Annual conference – let’s make it the best ever

Demand for places at the 2014 Airmic annual conference, ‘Shaping the Future of Risk’ has been strong, with well over 200 registrations in the first three weeks of opening. It is already established as by far the biggest risk management gathering in the UK, and exhibition space sold out within weeks. Among recent developments, whistle blower and ‘business person of the year’, Michael Woodford has joined the programme of speakers.

The number of members coming to the Airmic conference has being going up steadily for the past fourteen years – a trend that makes the event what it is, according to chief executive John Hurrell.

“It doesn’t matter how good a programme we put together – and I would like to think this year’s one is outstanding – the number and quality of delegates is what matters more than anything else. The feedback we get is that members hugely value the opportunity to meet service providers and mix informally with their peer group – to exchange ideas and discuss the issues that we all face,” he says.

“Airmic members are the ones who really make the event go with a bang, and I am confident the very encouraging start to registrations augurs well for the final outcome.”

Mark Geoghegan

The organising Programme Committee has been content to maintain the usual mix of plenary sessions with high-profile speakers, a choice of 26 specialist break-out sessions, 7 seminars and a wealth of social occasions. The Insurance Forum, giving members the opportunity to question leading executives, is chaired this year by Insurance Insider editor Mark Geoghegan. As in previous years, the association is preparing to use the conference as a launch pad for some major initiatives.  

There are, however, a few tweaks to the usual format. Most notably, there will be a reserved area and social event organised by fastTrack, the group for people new to risk management. It is open to young members or anyone who has recently changed careers. For the first time there is a ladies’ networking lunch on the opening day.

The choice of topics has also evolved. Whilst some such as D&O, supply chains and claims handling are old regulars, others such as ‘deafness the new whiplash?’, civil justice reforms and insurance law reflect the changing risk environment. 

The Airmic annual conference, The ICC, Birmingham, 16-18 June. Click here for more details.

Michael Woodford

Whistle blower and former FT ‘business person of the year’ Michael Woodford is one of the latest speakers to confirm. He was sacked as the first non-Japanese CEO of Olympus after uncovering fraud estimated to be $1.7 billion. This set in train a series of investigations involving the Serious Fraud Office, Tokyo Police and the FBI, and resulted in threats to his life. He is known as one of the liveliest, most insightful and entertaining speakers on the business circuit.