Digital Minds Evolve Australia
Develop a deeper understanding of innovation and how to influence change in the Australian insurance market.
PROGRAMME DATE
11th – 12th August 2026
Sydney, NSW
Offered for the first time in Australia in partnership with Insurtech Australia, this intensive 2-day programme sees delegates build the skills, tools, and capability to lead change – and a peer network that lasts well into the future.
Building Skills to Lead and Influence Change
Digital Minds Evolve Australia equips insurance professionals with the skills needed to succeed in an AI-centred, digitally driven industry. Designed for mid-to-senior talent across all areas of insurance, the programme builds practical understanding of innovation, provides insight into the technological trends shaping the industry and its clients, and develops the skills to evaluate customer wants, needs, and motivations – enabling participants to drive meaningful change.
Evolve is a 2-day, ANZIIF-accredited, in-person programme. Immersive and hands-on, it focuses on practical tools and techniques to help participants challenge thinking, explore new approaches, and collaborate with peers from across Australia. It is led by expert insurance coaches and facilitators with deep international and local industry experience.
The Industry is Under Pressure – Now is the Time to Lead
Australian insurers are contending with a convergent set of challenges. The question is no longer whether to build innovation capability – it is how quickly it can be done.
A climate and affordability crisis
Insured catastrophe losses exceeded AUD$2.6 billion in 2023-24. Premium affordability is now the top concern for Australian insurers – up from sixth the previous year1. The industry now faces hard questions about who insurance can and cannot reach. And innovation is central to the answer.
AI is no longer optional
AI is reshaping underwriting, claims, distribution, and customer experience across the Australian market. The conversation has moved from whether to adopt it, to how to make it deliver real commercial outcomes. Leaders who can bridge AI capability and business strategy are in short supply.
A capability gap the market can't ignore
A tightening regulatory environment
New transparency obligations around automated decision-making take full effect in Australia by December 2026. The OAIC is intensifying its focus on data collection practices. Navigating this while continuing to innovate requires strategic clarity and strong stakeholder capability.
A First for the Australian Market
At EDII, we’ve spent years building innovation capability across the UK insurance market. Hundreds of delegates have learned on our programmes, and our growing alumni community spans insurers, brokers, insurtechs, and MGAs.
We are proud to partner with Insurtech Australia to bring Digital Minds Evolve to Australia for the first time, combining EDII’s tried-and-trusted insurance innovation capability-building expertise with insights from the local Australian market.
We strongly believe in the value of Continuing Professional Development, and are proud that Digital Minds Evolve Australia has been accredited for up to 12 hours of CPD by ANZIIF.
Who is Digital Minds Evolve Australia For?
Built for experienced insurance professionals with business problems to solve
Digital Minds Evolve will benefit any experienced insurance professional focused on innovation, transformation, or leading change. There are no formal prerequisites – what matters is that you have real problems to bring to the room.
You can see that AI, climate risk, and regulatory change are reshaping your market – and you want to be ahead of it, not behind it.
You want practical tools, not theory – things you can take back into your role and use on the problems you are already dealing with.
You have influence within your organisation – you make decisions, lead teams, or shape how your business responds to change.
You have a solid grounding in the insurance industry and want to sharpen your capability in innovation and change leadership.
“The content is directly relevant to the challenges we are all facing right now – but it gives you genuine tools to empathise and solve, not just frameworks to file away. Caroline Bedford is a well-known and respected figure in the market, and her guidance made for sessions that were as enjoyable as they were valuable. I came away with a strong peer group of talented, like-minded people and a real sense of how to put it all into practice.”
Aon, February 2026
About the Programme
Duration and structure
Evolve is delivered as a 2-day in-person programme, typically on a residential model.
Cohort size
Each cohort is capped at a maximum of 25 delegates, enabling small-group learning with a range of perspectives across the industry.
Content
Digital Minds Evolve Australia has been shaped in partnership with Insurtech Australia around the specific challenges the Australian market is working through right now. Delegates will learn advanced, industry-specific techniques to drive innovation and transformation within insurance, and apply these to case studies that mirror real-world scenarios in the Australian market, while also receiving coaching and feedback.
Facilitation
Evolve is led by EDII’s Coaching Directors, Caroline Bedford and Hélène Stanway, who both have deep industry experience. They will be joined by Australian industry experts who will bring live market experience directly into the room.
Built for the Australian Market by Industry Experts
Shaped in partnership with Insurtech Australia around the specific challenges the Australian market is working through right now. Accredited by ANZIIF. Delivered by experienced innovation coaching directors with deep insurance expertise, and joined by Australian industry experts who bring live market experience directly into the room.
James Orchard
Co-Chair, Insurtech Australia
“In working across both the UK and Australian markets I believe there is a greater role for incumbent insurers, reinsurers and brokers to champion innovation, improvement in processes and partnering for better customer outcomes.
To achieve that it is critical that insurance professionals are engaged to be champions of change and build the skills to influence and lead industry. I’m delighted that Insurtech Australia and EDII are launching this programme to build a cohort of innovation leaders.“
Hélène Stanway
Coaching Director, EDII
“I’ve spent my career at the intersection of insurance and technology – and the thing I’ve learned is that the technology is rarely the hard part. The hard part is building the judgement, the curiosity and the courage to lead through change.
