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IAIABC 112th Convention

Monday, September 28, 2026 at 7:30 AM (PDT) to Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 8:00 PM (PDT)
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About the IAIABC 112th Convention

The IAIABC Convention addresses the current policy, regulatory, and administrative challenges and opportunities affecting workers' compensation systems around the world through a combination of presentations, discussion forums, and roundtables.

The IAIABC Convention brings together more workers' compensation jurisdictional agency leaders than any other conference in North America. 

Who Participates? 

In 2025, over 260 people attended the IAIABC 111th Convention, including representatives from 41 jurisdictions. Attendees of the IAIABC Convention traditionally include:

  • Jurisdictional regulators and administrators
  • Government/regulatory affairs personnel
  • Medical directors
  • Insurers 
  • Claims administrators
  • Attorneys
  • Service providers
  • Medical providers
  • Administrative law judges
  • ... and many more! 

Thank You 2026 Sponsors

Agenda

All times in Pacific Daylight Time. (times and meetings subject to change)

All meetings will be available in-person only.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

The Board of Directors meet to discuss IAIABC strategy and governance.

Lunch Menu:
Soup: Tomato Bisque
Salads: Caprese, Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Basil, Balsamic (GF) and Spring Greens, Romaine, Chickpeas, Shaved Peppers, Lemon, Grated Parmesan
Dressings: Buttermilk Ranch, Apple Cider Vinaigrette (GF, V), Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF)
Sandwiches:
Assorted Turkey, Roast Beef, Ham, Vegetarian Mini Sandwiches, & Wraps
Herbed Mayonnaise, Dijon Mustard, Dill Pickles
Bags of Local Chips
Desserts: Berry Cheesecake Tarts and Chocolate Panna Cotta Verrine (GF)
Members of the Board of Directors meet with Committee leaders to discuss IAIABC strategic direction and Committee projects and needs.

Monday, September 28, 2026
The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.
Thank you to SFM for sponsoring this morning's breakfast.
Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Pork Sausage Links
Seasoned Hashbrowns
Join an exhilarating speed networking session where professionals meet, exchange ideas, and expand their business contacts in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Come prepared to meet new attendees and broaden your network.
Unwind after a day of sessions at the Attendee Happy Hour. Engage in lively discussions, make new connections, and indulge in a variety of appetizers and drinks. Name badges are required for this event. Guests of registered attendees planning to attend will need to purchase a guest pass ahead of time.
Menu:
Cougar Gold Cheese Tart
Tuna Crisp, Mango Salsa
Chimichurri Chicken Skewer
Charcuterie and Artisinal Cheese Display
Chef’s Selection of cured and dried meats and Artisanal American-Made Cheeses
Served with Assorted Crackers, Crispy Lavash Flat Bread, baguette, mustards, Assorted Fruit Chutneys, Assorted Nuts, Dried Fruit and Whole Grape

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.
Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins**, Danishes
Sliced Breakfast Breads**
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Huckleberry Coffee Cake**
Hard Boiled Eggs (GF)
Overnight Oats, Almond Butter**, Strawberry, Banana
Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled with Organic Spinach, Boursin Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Honey Cured Ham
Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Herbs, Red Onions
Join IAIABC President, Phillip Germain, as he reflects on 2026 and looks toward the future.
IAIABC NextGen Award recipients from 2026 will share "Ignite" presentations: short insights on the topic of their choosing. Always a fun and informative session, come to celebrate these innovative and inspirational leaders in workers' compensation. 
Thank you to NCCI for sponsoring the Awards Luncheon
Menu:
Salad: Farm Green Salad Spinach, Arugula, Kale (GF, V) with Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF, V)
Entree: Pacific Chinook King Salmon, Couscous, Lemon Beurre Blanc
Dietary Restriction Meal: Quinoa, Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes, Red Pepper Purée (GF, V)
Desserts: Lemon Meringue Tart, Chocolate Salted Caramel Cup (GF)
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape, and workers’ compensation is no longer insulated from these threats. After recent cyber‑attacks targeting claimant data, it’s clear the workers' compensation industry must rethink its assumptions. Threat actors are already using AI to mine public information, craft highly targeted phishing, and probe networks at a scale that overwhelms traditional defenses. This session cuts through speculation by separating genuinely new AI-driven risks from more sophisticated versions of long-standing threat techniques. Through real examples from WC‑sector assessments, attendees will learn how AI‑assisted attacks actually operate, how defenses can realistically counter them, and where common misconceptions distract from real vulnerabilities. Walk away with an actionable understanding of how AI is reshaping both offense and defense—and what WC leaders should prioritize now to stay ahead. 
Thank you to Healthesystems for sponsoring this afternoon's break.
Menu: Tim Cascade's Potato Chips
Huckleberry Lemonade
Pepsi Product Sodas
This session explores how the demographic characteristics of injured workers, the medical conditions that develop after an injury, and the treatments they receive all shape the duration of temporary disability and the time it takes to reach medical stability. These factors. and the resulting claim timelines. vary widely across jurisdictions. The session will evaluate the key relationships and time frames that drive claim resolution, highlighting how differences in medical utilization, comorbidities, and aging‑related conditions influence outcomes. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of why some claims move quickly while others stall, and how emerging meducak trends are reshaping recovery patterns.
Menu:
Salmon Cake
Tomato Basil Mozzarella Skewer
Risotto Fritter
A photobooth sponsored by The Black Car Fund will be available during the President's Reception.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
The sponsor marketplace showcases industry leaders in service and technology. Stop by to learn about products and services to help meet your workers' compensation needs.
Thank you to Optum for sponsoring this morning's breakfast.
Menu:
Chilled Fruit Juices
House Made All Butter Croissants, Assorted Muffins, Danishes
Huckleberry Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit, Seasonal Berries (GF, V)
Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese (GF)
Smoked Bacon
Pork Sausage Links
Seasoned Hashbrowns

