ADVERTORIAL
UAC’s 2025 Member Survey results are in, revealing a sector bracing for a softer market, grappling with commission pressures, and cautiously optimistic about the potential of AI, while highlighting the growing difficulty of managing these challenges day-to-day.
Each year, UAC’s Member Survey acts as a vital pulse check on the underwriting agency sector, capturing the perspectives, concerns, and priorities of members across Australia.
It’s a vital resource that informs UAC’s advocacy work, from regulatory engagement to industry representation, and ensures that member voices guide the Council’s focus areas.
Last year’s survey highlighted capacity and risk appetite as the dominant concerns for underwriting agencies. This year, while capacity remains a key issue, the focus has sharpened on the impact of a softening market, with members preparing for the pressures of renewal season and operating in increasingly competitive conditions.
Commission pressures have also emerged as a more significant concern in 2025. While not as prominent in last year’s survey, the growing focus on commissions suggests a shift in financial dynamics across the sector, pointing to tighter margins and heightened competition for broker engagement.
Many agencies are closely watching these trends, recognising the need for careful financial management and strong broker relationships in an environment where cost pressures are rising.
On regulatory matters, the introduction of CPS230 has maintained compliance as a key consideration for agencies. However, members do not view it as a unique or overwhelming challenge. Instead, it is seen as an extension of the regulatory obligations already embedded in agency operations.
The 2025 results also show an overall rise in concern levels, with more members identifying issues as ‘critical’ compared to 2024. For example, concerns around commissions, market conditions, and AI have all seen higher critical ratings this year, reflecting the increasingly complex and dynamic environment which agencies operate.
This heightened sense of urgency signals a call for stronger collaboration, practical solutions, and targeted support from industry bodies and stakeholders alike.
The 2025 survey also introduced new questions on AI and technology, highlighting both optimism and emerging concerns. Many agencies see AI as a valuable tool to drive efficiencies and growth, positioning it as the second-biggest opportunity in the sector.
However, feedback also reveals a growing workload associated with AI-generated quote submissions and concerns about potential errors, underscoring the need for careful adoption and management of new technologies.
Opportunities identified by members have also shifted. In 2024, there was greater optimism around emerging risks and the potential of new international markets. In contrast to previous years, optimism around emerging risks and international expansion has receded. Agencies are now placing greater focus on core challenges such as capacity, risk appetite, and leveraging technology to drive operational resilience.
The sector’s entrepreneurial spirit remains strong, but it is now tempered by a sense of caution, reflecting the realities of operating in a softer market and responding to evolving client demands. UAC extends its sincere thanks to all members who participated in the 2025 survey.
These insights are invaluable in shaping a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing underwriting agencies today.
By listening to members’ concerns, identifying their priorities, and sharing these findings with industry stakeholders, UAC is equipped to advocate more effectively on behalf of the sector. These insights allow us to shape practical solutions, champion the value of underwriting agencies, and promote a market where members can build resilient, innovative, and thriving businesses.
This year’s UAC Member Survey reaffirms that underwriting agencies remain an essential and dynamic part of the Australian insurance landscape. UAC is committed to ensuring their voices are heard, and their interests are represented at every level.
Jenny Bax
Chief Executive Officer
Underwriting Agencies Council
