Leadership Academy class photo Module 3.

The inaugural UAC Leadership Academy Class of 2026 is officially under way. Supported by ANZIIF and our inaugural program sponsor HDI Global, the Academy brings together an exceptional cohort of mid-career professionals to bridge the talent gap. When we initially announced the Academy, we were overwhelmed by the response, receiving nearly 80 applications. Because we could not turn away such an incredible pool of talent, we proudly expanded this first cohort to 27 participants.

This initiative is a critical step given recent demographic estimates from the Insurance Council of Australia, indicating that 30 percent of the workforce will reach retirement age by 2030. We are essentially banking leadership capital today. HDI Global shares our vision of creating a force multiplier effect, aiming for these 30 leaders to return to their agencies and immediately mentor others.

The first three modules of our rigorous curriculum have challenged these individuals to move beyond technical expertise and develop the strategic, commercial, and interpersonal skills required to run a modern underwriting agency.

Module 1: Leading with Purpose

The program commenced in early March with Module 1, focusing on impactful leadership. Facilitator Tenille Halliday from Tenille Halliday + Partners grounded the session in neuroscience to help leaders navigate high stakes environments. She notes that “Humans are wired for social connection, and our brains are highly sensitive to anything that threatens that connection”. When leaders face pressure, Tenille explains they must avoid the common blind spot of “mistaking intention for impact”.

Daniel Miller, Associate Vice President at Xceedance, found the session eye opening. He noted it provided valuable insights into how different people respond to feedback and information, helping him understand his own preferred communication styles. He added, “Internally I also found out a lot about the way I prefer to work and communicate which will help me moving forward”.

Module 2: Business Acumen and Portfolio Management

Module 2 shifted the focus to business acumen and portfolio management. Facilitated by the team at Finity, the sessions equipped participants with the analytical tools needed to navigate a softening market and rising commission pressures. Susie Amos, Director & Principal at Finity highlighted that “In today’s softening market, where growth and profitability pressures continue to mount, it’s more important than ever for agency leaders to truly grasp the mechanics behind pricing principles”.

Susie warned that “Relying on intuition alone can miss essential insight from the actuarial pricing analysis that could empower even the most experienced professionals”.

They also challenged the cohort to use data effectively, noting that “For emerging leaders, data is a powerful tool that should go beyond simply reporting what’s already happened”. James Read, Special Counsel at Wotton Kearney, reflected on the practical value of this cross-industry exposure. He explained, “A key takeaway from Modules 1 to 3 has been developing a clearer understanding of the commercial drivers underpinning underwriting agencies and how decisions are made in practice”.

Module 3: Underwriting Business Development and Claims Management

Module 3 bridged the gap between underwriting business development and claims management. The team from Insurance Investment Solutions provided a candid look at securing support for new products. Jesse Borthwick, Chief Underwriting Officer & Co-owner revealed that “capacity insurers back the people first” and assess “whether the team behind it understands the risk, has strong underwriting discipline, and can build a sustainable portfolio”.

On the claims side, Drew Schnehage, Director Global Business Development from Insure Connect Services emphasised the importance of empathetic claims management. Drew urged emerging leaders to “anchor to facts, lead with empathy, and deliver outcomes that are fair, transparent, and commercially defensible for all parties”.

Michelle Macris, Head of Underwriting at Harland Green, said the module reinforced that success requires entrepreneurial thinking. She added that “building a successful underwriting agency requires balancing people leadership and clear communication with strategic decision making, effective use of data, adaptability, and a willingness to draw on specialist expertise where needed”.

These first three modules have set a remarkable foundation for the Class of ‘26’. As the cohort prepares for the second half of the year, which will tackle governance, data, and digital disruption, UAC remains deeply committed to shaping a resilient and innovative future for our sector.


Jenny Bax
Chief Executive Officer
Underwriting Agencies Council

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