Julia Graham to join Airmic as technical director

Airmic has announced FERMA president Julia Graham will join the association as technical director from 1 May. Graham will replace Paul Hopkin who announced his decision to step down in January after more than eight years in the post and will officially vacate the position in April.

Graham, a former chair of Airmic will also chair the association’s advisory board to be established later this year. The advisory board will comprise some of Airmic’s most senior risk managers.

Airmic chief executive John Hurrell said: “We are thrilled that Julia has agreed to join Airmic. She is one of the most respected professionals in the business and a true thought leader in her field. Julia will also be an outstanding guide and coach for our brilliant young team in the Airmic secretariat as well as being a natural leader for our Advisory Board.”

Graham will continue as FERMA president until the expiry of her term of office in October and remains on the FERMA board until June 2016.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Airmic at such an exciting time. It is a genuine leader in the fields of risk and insurance and has an extremely challenging and ground-breaking technical programme. I’m excited to be given the opportunity to build further on its reputation for technical excellence.”

She added: “I am also pleased to be taking on the important job of creating the advisory board. It will be an invaluable way for Airmic to tap into the vast knowledge of some of the country’s most experienced risk leaders, and for the association to ensure it supports the needs of all its members, including those at the top of their careers.”

Graham has worked with DLA Piper for 11 years and will have some continuing commitments with the global law firm until later in the year. She joined the firm in 2004 to establish its risk management function and has since been the driving force in raising the profile of risk management issues within the firm and across the legal industry.