That’s what Digital Minds Evolve develops. Not a set of tools, but a different way of thinking about the problems in front of you. And in a market moving as fast as this one, that’s the only advantage that lasts.”
Caroline Bedford
CEO, EDII
“When we talk to people in the Australian market the challenges are the same ones we hear in the UK – and so is the appetite for development that genuinely changes how people think and operate.
We’ve spent five years building something that does exactly that. We’re bringing it to Australia – and at EDII we teach people to understand their market deeply before they act. Partnering with Insurtech Australia is us doing precisely that.”
Simone Dossetor
CEO, Insurtech Australia
“In our work across the Australian insurance ecosystem, we identified a gap in bringing innovation to market to drive real change and efficiency. In supporting this programme, we look to strengthen capability and bridge the gap between insurers and insurtechs.
This will be a unique opportunity through an intensive program to change mindsets and build deeper connections across the industry. We are excited to bring leading Australian experts and knowledge to make this proven programme relevant for future insurance leaders.”
Further Australian insurance industry experts to be announced!
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of Digital Minds Evolve Australia, delegates will:
Anticipate Industry Evolution
Identify and describe advancements in technology, innovation, and client expectations, and their relevance to re-engaging with the insurance sector.
Enhance Customer-Centric Innovation
Apply advanced empathy techniques to uncover hidden customer needs and leverage data-driven insights for innovative solutions.
Align Innovation with Business Goals
Create strategies that align innovative ideas with overarching business objectives.
Cultivate a Culture of Innovation
Develop the ability to foster innovation within teams and business units, effectively overcoming resistance to change and enhancing engagement and buy-in.
Solve Complex Challenges
Use strategic ideation tools and techniques to break down and address complex industry challenges with confidence.
Improve Leadership and Influence
Apply techniques to enhance influence, manage stakeholder networks, and lead cross-functional innovation initiatives effectively.
“Brilliantly designed to showcase and action design thinking through a variety of frameworks. Very engaging throughout. Whatever function you work in, this programme is relevant to every professional in the insurance industry.”
Canopius, February 2026
Evolve Australia – At a Glance
WHAT IS IT?
2-day innovation capability-building programme for insurance professionals with business problems to solve.
WHO’S INVOLVED?
Insurance innovation experts EDII will run the ANZIIF-accredited programme in partnership with Insurtech Australia, supported by local senior insurance professionals.
WHEN & WHERE IS IT?
11 – 12 August 2026
InterContinental Double Bay, Sydney
HOW BIG IS THE GROUP?
Evolve Australia is deliberately capped at 25 delegates to facilitate richer group learning and deeper cross-market relationship-building.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Experienced insurance professionals focused on innovation, leading change, or transformation.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
AUD$4,800 + GST per delegate. This includes all materials, meals and refreshments, and overnight accommodation on 11th August. Discounts are available for Insurtech Australia members and group bookings of 3+.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
You can either download the full brochure, or request a call with EDII or Insurtech Australia.
Why Choose Digital Minds Evolve Australia?
Australian insurers have a convergent set of pressing challenges to contend with. The question is no longer whether to build innovation capability – it is how quickly it can be done.
Digital Minds Evolve Australia offers the opportunity to build industry-relevant innovation capability at pace, providing delegates with skills and tools they can immediately apply in their day-to-day roles.
Learn from trusted experts
Digital Minds Evolve Australia combines EDII’s tried-and-trusted insurance innovation capability-building programme and delivery with local market knowledge and expertise from Insurtech Australia and local senior insurance professionals.
Future-proof your organisation
Equip your people with essential skills to understand and lead innovation in a digitally transformed and rapidly changing world where AI and emerging technologies require strategic adoption.
Create a more pervasive culture of innovation
Support your team in fostering a mindset that embraces agile change and continuous improvement throughout the organisation, enabling them to lead and sustain innovation.
Address real-world market challenges
Empower your people to identify and apply their learning to the specific challenges your organisation faces, turning insights into practical, impactful solutions.
Foster cross-functional collaboration
Support collaboration across roles and levels, enhancing your team’s ability to generate fresh ideas and drive meaningful change.
Encourage strategic networking
Enable your people to build connections with other seasoned practitioners and industry leaders, strengthening your organisation’s capacity to innovate and adapt.
Support professional development
Leverage a programme that is ANZIIF-accredited for up to 12 structured CPD hours, ensuring your team’s development meets the highest industry standards.
Accreditation & Certification
ANZIIF accreditation
Evolve Australia is an ANZIIF-accredited programme. Successful completion will account for up to 12 Continuing Professional Development hours.
EDII certification
Delegates receive the Digital Minds Evolve Certificate in Advanced Insurance Innovation and Design Thinking, and become members of the Digital Minds Alumni Network.
“Creative and practical insights into the problems we are dealing with in the insurance industry right now – as well as the chance to practise and develop core skills you can put to work straight away.”
Amwins, February 2026
Investment
Evolve Australia is AUD$4,800 + GST per delegate. This includes all programme materials, all meals and refreshments (including a networking dinner on Day 1), and accommodation for the night of 11th August at the InterContinental Double Bay.
A 15% discount is available for Insurtech Australia members, and bookings of 3+ delegates from one organisation.
