Ferma Forum 2013: Education, education, education, says outgoing president

Climate change, technological developments, and political instability are three of the key factors that have contributed to the changing risk landscape facing risk managers today according to Ferma.

Outgoing Ferma president Jorge Luzzi told the conference in his welcome address yesterday: “We are living and working in a riskier world. The scale of uncertainty that we, our companies and our communities face are big and [the risks are] changing.

“Climate change has produced more catastrophes, the advancement in electronic systems make us vulnerable to cyber risk and political instability is all over the world.”

In his last presentation as president of the association, Luzzi stressed that education and professional development are key to responding to these risks.

He said: “We have to continually educate ourselves. [We must] try to influence our colleagues so that they can see that a risk [management]-related approach will not hold them back from taking risks but enable them to make better decisions.”

He added: “We are living and working in a riskier world but as risk managers we have the opportunity to use our knowledge, understanding and experience to make an important contribution to our companies and our communities.

“Inspire, educate and influence – these are objectives of the Ferma Forum. The sessions, the exhibition and the networking opportunity will inspire and educate you and will generate a better possibility for you to influence in relation to work, company and understanding of the market in general.”