Eric Kaz Brown
Director, InsurTech Supply Strategy & Partnerships, Expedia Group

Eric Kaz Brown is the director of InsurTech Supply Strategy and Partnerships at Expedia Group. In this role, his team is responsible for establishing the long-term vision and supply strategy for InsurTech as well as managing Expedia Group’s relationships with global insurance supply partners.

Eric joined Expedia Group in 2014 as part of the Vrbo Strategy & Corporate Development team before transitioning to leading the Vrbo insurance team for several years before ultimately joining the Expedia Group InsurTech Business team in 2020. Prior to joining Expedia Group, Eric worked for over 10 years in a variety of roles across private equity and management consulting, including Audax Private Equity and McKinsey. Eric holds an MBA from Harvard and BS/MS in management science & engineering from Stanford. He lives with his wife and daughter in Austin, TX and is passionate about tennis and travel (88 countries visited so far). Eric and his wife also operate short term vacation rentals in Fredericksburg, TX, and Santa Fe, NM, as Vrbo hosts.

Carl Carter
Chief Commercial Officer, Blink Parametric

Carl Carter is chief commercial officer for Blink Parametric, a multi-award-winning global leader in travel insurance parametrics and real-time digital assistance.

Blink Parametric works with global travel insurers, brands, and financial institutions to differentiate their propositions, generate revenue, and remove the everyday disruptions from travellers and consumers lives.

Carl has 30 years of innovation, marketing, development, and managing director/CEO experience within UK and international travel and medical insurance, assistance, and financial services sectors. He has direct experience with US, UK, EU, and global travel insurance markets, having developed, underwritten, distributed, and administered travel insurance products globally.

Eric joined Expedia Group in 2014 as part of the Vrbo Strategy & Corporate Development team before transitioning to leading the Vrbo insurance team for several years before ultimately joining the Expedia Group InsurTech Business team in 2020. Prior to joining Expedia Group, Eric worked for over 10 years in a variety of roles across private equity and management consulting, including Audax Private Equity and McKinsey. Eric holds an MBA from Harvard and BS/MS in management science & engineering from Stanford. He lives with his wife and daughter in Austin, TX and is passionate about tennis and travel (88 countries visited so far). Eric and his wife also operate short term vacation rentals in Fredericksburg, TX, and Santa Fe, NM, as Vrbo hosts.

Lorien Cross
Thought Leadership Expert

Lorien Cross is an international thought leadership and content marketing strategist and expert. Throughout her career, Lorien has developed integrated campaigns that help leverage thought leadership to engage audiences and build brand loyalty.

With over 20 years’ experience with brands like Aetna International, Coca-Cola, Tag Heuer, and Emirates, Lorien is the former founder of Chimera Content Marketing, where she helped large and SME organizations produce compelling content. Her work has garnered millions of readers and equivalent advertising value for clients.

Lorien speaks internationally on unlocking the power of thought leadership. She has contributed to publications like Harper’s Bazaar and developed and hosted an award-nominated podcast for the health insurance industry. Lorien brings a global perspective and her passion for crafting authentic stories to every strategy, project, and piece of content.

Daniel Green
CTO, Faye

Daniel Green is Co-Founder & CTO of Faye, the #1 disruptor setting a new standard in travel protection coverage and care.

As a developer with 20 years of experience and a deep passion for travel, Daniel enjoys applying his specialization in real-time applications to Faye’s core mission of forever elevating the way consumers travel.

Mike Meeks
battleface, COO

Mike Meeks has nearly 20 years of experience in travel insurance, working with institutional brands including Berkshire Hathaway and Travel Guard (AIG). Whether it’s creating unique ways to provide outstanding service, creating new types of coverage, or designing real-time claims payments, Mike’s passionate about moving the travel insurance industry forward.

As COO of battleface, Mike focuses his time on building out global infrastructure and helping define the company’s vision of the future.

A seasoned traveler, Mike has the unfortunate tendency to spend far too little time at his destinations. On one notable trip, Mike flew from a small airport in Wisconsin to Fukuoka, Japan, and back, in just 72 hours. The whirlwind trips provide the outstanding benefit of allowing Mike to spend more time with his family.

Dr. Michelle Nathan
On Call International, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Michelle Nathan is the chief medical officer at On Call International. Prior to joining On Call in 2017, Dr. Nathan practiced as a full-time emergency physician in several locations, including Philadelphia, where she was also part of the faculty at Temple University. In addition to this, Dr. Nathan was the medical director for several fire departments in Naples, Florida; and more recently, the EMS Director at a major hospital in central New Hampshire. In addition to her role at On Call, Dr. Nathan currently serves as the EMS medical director for several area agencies and is the vice chair of the New Hampshire EMS Medical Control Board.

Dr. Nathan received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed a residency in emergency medicine at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City. She lives on the New Hampshire seacoast with her husband and children. In her free time, Dr. Nathan enjoys being with her family, spending time outdoors with her dogs, and volunteering with New Hampshire Best Buddies and New Hampshire Special Olympics.

Darnelle Phillips
Arch Travel & Accident, VP Operations

Darnelle Phillips is currently the VP of operations for Arch Travel & Accident, responsible for leading the Customer Service and Claims teams within that business unit. Looking to combine her love of travel with her background in insurance, she joined the leisure travel insurance industry in 2021. Prior to joining Arch, Darnelle spent 22 years at Travelers learning claims from the ground up, as a surety claims attorney, senior coverage counsel, director of operations and AVP claims, general liability. Darnelle’s background as a claim handler, coverage lawyer, and insurance leader gives her a unique perspective on managing claims, fraud and litigation related to diverse insurance products. The opportunities and challenges that AI poses for the industry, and more specifically to leisure travel claims, is her latest passion.

Aaron Proietti
Today’s Innovator, Founder, Author

Aaron Proietti is the author of “Today’s Innovator” and a recognized innovation expert with nearly two decades of experience leading innovation in fast-paced, complex organizations. Through his work as founder of the company Today’s Innovator, Aaron is on a mission to unlock the potential of people to make the world a better place. He is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, coach, and strategist. Aaron frequently speaks on topics related to driving change, innovation best practices, and emerging technology trends. With a background that includes roles as chief innovation officer and chief customer advocate at Transamerica, a multinational financial services company, Aaron brings a wealth of real-world expertise to his work. He also serves on several nonprofit boards, furthering his commitment to positive change.

Darby Wix
Vice President of Aviation Operations, AirMed International

Darby Wix, the VP of aviation operations at AirMed International and director of operations for the AirMed International US Carrier certificate, is a distinguished leader in the air ambulance industry. With over 20 years of experience, Darby has played integral roles such as PIC, check airman, and chief pilot under 14 CFR Part 135 operations, demonstrating his multifaceted expertise across various aircraft types.

At the helm of aviation operations, Darby shoulders the responsibility of ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements from the FAA and global civil aviation entities. His commitment extends to achieving and maintaining industry certifications and authorizations, including CAMTS, EURAMI, the US Department of Defense, and EASA TCO.

Darby’s career has taken him across 85 countries on six continents, where he has operated aircraft in dedicated service to AirMed’s patients and customers. His extensive experience and leadership contribute significantly to the success and high standards of AirMed International