INSTANDA, a provider of AI-enabled no-code insurance policy administration solutions, announced that Tributary Public Risk has selected the INSTANDA platform to support its digital insurance offerings for public entities across Canada.

Tributary Public Risk is a newly launched managing general agent focused on the Canadian public sector market. The organization plans to use INSTANDA’s no-code platform to support specialized insurance solutions and forecasting tools for public entities and municipalities.

According to the announcement, Tributary Public Risk chose INSTANDA because of the platform’s no-code capabilities, speed, and ability to help organizations bring new products to market quickly while maintaining operational control in-house. The platform also supports scalability and connectivity across multiple insurance functions.

Chris Lorne, CEO of Tributary Public Risk, said the company selected INSTANDA because of its digital capabilities and collaborative onboarding approach.

“The INSTANDA platform stood out as a premier digital solution offering exceptional connectivity, agility and a supportive team that would enable Tributary Public Risk to deliver a broad suite of insurance coverages to Canadian public entities,” Lorne said. “INSTANDA has been a valued partner throughout the onboarding process, collaborating side-by-side with our team from initial talks, to planning, to implementation.”

The INSTANDA platform was built specifically for MGAs and will support how Tributary Public Risk works with partners and customers. In addition, the platform includes support for multiple distribution models and self-service capabilities. Tributary Public Risk said those features will help shape how products are accessed, administered, and serviced across the insurance value chain while supporting its not-for-profit mandate.

Tim Hardcastle, CEO and co-founder of INSTANDA, said the partnership supports Tributary Public Risk’s efforts to modernize insurance offerings for Canadian public entities and municipalities.

“Tributary Public Risk is modernizing insurance for public entities and municipalities across Canada, with a clear focus on data-led underwriting, transparency and flexibility,” Hardcastle said. “We’re proud to support Tributary as it brings this new, not-for-profit model to market and creates the foundations for a faster, more responsive insurance experience across the sector.”

INSTANDA has operated since 2015 and provides AI-enabled no-code policy administration and distribution technology for insurers. The platform is designed to support product development, integration, and customer journey management.

Tributary Public Risk is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rural Municipalities of Alberta. The organization was established in 2025 and focuses exclusively on Canada’s public sector market.

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ISU Steadfast is advancing a technology-focused strategy to reduce operational friction across insurance distribution as the organization transitions from a traditional network model to a platform-driven approach.

CEO Dan McCarthy and Head of Technology Javier Hernandez recently outlined how the company is using automation, data integration, and API-driven tools to improve broker workflows and carrier connectivity. According to the executives, the effort addresses ongoing industry challenges stemming from fragmented systems and manual processes that continue to affect efficiency and client service.

At the center of the strategy is ISU Steadfast’s proprietary quote-and-bind engine, which was developed in partnership with a third-party platform. The API-based submission system allows brokers to submit information once and access multiple carriers simultaneously. If necessary, submissions can also be routed automatically to wholesalers or managing general agents. McCarthy said the initiative is designed to reshape placement workflows, stating, “It’s changing the way the average account executive accesses a carrier.”

McCarthy also said the company is reevaluating how insurance products are processed across the distribution chain. “The inefficiency in our system is very apparent from all facets,” he said, referring to workflows that require account executives to repeatedly enter the same information into multiple carrier systems. ISU Steadfast’s platform instead uses a single-entry process supported by automation.

Artificial intelligence plays a significant role in the strategy. Hernandez said the company is working to reduce repetitive manual tasks by using technology to extract information from documents and populate multiple carrier systems simultaneously. He described the goal as making processes “as hands-off as possible,” while shifting employees into more supervisory and coordination-focused roles.

The executives also pointed to legacy infrastructure as a continuing challenge across the insurance industry. Hernandez said many systems still rely on outdated back-end architecture, even when modern interfaces are added, which can limit integration between platforms. ISU Steadfast said its technology is designed to bridge those gaps between agencies and carriers.

In addition, the company is working with Ennabl to aggregate data across its agency network. McCarthy said the initiative is intended to improve decision-making and placement strategies by creating broader visibility into network-wide data. “We need to extract that data and activate it for AI,” he said.

ISU Steadfast is also balancing internal technology development with outside partnerships. Hernandez said the company evaluates vendors based on measurable returns and whether their capabilities exceed what can be developed internally. According to the executives, advances in AI have reduced the resources required to build specialized applications, allowing the firm to create more tailored tools without major infrastructure investments.

The company said feedback from agents and brokers continues to shape platform development through relationship managers and formal groups such as its Agency Principal Forum. McCarthy said business needs drive technology priorities, while Hernandez emphasized that technology decisions are evaluated based on their ability to solve client problems.

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Amwins, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has completed its acquisition of NARDAC, a specialist energy and infrastructure broker. The deal, announced May 4, 2026, finalizes Amwins' purchase of NARDAC's remaining privately held shares, following its initial investment in NARDAC in 2020.

A New Practice Takes Shape

With the acquisition complete, Amwins will integrate NARDAC's wholesale, reinsurance, and underwriting services into its existing Energy practice, which will be rebranded as the Amwins Energy, Power, and Infrastructure practice. The practice places more than $1 billion in annual premiums and operates across Amwins' Brokerage, Amwins Global Risks, and Underwriting divisions. The practice serves retail brokers and their insureds through a single platform covering traditional energy systems, power technologies, renewables, and converged infrastructure. NARDAC's specialty programs, including Community Solar, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and severe convective storm cover, will remain available within the practice.

Leadership Structure

Three executives will co-lead the rebranded practice: Ben Abernathy, Rob Battenfield, and Jatin Sharma. Each will continue managing their individual teams and books of business alongside their new leadership roles. Battenfield, executive vice president at Amwins Brokerage, said the integration creates more options for retail partners. "Formalizing this structure into a broad global offering that serves a significant portion of the energy and infrastructure markets will cement Amwins as a key wholesale partner for retail brokers and underwriters," he said. Sharma, also an executive vice president at Amwins Brokerage, noted the growing complexity of energy-related risks. "Power generation, storage, transmission and AI infrastructure are increasingly interconnected," he said. "Molecules and electrons now shape converged risks across the energy transition and the digital transformation of global economies." Sam Baig, president of Amwins Brokerage, said the completed integration advances the company's position in the specialty risk market. "With the complete integration of NARDAC into the practice, we are furthering our presence as a leading provider of innovative specialty risk transfer in infrastructure and renewable energy," he said.

Geographic Reach

The Amwins Energy, Power and Infrastructure practice will operate across the United States and from the Amwins Global Risks office in London. Stay informed and ahead of the curve — explore more industry insights and program opportunities at ProgramBusiness.com.