Underwriting under pressure: discipline, disclosure and market behaviour
Panel discussionUnderwriting Club Briefing 1
2026-03-11 | 10:40 AM - 11:25 AM
Information
Property underwriting is facing sustained pressure as loss volatility, claims inflation and emerging risks collide with a softening market and increased competition. While rates are easing in some areas, the underlying risk environment remains complex, raising concerns about underwriting discipline, underinsurance and the long-term sustainability of current approaches. At the same time, questions persist around disclosure, data quality and accountability, particularly where responsibility for understanding risk is increasingly blurred.
This panel will explore how underwriters are navigating these pressures, where discipline is being tested, and what needs to change to support more resilient portfolios.
- How are softening market conditions influencing underwriting discipline and risk selection in property portfolios?
- Underinsurance continues to surface at the claims stage. Where does responsibility realistically sit today?
- How effective are current data sources and disclosure models in supporting accurate underwriting decisions?
- What role do policy wordings play in reinforcing or undermining underwriting intent?
- How can underwriters balance commercial pressure with long-term portfolio resilience?
Speakers
Kathleen Durling
Jensten Underwriting
Underwriting director
Alan Spivey
Touchstone Underwriting
Divisional director – property & commercial
Aaron Woodhams
Iprism
Chief underwriting officer