All records broken at AMRAE conference

Approximately 1500 delegates, more than ever before, registered to attend the 16th annual conference of AMRAE, the French risk managers’ association, which wrapped up at noon on Thursday with a topical debate on the subject: Is the sky about to fall on our heads?

After yesterday’s news of the loss suffered by French bank, Société Général, the conclusion to the debate may not be all that certain in the minds of many of those listeners with responsibility for financial risk.

None of this has put off delegates to the conference. If the influence of French risk management could be measured simply by the number of people attending ‘Les Rencontres,’ the conclusion would be that interest was steadily growing.

“The conclusion to the debate may not be all that certain in the minds of many of those listeners with responsibility for financial risk.

The vote for the best speech on the first day’s session would seem to have gone to philosopher André Comte-Sponville, whose clear exposition of the relationship between risk, fear, capitalism and morality, left his audience optimistic and convinced.

Yesterday’s series of workshops which included several presentation by members of AIRMIC as part of ‘The British View’ were lively and well-attended, particularly the workshop which re-examined the latest developments in the relationship between risk management and internal audit – billed as the latest episode in a story without end. Given the numbers attending and the general level of satisfaction expressed, everything bodes well for the 17th Les Rencontres to be held next year.