Innovation is a Team Sport: Bringing Chaucer Together for Innovation Day 2026

At Chaucer, we believe the best ideas rarely emerge in isolation. Innovation happens when different perspectives, experiences and expertise come together to solve complex problems and unlock new opportunities for our customers.

That belief sat at the heart of Innovation Day 2026, which brought colleagues together from across the business around this year's theme: Innovation is a Team Sport.

Turning ideas into impact

The day opened with perspectives from Richard Milner, Group CEO, and Nicola Stacey, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, who explored the role innovation plays in supporting Chaucer's ambitions and creating value for clients, brokers and partners.

Their messages reinforced the importance of combining underwriting expertise, market knowledge and collaboration to drive meaningful progress. We also premiered our latest innovation film, showcasing how Chaucer works alongside ambitious businesses and partners to bring new ideas, technologies and solutions to market.

Innovation in practice

A panel discussion featuring colleagues from across the underwriting business explored how innovation moves from concept to execution in practice.

The conversation highlighted the importance of collaboration in developing new products, responding to emerging risks and identifying opportunities that can deliver better outcomes for customers. By bringing together different perspectives and expertise, innovation becomes a practical tool for solving real-world challenges.

The human side of innovation

Innovation is not only about new products and technologies. It is also about how people think, communicate and make decisions.

Psychological illusionist and speaker Duncan William challenged attendees to think differently about perception, communication and decision-making. His interactive session demonstrated how trust, curiosity and diverse perspectives can help teams tackle complex challenges more effectively.

Lessons from high-performing teams

The event concluded with a keynote address from Professor Martin Elliott, former Medical Director of Great Ormond Street Hospital and one of the world's leading paediatric heart surgeons.

Drawing on decades of experience leading teams in high-pressure environments, he shared valuable insights on teamwork, leadership and communication, reinforcing many of the themes explored throughout the day and demonstrating how effective collaboration underpins success in any setting.

Continuing the conversation

Innovation Day forms part of Chaucer's broader commitment to fostering a culture of innovation across the business. By bringing together colleagues, industry experts and external speakers, the event creates opportunities to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore new ways of solving problems.

While the event may have concluded, the conversations continue. Through ongoing collaboration across our teams and international offices, Chaucer remains focused on turning ideas into practical solutions that help clients navigate an increasingly complex world.