#025 - Why Ethical AI is the Future of Risk with Lee Howell OBE

This episode explores the intersection of AI and the insurance industry, with Lee Howell OBE, co-founder of Acurisk, sharing insights from his extensive background in operational risk and public sector leadership. The conversation unpacks how ethical, trustworthy AI is reshaping insurance — not by replacing systems, but by sitting atop legacy infrastructure to extract actionable insights. Themes include risk mitigation, compliance, the criticality of human oversight in AI, and the dangers of relying on generalised, opaque large language models. From flood insurance to terrorism risk, the episode illustrates how subject matter expertise and explainable AI can revolutionise how policies are structured, understood, and priced — ultimately improving outcomes for clients, brokers, and insurers alike.Lee Howell OBE is an experienced Executive and Non Executive Director. A risk and insurance professional with a proven track record at board level across the insurance, healthcare, education, emergency services and local government sectors. He was also a former senior civil servant within Central Government and a Ministerial Advisor. Fundamentally, Lee is a solution focused change agent, passionate about driving innovation and delivering value through positive, strategic transformation.https://acurisk.co.uk/