Insurance News magazine August/September 2026
The AR advantage
Australia’s authorised rep sector – which has gone from strength to strength – is the focus of an Insurance News special report
By John Deex
Authorised representatives – perhaps once considered inferior to licensed brokers – have grown rapidly in recent decades to become a critical part of the general insurance distribution landscape.
According to the National Insurance Brokers Association, about one in five brokers across Australia is now an AR, and it’s a proportion that’s expected to grow.
ARs benefit from being able to feed off their network’s licence. Models vary, but letting others handle issues such as compliance, administration and systems enables brokers to focus on building relationships with – and providing advice to – clients.
Insurance Advisernet founder and chairman Ian Carr was an AR pioneer when he started the company in 1996.
“The first year, it was reasonably slow, we were breaking new ground, and we had a lot of knockers,” he says.
“Now it’s probably the flavour of the month, where the authorised rep networks are seen as credible and are growing very quickly.”
NIBA says its research suggests the AR sector will continue to evolve and grow, “with many networks expecting further expansion over the coming years”.
CEO Richard Klipin says: “The research indicates the model continues to appeal to brokers seeking the flexibility of running their own business while benefiting from the scale, infrastructure and support of an established network.
“As the operating environment becomes more complex, many brokers see value in operating within a model that enables them to focus on client service while accessing shared expertise and capabilities.”
In recognition of the sector’s growing influence, Insurance News has published a special 40-page report.
Sponsored by Arch Insurance, the report includes a Top 20 ranking of the largest general insurance networks in Australia, based on the number of ARs listed on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission register.
There are also detailed features on key industry issues, with select highlights summarised below. Make sure to check out the full report, available as a companion to the printed edition of this magazine or on the Insurance News website.
Many models
To the untrained eye, Australia’s authorised representative sector might appear uniform.
Most networks promise compliance support, insurer access, technology platforms and the infrastructure needed to run an insurance broking business under another entity’s licence.
However, look a little closer, and a far more diverse picture emerges.
As competition intensifies and brokers seek flexibility, support and improved economics, AR networks are increasingly differentiating themselves through their business models, cultures and approaches to growth.
For some, independence is the selling point. Others focus on deep operational support, capital solutions, technology investment or community-driven collaboration. The result is a market in which “AR network” can mean very different things.
Consolidation
A clear trend is emerging across Australia’s authorised representative sector: the biggest players are getting bigger.
Several major transactions in recent years have impacted the market. Steadfast has expanded its CBN network through the integration of ARs from Insurance House Advance and Coverforce Partners.
More recently, Envest announced the sale of Resilium and PSC Connect to Steadfast, with many ARs from those networks moving to Ausure.
This activity partly reflects broader shifts. Regulatory obligations continue to grow, technology investment has become essential, and broker expectations of network support are increasing.
Industry participants mostly agree the consolidation trend is accelerating – with some viewing it as an inevitable response to rising costs and complexity, and others flagging the importance of preserving independence and culture even as networks become larger.
Technology
Not long ago, technology in the authorised representative sector was largely viewed as a support function.
Today, it has become far more significant, as networks invest heavily in platforms, automation tools, analytics and artificial intelligence. Rising compliance obligations, growing client expectations and increasing competition are forcing businesses to rethink how they operate. And AI is creating the possibility of transforming everything from policy comparisons and document preparation to client communications and compliance oversight.
While each network approaches technology differently, there is broad agreement on one point: it is now a critical component of broker success.
The challenge is determining where technology adds value – and where the human element must remain front and centre.
Insurer service
Authorised representatives have long been a vital cog in the insurance distribution chain, but in recent years they have taken on elevated importance as insurers vie for business in an increasingly crowded Australian market.
This branch of the intermediated channel provides insurers a route to the vast and growing SME and middle market segments. As risks for these customers increase in complexity, so has the need for specialised solutions that provide optimal protection.
Major insurers, from IAG and Suncorp to QBE and Allianz, work with hundreds of ARs deployed across the country to provide everything from cyber, management liability and industrial special risks to workers’ compensation, engineering, small business and personal lines covers.
