Inside BIBA: Why the Broker – MGA ecosystem is thriving in 2026
8th May 2026
The UK broking landscape is undergoing a period of quiet but meaningful transformation – but how healthy is the sector really as it heads into BIBA 2026?
In this edition of MGAA Conversations, Mike Keating is joined by Liz Latter (CEO, Qclaims), Susan Diemer (Head of Sales & Distribution, Victor Insurance), Emily Gough (Property Owner Department Lead, Virtu Underwriting), Daren Rudd (VP Insurance, CGI), and Simon Taylor (Commercial Director, First Underwriting) for a candid discussion on the shifting shape of the broking sector and what comes next.
Together, Mike and the panel discuss:
- Where new value is being created across the broker and MGA ecosystem
- The role of AI‑powered innovation and smarter technology in modern distribution
- The resurgence of entrepreneurial ARs and what it signals for market dynamism
- Why service, relationships, and community are back in vogue over price alone
- How slowing consolidation is reshaping competitive advantage
- Whether MGAs’ agility can keep them ahead as market conditions evolve
Packed with practical insights for insurers, brokers, and MGAs alike, the conversation explores whether a sharper focus on technology, collaboration, and relationships can sustain momentum — and what the next phase of the UK broking market may look like beyond BIBA 2026.
Key insights from the conversation:
“We’re there to listen as much as we’re there to talk and to sell our products. We want to hear where brokers are struggling in the market, where we can help them out, where there’s gaps… we’re not just building things for the sake of building things. We want to build products that actually make brokers’ lives easier.”
“What I do like about being at BIBA is you can really talk to people about what’s working well, what has worked, where are the struggles… and that allows us to shape our solutions to get the best out of the technology that’s on the table today.”
“The really interesting thing is to have so many conversations in such a short space of time… and having 75% of your customers and suppliers in the same postcode for three days is genuinely unique.”
“The broking community is so dynamic in the UK, and it’s always changing shape… we’ve seen huge amounts of consolidation, but in the last 18 months the AR community just seems to be exploding again… it’s constantly reinventing itself.”
“Yes, we are in a soft market, and yes, everyone is after the best possible competitive rate. But we find that where we win and we keep our brokers is by service… they know they can pick up the phone and speak to an underwriter who can make a decision.”
Resources
- CGI: cgi.com/uk/en-gb
- Virtu Underwriting: virtuunderwriting.co.uk
- Qlaims: qlaims.com
- First Underwriting: firstuw.com
- Victor Insurance: victorinsurance.com/uk/home.html
About the guests
Daren Rudd
Head of Business and Technology Consulting, UK Insurance, Vice President – Consulting Expert, CGI
Daren is a Vice-President in CGI’s UK Insurance business, leading a consulting team working with clients to shape digital strategy, modernise business models, and apply emerging technologies to deliver measurable outcomes.
With over 30 years’ experience in the London and General Insurance markets, Daren brings deep industry expertise alongside more than a decade in InsurTech, consulting and technolgytechnology delivery. He applies a pragmatic approach in the use of technology to make a difference for the business, focusing on a lean rapid approach to transformation and focused on the value it creates for people.
Daren is passionate about approaching complex challenges differently and believes that traditional transformation does not meet the needs of modern business. He partners with senior business and technology leaders to bridge the gap between innovation and reality, to ensure solutions are focus on real value not technology hype.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daren-rudd
Emily Gough
Property Owner Department Lead, Virtu Underwriting
Emily Gough is an accomplished insurance professional with extensive experience across property and commercial underwriting. She currently serves as the Property Owner Department Lead at Virtu Underwriting, a position she has held since September 2023. In this role, Emily leads departmental strategy, oversees underwriting frameworks, and ensures the delivery of competitive, profitable, and customer-focused solutions for brokers and their clients.
Before joining Virtu, Emily spent more than a decade developing deep technical and operational expertise. Her leadership has consistently centred on a strong blend of technical knowledge and practical leadership to the property insurance sector.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-gough-acii-3a8a7687
Liz Latter
CEO, Qlaims
Liz is a commercially driven insurance leader and CEO of Qlaims, a fast-growing specialist MGA providing Loss Recovery Insurance. With experience across brokers, software providers, and insurers, including leadership roles in start‑ups and mature organisations, she champions using technology to elevate, not replace, the empathy and clarity people need during challenging claims moments.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liz-latter-70180b11
Simon Taylor
Commercial Director, First Underwriting
Simon Taylor is Commercial Director at First Underwriting – one of the UK’s leading specialist and scheme insurance MGAs. With over 30 years of experience, he’s held a wide range of senior leadership roles in the UK general insurance market with a track record of building businesses and profitable business growth. As Commercial Director at First Underwriting, he’s focused on enhancing and evolving its distribution and insurance solutions – further strengthening the organisation’s commitment to helping broker partners succeed. His favourite insurance story is being served a £4,500 bottle of wine by mistake several years back at a BIBA conference!
Susan Diemer
Head of Sales and Distribution, Victor Insurance
Susan Diemer is the Head of Sales and Distribution at Victor UK responsible for leading the UK sales team and developing the sales strategy for Victor in the UK. Susan has 25 years of experience in the industry; starting as a graduate at AXA, then working in strategy and proposition development positions at NIG, and most recently as Head of Strategic Partners at Markel. Through her time in insurance she has found her passion in developing good customer outcomes for brokers and end customers alike and loves being in front of brokers, supporting their growth. She is a Chartered Insurer with an Advanced Diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute and holds a MA in Management Studies from St. Andrews University.