More than 300 brokers, strata professionals, industry partners and thought leaders attended the MGA Whittles Conference last week on the Gold Coast.

It was the first time both parts of the group – MGA and Whittles – had held a joint conference.

The event was opened by group chair John George, who welcomed delegates and reflected on the 50-year history of both organisations, while highlighting the opportunities of greater collaboration.

A key focus throughout the conference was the impact of emerging technology on business.

Technology expert David Staughton encouraged delegates to embrace artificial intelligence as a practical tool, while former hacker turned cybersecurity entrepreneur Bastien Treptel shared insights on the evolving threat landscape.

Richard Harris – 2019 Australian of the Year and internationally recognised for his role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue – gave an inspiring keynote.

The group says that as the “first combined conference of its kind, the event showcased a shared commitment to innovation, growth and collaboration, while setting a strong foundation for the future of the group and the industries it supports”.