Biba Q&A: Julian Edwards, MCE

What’s your favourite Biba memory?

Chris Gardner was the keynote speaker on the Friday morning of Biba London (a few years ago). The audience was not enthusiastic and looked like they had a very heavy night. First a five-minute trailer of The Pursuit of Happyness was played, followed by the man himself! His charisma was incredible and ended with a standing ovation from a very engaged audience.

What excites you most about Manchester?

As a guest of Aviva, it would have to be visiting the Aviva stand!

If you could talk to one person in the industry at this year’s Biba conference, who would it be and why?

Michael Bright. On being the insurance industry’s supreme heavyweight, why it all went wrong and life eating porridge!

What message do you want to hear from insurers?

Stability and a continued focus on independent brokers.

Insurance Times launched its Fair Fees campaign to lobby against rising broker fees. How do you feel about the increased FSCS levy?

Okay, so the proposed levy is lower than expected, but we should have a separate fee for those firms selling PPI from those that don’t.

This year’s conference theme is Opportunities in Adversity. How would you describe the mood among brokers?

As with all professions and industries it’s the same few people who find opportunities in good and adverse times! The rest spend their energy moaning about it.

If you could ask keynote speaker Lord Sugar one question, what would it be?

It has to be two questions. Have you seen the famous YouTube video Cassetteboy vs Alan Sugar? If so, did you enjoy it?

Predict who will have the best stand?

Naturally, Aviva!

Consolidation among insurers has been predicted. Would this be good for the market?

Not at all, very bad news. Whether it’s your partner insurer or not, it’s a market lost.

In a ‘tweet’ (140 characters) explain what the Biba conference means to you?

Spending 48 hours with the most dymamic insurers and brokers, creating new opportunities and reviewing existing partnerships.