Airmic 2014: Exciting times

How will you be exploring this year’s conference theme, ‘Shaping the future of risk’?

The sub-theme is how do we effectively get risk management and insurance up the board agenda. First, on the insurance side: insurance is critically important in terms of corporate finance and for increasing awareness around elements that could go wrong and that negatively affect an organisation’s ability to thrive.

So, we produced an efficacy guide, which is a soup to nuts explanation of everything that could go wrong, with positive suggestions as to what our members should be thinking about.

On the risk side: we’ve taken the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report, and worked with Institute of Directors (IOD), PwC, Marsh and Zurich to produce a practical guide for Airmic and IOD members looking at, from a board perspective, what do these risks mean for business, and from a risk manager perspective, what can be done about that.

How is the role of the risk manager changing?

There is much more high-level awareness surrounding the value of risk management and the fact that organisations such Tomorrow’s Company are enthused about working with us indicates that their members recognise that risk is a major issue.

We think risk management is rising up the agenda, so the question is whether the present-day risk managers are able to respond to this opportunity. Are they sufficiently connected to the board? If they do get connected to the board, do they sufficiently understand corporate strategy?

Do you think the majority of risk managers have reached that stage yet?

Some already have and many more are on this journey. Hopefully, the research and guides we are issuing will assist others to raise their profile in order to play a more strategic role in their organisations.

Last year’s conference was particularly successful with record numbers of delegates, how will you beat that success?

We are ahead of last year’s delegate numbers and this year is another record year. The level of interest is phenomenal. In only three days, we sold out the exhibition and we’ve got a waiting list of organisations wanting to exhibit. However, the key will be the delegate experience. We’re doing various things differently.

In addition to the 24 workshops, eight seminars are taking place on Wednesday morning that are led by new and different people who are thinking about risk in different ways.

What about the social side of things, what can delegates expect from the annual party?

One thing we tried last year that we have repeated again this year is a drinks reception in the actual exhibition on the Monday opening because it is a way to break the ice for the exhibitors.

The Airmic party takes place today and the fabulous atrium in the exhibition centre will be themed to get people thinking about shaping the future.

You probably could highlight many examples, but what is the one thing you are looking forward to most?

The level of debate, challenge, engagement and enthusiasm. If you’re one of the home team, you get the emotional engagement with the conference and the team will get a real high from the enthusiasm that comes out of the delegates.