of technology in product design, distribution, and claims, while ASFA’s Spotlight on Insurance forum in Sydney in March will look at group insurance in superannuation, regulatory change, and member outcomes.
