New event organisers to take over the African Insurance Exchange

After six years of partnering with the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) and the broader insurance community, CN&CO will no longer be organising the African Insurance Exchange (AIE).

“We are incredibly proud of the role we have played in building the conference into the leading industry platform it is today,” says CN&CO founder and IISA Fellow, Carel Nolte. “When we first came on board, the event was in a moment of uncertainty. Together with IISA and many excellent collaborators, our team stepped in to help steady the ship and re-establish the conference as a flagship for learning, networking and celebrating the strength of our industry.”

Growing the AIE together

The growth of the AIE during our tenure is something we are very proud of:

• 2019: 871 delegates (live)
• 2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19
• 2021: 531 delegates (virtual only)
• 2022: 730 delegates (live) and 149 (virtual)
• 2023: 884 delegates (live) and 122 (virtual)
• 2024: 1002 delegates (live) and 57 (virtual)
• 2025: 1132 delegates (live) and 32 (virtual)

“As a Fellow of the IISA I am very satisfied with the role CN&CO has played in helping the IISA to grow the income it receives from the AIE, which remains the biggest contributor on the income statement.”

Llewellyn du Plessis, head of CN&CO Events, says the conference has evolved enormously since 2019.

“Over the years, we have worked hard to ensure that the AIE would become more than just a conference,” he says. “We transformed it into an experience – one that connected people, inspired new ideas, and celebrated the spirit of the insurance industry.

“It’s been a privilege to shape those moments alongside our partners and community.”

Carel concurs.

“We are grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey – sponsors, speakers, delegates, service providers and, of course, the IISA team,” he says. “I look forward to returning in 2026 as ‘just’ a delegate.”

Insurance remains at the heart of CN&CO

While AIE has been a flagship project for CN&CO, it is just one part of our ongoing commitment to the insurance industry. We are proud to curate and manage a range of platforms that continue to add value:

• InsureTalk – our popular monthly online conference, with a live in-person edition coming soon. Book your spot here!
• Insurance Conversations – a new series of thought-provoking dialogues launching soon.
• The Insurance Conference Cape Town – a fresh addition to the industry calendar. More details will follow in the coming weeks.

Insurance Conversations and The Insurance Conference are two new offerings launching in early 2026 with exciting sponsors lined up.

“As the insurance world changes, so should the offering and opportunities to connect, learn, grow, network and do business… and to have fun!” says Carel.

Beyond events, we remain deeply invested in the growth, innovation and resilience of the insurance industry. While CN&CO is active across many sectors, insurance is and always will be close to our hearts.

Looking ahead

As we hand over the reins, we wish the IISA and the new organising team every success. We are confident that AIE will continue to flourish and look forward to enjoying the conference from a new perspective in 2026.

“It has been an honour to help steer the African Insurance Exchange through a period of challenge and growth,” says Carel. “The conference is bigger and stronger than ever, and we are excited to see it thrive under new stewardship. Our commitment to the insurance industry remains unwavering, and we look forward to continuing to create platforms that bring people together, share knowledge and celebrate this dynamic sector.”

To everyone who has joined us on the AIE journey – thank you. We’ll see you at InsureTalk, at TIC Cape Town and at the many other spaces where the insurance community comes together to learn, connect and grow.

If you would like to explore our offerings or discuss your business’s needs from a people and brand perspective, visit www.cnandco.com.