From 1999 to now: Ant's reflection on his first BIBA conference

My first BIBA was back in 1999 at a time when there was no statutory regulation of insurance broking. Yes, read that again, no compulsory regulation. The subject of regulation however still dominated the opening session of the annual conference. In fact, Simon Bolam, BIBA’s chairman used his opening speech to call on rival trade body, the Institute of Insurance Brokers - led by Andrew Paddick – to back the voluntary regulator the General Insurance Standards Council, or risk the government stepping in. 

The split between the two bodies of course dominated the headlines from the conference when I was editor of what was, back then, weekly Post Magazine, and did so for many, many months, if not years.  In fact the wrangling over the GISC became an increasingly bitter one, with its mild-mannered leader Chris Woodburn even becoming the subject of hostile, personal criticism, including a mysterious 'Chris Woodbine' campaign.

For those interested in history, in the end it all came to nothing, with The Treasury, under the guise of the Insurance Mediation Directive, ushering in the era of statutory regulation the market is now so used to. Yet Fast Forward to 2023, and guess what, regulation is still very high up on the BIBA agenda for Manchester…