Finsure’s Inspire Summit brought together 208 attendees, including 126 brokers from Australia and New Zealand, for a multi-day conference on Hamilton Island.
From the welcome dinner right through to the gala dinner and after party, every moment was designed to showcase the island’s laid-back luxury. Entertainment featured multiple DJs and live performers, alongside keynotes from Tristan Knowles, Australian basketball player, and Drew Arthurson, Chief Operating Officer of the Sydney Swans, with Stevie Jacobs steering the experience as MC.
The event finished with a retreat on Whitehaven Beach, complete with gift bags, a myriad of beach and water activities, massages, and private boat transfers. It was impressive, high-touch, and so true to Finsure.
And yet, one moment stole the show.
The long-held dream
Finsure is known for thinking big and bold. Since FCM Meetings & Events began delivering their annual events many moons ago, one ambition had remained constant across every brief and destination in the last few years. A live drone show.
It was always on the wish list. And just as often, it sat squarely in the “great idea, incredibly hard to make happen” category. This year, the stars aligned. Or more accurately, the airspace, approvals, and expertise did.
Finsure had talked about a drone show for years, and we have always tried to make it happen. But the location and required suppliers have never lent itself to making it happen. So, when the opportunity came up on Hamilton Island, I knew they would jump at it.
- Sonya Limpic-Waddell, Senior Project Lead, FCM Meetings & Events
The challenge
Hamilton Island, however, doesn’t make things easy. Its small footprint, active runway, and tightly controlled airspace place strict limits on launch locations, flight paths, timing, and drone numbers. As a result, no drone show had ever taken place on Hamilton Island before. That is, until Skylighter, the island’s fireworks provider, partnered with FCM Meetings & Events to make it happen.
Hamilton Island, whilst a picturesque location, has its challenges. It is within a National Marine Park and 300 metres from a commercial airport, so requires many permitting approvals with various stakeholders.
- Dale Norris, Project Manager, Skylighter
On top of that, creative ambition quickly met technical reality. Early concepts included trending animations like a world map showcasing Finsure’s footprint and growth plans. But with a fixed number of approved drones, these ideas proved not viable without compromising visual impact.
The approach
FCM Meetings & Events worked closely with Skylighter, who were positioned to navigate the regulatory approvals of both fireworks and drone operations. Rather than forcing complexity, the design concept was refined. The focus shifted to bold, high-impact drone animations celebrating Finsure’s brand, broker network, and core markets of Australia and New Zealand, paired with a fireworks display.
Behind the scenes, approvals were sought, locations adjusted, drone numbers reviewed, and final confirmations secured close to Finsure’s original wishes. Guests weren’t told what was coming. Instead, anticipation was built throughout the gala dinner before everyone was invited outside for what was announced as the first drone show on Hamilton Island.
This show was one of the first working alongside a creative event agency such as FCM Meetings & Events to bring a vision to life in the sky rather than direct to customer. We could work through detailed storyboards. It was also the first time we’d incorporated drone and firework elements together, as well as the first drone show on Island.
- Dale Norris, Project Manager, Skylighter
The outcome
As drones lit up the night sky against one of Australia’s most iconic island backdrops, the crowd were in awe. The impact extended well beyond the event audience. Word spread quickly across the island, locals gathered along the coastline, and footage circulated through community channels and social media. The show became a talking point.
For Finsure, it marked the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition and set a new benchmark for future events. For FCM Meetings & Events, it was proof that with the right partners, planning, and persistence, even the most complex ideas can be brought to life.
I have been working with Finsure for years, and turning their long-time ambition into a jaw-dropping reality was such a special moment.”
- Sonya Limpic-Waddell, Senior Project Lead, FCM Meetings & Events
We are super proud. We loved seeing the clients vision come to fruition through our design and animation team and working with the team at FCM Meetings & Events to create some magic is always enjoyable. For us, it’s hearing the first crowd reactions to the drones once they realised it was the Finsure logo. Not going to lie, though, during the performance, the wind was blowing right on the limits, so it was so great to see the drone fleet perform perfectly and then land safely. It was a breath of relief once they were all back on ground!
- Dale Norris, Project Manager, Skylighter