Next generation risk leaders must prepare for tomorrow’s challenges

Today’s young risk professionals will require a much broader skillset than their predecessors in order to become tomorrow’s risk leaders, the chair of Airmic’s fastTrack initiative, Kate Wallin, has said ahead of fastTrack’s first one-day conference next month.

“Those at the top of their career today entered the profession in a completely different landscape to those beginning their careers now. Businesses are facing ever more complex challenges and the risk manager is increasingly required to have a strategic understanding of the company,” Wallin commented. “Young professionals must make sure they adapt, not only to have successful careers but also to ensure the risk profession stays relevant to the 21st century business.”

fastTrack, Airmic’s scheme for those new to the risk profession, will be hosting its first one-day Forum in February next year which is free to all members. The Forum, Developing Tomorrow’s Risk Leaders, will give young professionals the chance to learn from some of the most experienced people in risk. There will also be workshops on corporate strategy and relationship management to help build the business skills required to succeed in a fast-changing world.

“It’s so important that people early in their career don’t just think about how to be a good risk manager today, but also how to be a good risk manager in ten years’ time. This is what the fastTrack Forum is about.” Wallin added.

“We’re moving towards a world where we no longer differentiate between risk and insurance professionals, but instead we will have enterprise risk management (ERM) professionals. Developing business skills, a strategic way of thinking and an ability to communicate to the board as risk management gains a higher profile will be key to success. This won’t happen overnight but attending the Forum will be a good first step.”

Patrick Smith, Airmic’s deputy chair and chair of the association’s learning and development committee, added: “This event will be the first of its kind to bring together senior industry figures, like-minded fastTrack professionals and the next generation of leaders in the wider broker and insurance market. Networking early on in a career is vital for progression, but opportunities to meet peers are typically limited to more senior levels, a gap the Forum aims to fill.”

He added, “Training and career developmentare central pillars of the Airmic strategy and we’re delighted to have such a strong speaker line-up at the first one-day conference for fastTrack.”

David Ross, chief executive of Arthur J Gallagher International, will be giving the keynote speech at the Forum. Other highlights of the event include a speech from Andrew Kendrick, president of ACE European Group and a closing speech from Julia Graham, the president of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA).

The panel debate on the future of the London market will include David Martin, Willis CEO, Mike Hammond, international chairman of Lockton, David Robinson, regional president for ACE UK and Ireland, and Matthieu Caillat, CEO of AXA Corporate Solutions UK. The discussion will be chaired by editor of Strategic Risk, Mike Jones.

Kate Wallin - fastTrack Chair