Judging panel

Sharon is the Regional Chief Technology Officer for AIA Group. She is responsible for developing and implementing a technology strategy that aligns with business goals across four markets. Leading a team of technology professionals in each market and at the Group level, Sharon is accountable for delivering innovative technology solutions to enhance customer and business partners’ experience in collaboration with various business units.

Sharon has over 30 years of extensive consulting and operational experience in the retail banking and insurance industries, specifically in IT/Ops, distribution, growth strategy, and large-scale transformation initiatives. She has worked with large MNCs and domestic financial Institutions (both insurance companies and banks, i.e. Prudential, AIA, Allianz, Standard Chartered Bank, Cigna, Bank of China HK, Life Insurance Corporation of India, New China Life, PICC Health, etc.) across the Asia region, i.e. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, India and Greater China (HK, Taiwan and Mainland China).

Sharon is currently the Advisor to an ESG startup in Malaysia, Pantas.

Ronnie moved into digital in 1999 as he was fascinated with new technology and its effects on human behaviour, particularly in marketing. That fascination has not dimmed in the intervening 26 or so years. Finding value for businesses in this intersection of technology and behaviour is where he is most happy and productive.

Previously spending time in agencies (Saatchi & Saatchi and Mirum) and client side (EMI Records and Reed Exhibitions) has given him a rounded view of the digital, marketing and sales functions across many vertical industries. 

He has spent the last 12 years working in insurance after transferring from Hiscox in London (where he spent three years in a global role from 2013) to DirectAsia where he has held positions in Singapore and Thailand.

Jack Grocott is the Asia Managing Director for Infopro Digital’s Risk Global division which includes market-leading insight and information businesses such as Risk.net, FXMarkets, Chartis Research, Insurance Post, and 1LoD. 

Jack is an experienced and strategic leader with repeated success establishing and growing international B2B financial information businesses.

A journalist by training, for nearly 15 years Jack has embedded himself within the global insurance, reinsurance and risk management professions and has developed an expert knowledge on the topics that matter most to these communities.

Jonathan has written and commented about the insurance industry since 1998 as a reporter, news editor, editor and content director at Insurance Post.
He has appeared on television speaking about topics as diverse as the insurance implications of Michael Jackson's death to the consequences of consolidation on motor premiums; and is a past winner of the British Insurance Brokers' Association journalist of the year and Association of British Insurers general insurance trade journalist prizes.

Simone is the CEO of Insurtech Australia, a national not-for-profit organisation with a vision to create a world leading insurtech ecosystem which aims to foster a diverse community of insurance innovation and collaboration across the Australian insurance industry. An experienced leader in the insurance industry, Simone has held senior executive roles in both Australia and the UK and also has management consulting experience. Her previous role was that of Chief Operating Officer for Munich Re in Australasia. Additionally, she was a Non-Executive Director of ANZIIF between 2018 and 2024.

Ankit is a senior technology leader in the Insurance sector in APAC, with close to 15 years of experience across various leadership roles in the region in both Life and P&C industry. He has been involved in leading large complex transformation programs, building digital partnerships and launching digital products and platforms. In his current role he leads Digital transformation for Liberty Mutual Insurance for Singapore and Hong Kong Market. He holds an MBA and Bachelor's in engineering.

Sharon has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is a strategic senior leader with a proven track record in strategy development, operations management, and people, operating model and digital transformation.

Sharon has held several senior appointments and currently oversees Human Resources, Learning & Development, Operations, Brand & Communications, and the Project Management Office at MSIG Singapore. She also heads Business Continuity Management and is the Project Owner of a major technology transformation project. From RPAs to GenAI, she consistently leads the charge in exploring and leveraging emerging technologies to drive innovation and efficiency for the company.