Flood insurance: Where has it gone and what should body corporates expect in the future?

This webinar provides practical information about managing flood insurance, particularly for our growing apartment community. Leveraging lived local experiences and leading research, you'll get actionable advice, helpful resources, and a platform for exchanging knowledge on flood insurance.

Global insurance expert Professor Paula Jarzabkowski presents her findings on how and why the availability of flood insurance is changing, and what body corporates and apartment owners should consider

Long-term body corporate chair and Kurilpa resident Leanne Sturgess shares personal experiences with flood risks, insurance coverage, flood risk mitigation and claims management from the 2011 and 2022 Brisbane floods.

Jamie Grigg will talk through his work as an insurance broker securing insurance, including flood insurance, for body corporates.

The webinar explores:

• What body corporates and homeowners can expect from a changing disaster insurance market, what alternatives to consider.

• How body corporates can understand their current coverage and meet mandatory water damage insurance.

• What body corporates can do if flood insurance is unavailable or unaffordable, and how mitigation might affect this.

• Q&A and story sharing — ask our experts a question and share your flood insurance stories with others.

Presenters

Professor Paula Jarzabkowski is a global expert in the public-private mechanisms that address economic loss from uninsurable catastrophic events, or what is called the ‘insurance protection gap’. She presents her findings on how and why the availability of flood insurance is changing, and what body corporates and apartment owners should consider.

Leanne Sturgess is an experienced body corporate chair and Kurilpa resident. She has spent over a decade since the 2011 floods developing in-building solutions to flood insurance issues, negotiating with insurance brokers and developing self-insurance schemes. Leanne shares her personal experiences with flood risks, insurance coverage, flood risk mitigation and claims management.

Jamie Griggs has been a trusted insurance broker for 22 years, helping countless small, medium and large sized businesses find affordable insurance that meets their needs.

Facilitated by: Sebastian Vanderzeil is a member of Resilient Kurilpa and volunteer for the West End Community Association. He has 16 years of financial advisory work supported by economic forecasting, project finance and investment experience. He is the director of Strabo Rivers and has a bachelors in environmental economics (Hons 1st class) and an MBA from New York University.

Take steps to prepare your apartment residents for future floods.

This webinar covers:

• why we need to prepare apartment communities for floods

• the importance of knowing your residents and their support needs

• key tools and procedures to ensure residents are safe, informed and prepared to respond and recover from future floods

This is the second in a two-part webinar series on flood planning for apartments. Watch the first webinar on Step-by-step Flood Planning for Apartment Buildings.

Presenters

Dr Beth O’Brien is a Kurilpa resident, has a PhD in Social Psychology, and currently works as a Director at the Queensland Department of Education, supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Beth was born with a rare form of dwarfism, and has used an electric wheelchair since starting school. While Beth enjoys an independent, active life in Kurilpa, she often faces challenges accessing venues, events, products and services due to her wheelchair, decreased mobility and short reach. Beth has been involved in discussions with key business leaders, presented at conferences and appeared in national media advocating for inclusive spaces. At her appearance at the Disability Royal Commission, Beth advocated for a systemic shift in the way workplaces plan for and respond to supporting employees with a disability.

Leanne Sturgess has lived in West End for 16 years. She shares invaluable lived experience and knowledge of the 2011 and 2022 floods through her work with Resilient Kurilpa. As a body corporate committee member for 15 years, and chair since 2019, Leanne has led the drafting and implementation of flood mitigation plans for her residence at Flow Apartments and for neighbouring communities. As a past teacher, Leanne is committed to empowering and advocating for her community—particularly in the areas of insurance, inclusion, and accessibility—to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all residents.

Facilitator: Paula Hardie is a member of Resilient Kurilpa and volunteer for the West End Community Association. She is a futures-focused strategic designer and PhD candidate exploring community-led service adaptations to the climate crisis.

Take steps to prepare your apartment building for future floods.

This webinar covers:

• why we need to plan for floods

• the importance of knowing your building and its vulnerabilities before implementing mitigation measures

• key tools and procedures being adopted and adapted by body corporates in Kurilpa to mitigate flood impacts on their building.

This is the first in a two-part webinar series on flood planning for apartments. Watch the second webinar on Step-by-step Flood Planning for Apartment Residents.

Presenters

Adrian Sains (MIEAust CPEng RPEQ) is an independent chartered civil engineer. His early career involved managing infrastructure on the UK’s canals and river systems, which included responsibilities for flood response and reservoirs. Since emigrating in 2005, Adrian has led infrastructure planning for new town development in SEQ. As a Kurilpa resident and body corporate volunteer, Adrian has been working with Resilient Kurilpa on flood mitigation strategies since the 2022 floods.

Bruce McNaughton is a retired professional civil engineer with design and construction experience, managing designs for infrastructure, including stormwater management systems, from land development to major projects in all Australian states and in Indonesia. As a resident of Yeronga for over 43 years, and Chelmer before that, Bruce is acutely familiar with flood effects from 1974, 2011, and 2022, and has taken a particular interest in the understanding of, and preparations for the 'next one'.

Facilitator: Paula Hardie is a member of Resilient Kurilpa and volunteer for the West End Community Association. She is a futures-focused strategic designer and PhD candidate exploring community-led service adaptations to the climate crisis.

Are you renting on the Brisbane floodplain?

Get the 4101 on Floods for Renters from Resilient Kurilpa and Tenants Queensland.

The webinar covers:

• what it's like renting on the Kurilpa floodplain

• common scenarios tenants may encounter after a flood event

• actions to take now to prepare

• Q&A with Tenants Queensland

Presenters

Emma Webster and Abigail Pfidze and are both Flood Recovery Solicitors at Tenants Queensland. They provide legal services to renters in Queensland with a particular focus on the needs of renters impacted by floods and natural disasters.

Facilitator: Paula Hardie is a member of Resilient Kurilpa and volunteer for the West End Community Association. She is a futures-focused strategic designer and PhD candidate exploring community-led service adaptations to the climate crisis.