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Casus Underwriting managing director Stewart Croker says Broker Expo 2026 is a chance for brokers to discuss real construction risks, test the insurer’s appetite and make useful connections. His advice to attendees: arrive with a plan, but leave room for unexpected conversations.
In a countdown interview published by Insurance Age on 2 October 2026, Croker set out what he hopes brokers will bring to the event and what he expects to hear there. His comments on AI, the value of independent brokers and the outlook for advice are his own assessments, not independently established market findings.
What Casus Underwriting will discuss at Broker Expo
Casus focuses on construction. Croker says the Expo offers an opportunity to hear what opportunities brokers see and discuss how Casus might help them place more construction business. He encourages brokers to bring specific risks and questions so they can talk through the company’s appetite, approach and where it may add value.
That makes the conversation most useful when a broker has a real placement or opportunity in mind—not simply a general introduction. Croker’s stated emphasis is on matching a risk with an underwriter willing to consider it.
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How to make time at the Expo count
Croker’s advice is: “Have a plan, but don’t overplan it.” He recommends knowing whom you want to meet and bringing specific risks or opportunities, while keeping enough space in the schedule for conversations that arise unexpectedly. He also urges attendees to talk to people rather than standing to one side answering email.
Why he expects “appetite” to remain a key word
Croker expects AI to attract attention at Broker Expo, but predicts that “appetite” will remain an important word. In his view, brokers need to know who genuinely wants to consider a risk and how to reach the right underwriter quickly. He describes that access as valuable in helping brokers find a relevant route for a placement.
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Where Croker sees AI and automation helping
Croker says AI and automation are beginning to be used in practical ways, particularly to reduce repetitive administration and improve how information is captured and presented. He draws a boundary around that role: risk understanding, judgement and relationships are work he believes people should retain.
His comments describe his view of useful applications, not a measured account of adoption across the insurance market. For brokers, the distinction he makes is between using technology to handle routine tasks and relying on people to interpret a risk and communicate with clients and underwriters.
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His advice for people starting in broking
“Learn how to understand a risk, not just how to process one,” Croker says. He advises new broking professionals to:
- Ask good questions and understand what the client needs.
- Explain the risk clearly to an underwriter.
- Build relationships, as well as learning the processes involved in placing business.
For Croker, these skills help connect the client’s circumstances to an underwriter’s decision-making, rather than treating placement as an administrative exercise alone.
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Why he praises independent brokers—and what he expects in 2027
Asked who had “played a blinder,” Croker names independent brokers collectively. He points to their client knowledge, advice and insurer relationships as valuable amid market change. He expects clients to continue needing advice in 2027 as risks and businesses become more complex, and sees technology as a way to improve efficiency rather than remove the value of good advice.
That outlook is Croker’s assessment, not a quantified forecast. His broader point is consistent with his comments on automation: efficient processes matter, but he believes they do not replace understanding a client’s risk or maintaining useful relationships. As he puts it, “Insurance is still very much a people business.”
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