Beyond Boundaries | James Orchard on Driving Global Innovation at QBE Ventures
Welcome back to the Beyond Boundaries interview series, where we speak with the people shaping how insurance is built, scaled, and reimagined around the world.
In this episode, Sønr’s CEO Matt Connolly is joined by James Orchard, CEO of QBE Ventures, to explore the role of corporate venturing in insurance innovation.
James Orchard has spent over a decade driving QBE’s global innovation strategy. From starting in corporate strategy and M&A to leading QBE Ventures, he has helped the company shift from transactional investments toward initiatives that deliver long-term strategic value.
In this episode you’ll hear:
📈 The QBE Ventures backstory, and the moment its purpose shifted from financial returns to strategic impact
🌍 How a small global team delivers local value by embedding innovation across markets
🤝 Why QBE relies on a “coalition of the willing” to scale new ideas internally
✅ How QBE Ventures defines problems first, tests carefully, and validates solutions before scaling
🔮 What’s next for QBE Ventures, from small experiments today to global initiatives tomorrow
📍 What you’ll also hear:
James Orchard shares candid lessons from QBE Ventures’ portfolio, including where ventures have succeeded, where they’ve fallen short, and what that means for building credibility inside a complex global business. His reflections highlight both the challenges and opportunities of corporate innovation at scale.
Direct. Disruptive. Definitely one to watch.
A huge thank you to James Orchard for joining us and sharing how QBE Ventures is helping to shape the future of insurance.
💡 This is a must-listen for anyone working in corporate innovation, venture building, or insurtech strategy.
To explore more of the people and companies defining global insurance innovation, the full Beyond Boundaries study offers a deep dive into emerging ecosystems, investor themes, and insurer strategies worldwide. The 2025 report will officially launch at ITC Vegas this October – a milestone moment for the global insurtech community.
Click here to learn more about Beyond Boundaries and the upcoming 2025 report launching at ITC Vegas this October.
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