Luke Powis, Head of Crisis Management at Aviva, discusses the critical role of insurance in the safe and successful delivery of the 2026 World Cup.

Dr John Hulsman, a leading foreign policy analyst, returns to the podcast. John has made a name for himself as a pre-eminent predictor of geopolitical risk in the multipolar era. He prides himself on his ‘call record’, beating those of his rivals. We discuss Trump’s deal with Iran, the balance of power in the Middle East, political risk forecasting at the halfway point of 2026, the use of war gaming as a tool for corporate decision-makers, and the wider implications of deal-making, alliances and governance in a multipolar world.

This research project, undertaken jointly by Airmic and CNA Hardy, was designed to answer a practical question: how can risk and insurance professionals more clearly demonstrate the value of what they do, in the language senior decision makers already use? Financial fluency is not about technical finance expertise. It is about translation: the ability to explain how risk and insurance decisions protect cash flows, preserve capital, reduce volatility and support sustainable value creation.

This Competency Framework sets out the capabilities needed to meet these expectations. It is designed to support risk professionals at every stage of their career to grow, adapt, and lead – ensuring our profession continues to strengthen its impact, relevance, and influence in an increasingly complex world.