Members are invited to hear updates on the finances, membership, projects, and programs of the IAIABC. The 2026-2027 Board of Directors election will take place, and new leadership will be sworn in.
Datasets do not exist in a vacuum, but rather always in context to other data sources. The session aims to inspire discussion on the role of data visualization in workers’ compensation, and how it can transform understanding and decision-making. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) focuses on expanding the use of state-level WC claims data for research and prevention and encouraging collaborations between the public health and WC communities. Attendees will see examples of CWCS’s interactive visualization projects, learn how partnerships enhance the context and value of WC data, and discover resources to support their own visualization needs.
Topical medications are often perceived as low risk, routine therapies, but in workers’ compensation, they’ve become a growing source of cost volatility and regulatory scrutiny.  This panel will highlight where topical spending is most volatile, review recent legislative and regulatory actions, and outline practical strategies for managing utilization without compromising care. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of why topical costs spike and what best practices can help keep programs sustainable.
Thank you to Concentra for sponsoring this luncheon. 
Menu:
Soup: Clam Chowder
Salads: Caesar Salad, Romaine, Olive Oil Croutons, Shredded Parmesan, Caesar Dressing or Caprese Salad, Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Basil, Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF)
Entrées: Flat Iron steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Port Wine Demi (GF) or Pacific King Salmon, Sunrise Potato Medley, Garlic Cream Sauce (GF)
Side: Seasonal Vegetables (GF, V)
Desserts: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cup (GF) or Berry Cheesecake Tarts
For more than 20 years, the Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries has partnered with healthcare organizations to improve outcomes for injured workers through practical, evidence‑informed best‑practice programs. In this session, you’ll hear directly from a panel of participating healthcare partners about how these programs have evolved since the early 2000s and how they continue to build bridges between providers, employers, and the workers’ compensation system. Panelists will share lessons learned and explore what sustained partnership looks like in practice.

Hear from regulatory EDI leaders on changes and challenges in data reporting. The updates shared provide essential information for reporters to plan and prepare for future jurisdictional requirements. A giveaway sponsored by Verisk will take place during this session.
Regulatory and legislative decisions increasingly demand more than anecdotal evidence or historical precedent; they require empirical data that demonstrates real world impact. In workers’ compensation and auto insurance systems alike, policymakers face growing pressure to balance cost containment, access to care, fairness, and administrative efficiency. This session will explore how empirical data can be effectively leveraged to inform, shape, and support regulatory and legislative change. Drawing from practical experience, the presenters will discuss how claims, medical, and outcomes data can be translated into meaningful insights that resonate with regulators, legislators, and other stakeholders, while avoiding common pitfalls.

The EDI Council will receive updates from EDI Committee leaders, review progress on implementation governance, discuss jurisdictional matters, and hear updates on financials, membership, and training.
Menu: Assorted Cookies and Brownies
First two drinks on the IAIABC, followed by a cash bar

Guest Passes

Do you have a spouse, friend, or other family member that would like to attend social events at the IAIABC 112th Convention? 

Purchase a guest pass for $100 that will allow your guest to join you at the Happy Hour, President's Reception, and Wednesday's Social Event during the Convention. Only guests with paid tickets and badges will be allowed access to social events.

 Registered attendees do not need to purchase.

Purchase a Guest Pass

Location

The IAIABC 112th Convention will take place in-person only in Spokane, Washington.

Conference Hotel

The Davenport Grand

333 W Spokane Falls Blvd

Spokane, WA 99201

Phone: (509) 458-3330

The IAIABC has secured a discounted rate of $219 per night plus taxes and fees at the conference hotel the Davenport Grand. This rate is available now until  September 4 or sold out. 

On the webpage, to view rooms with a checkout of October 1 or later select Check Availability, then you'll see October as an option once viewing room options.

Book Your Room

Southwest Airline Discount

Southwest Airlines is pleased to offer the IAIABC 112th Convention attendees discounted fares. To utilize the discount, book via SWABIZ® using the link below. Discount valid for travel 9/23/2026 to 10/4/2026. 

Book Through Southwest

Parking

Current parking rates are $28 per night  for self-parking located on the corner of Washington and Riverside Avenue. Valet parking is available for $35 per night located off Spokane Falls Blvd at the main entrance. Rates are subject to change.

Airport

The closest airport to the hotel is the Spokane International Airport (GEG), approximately 12 minutes (about 7.7 miles) from the hotel.
Credits Price
Speaker Discounted Rate
Registration Ends 9/30/26 at 1:00 AM PDT
$575.00