Brokerslink Expands Global Network to 142 Countries Ahead of Istanbul Conference

Brokerslink has detailed the agenda for its 16th Global Conference in Istanbul, bringing together nearly 500 participants from 95 countries. For insurance professionals, this gathering represents a significant consolidation of independent brokerage power, highlighting the network's rapid expansion into emerging markets and its increasing focus on integrating specialist underwriting and insurtech capabilities into a global distribution framework.

What was announced

The 16th Global Conference will take place from 3 to 6 November at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul. The event features 478 participants and 40 speakers covering diverse sectors including climate policy, artificial intelligence, health, aviation, and sport. This year’s gathering follows a period of strong geographic expansion for the network, which now operates in 142 countries. Since its previous meeting in Madrid, Brokerslink has added members in markets such as Mauritius, Madagascar, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Maldives, while also onboarding new specialist members in the underwriting and insurtech spaces.

The conference opens on 3 and 4 November with the RIMS-CRMP certification workshop led by RIMS President Manuel Padilla, involving risk professionals from 16 countries. Additionally, the 8th edition of the Risk Managers Forum will host 70 risk managers to provide a client-side perspective on the programme. Notable speakers include Alice C. Hill, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Dr Markus Leippold, Professor at the University of Zurich; and André Villas-Boas, President of FC Porto. Industry-specific insights will be provided by Thierry Ligonnière, CEO of ANA Aeroportos de Portugal; Dr Anna Cali, VP and International Therapeutic Area Lead for Obesity and NILEX at Eli Lilly; and Paolo Marini, Global Head Broker Relationship Management, Integrated Benefits at Zurich Insurance. Price Forbes will also contribute expertise to sessions focused on aviation and football risks through Marcel Chad and Rob Barron.

"The Brokerslink Global Conference is much more than an industry event. It is where our global community comes together to share knowledge, build trust and turn local expertise into global opportunity. This year, brokers will sit alongside risk managers, insurers, specialists, academics and leaders from aviation and sport, from 96 countries and many languages. That diversity of professions, languages and cultures is the real strength of our ecosystem, and it reflects the breadth of the risks our clients face."

José Manuel Fonseca, Chairman and CEO of Brokerslink

The companies involved

Brokerslink is a global network of independent insurance brokers and risk consultants. Unlike traditional consolidated global brokerages, Brokerslink operates as a collaborative ecosystem that allows independent firms to retain their autonomy while accessing a worldwide infrastructure. The network has seen significant growth in its footprint, moving from a regional focus to a presence in over 140 countries, positioning itself as a major alternative to the largest global brokers for multinational clients seeking local expertise combined with global reach.

The Istanbul conference is hosted by NART, which has served as Brokerslink’s Turkish partner since 2009. NART is a prominent player in the Turkish insurance market, providing brokerage and risk management services. The partnership between the two entities exemplifies the network's strategy of aligning with established local firms to navigate complex regulatory and cultural landscapes in key regional hubs. The upcoming event in Istanbul is also expected to serve as a platform for a milestone announcement regarding the company’s future direction within the Turkish and global markets.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

The inclusion of specialist insurtech members in Brokerslink’s recent expansion signals a shift in how independent broker networks view technology. For the broader industry, this move suggests that the independent model is no longer just about local relationships, but about providing a unified tech stack that can compete with the proprietary systems of global giants. The challenge for these networks remains the standardisation of data across 142 different regulatory environments. As risk managers demand more sophisticated digital reporting and real-time risk assessment, the pressure is on incumbent vendors to provide interoperable solutions that can bridge the gap between these diverse independent brokers and global carriers, ensuring that underwriting and claims data remains consistent across borders.