August 9 to 11, at the Sheraton Hotel, Burlington, VT. The VCIA Annual Conference, held every August, is the largest gathering of captive insurance professionals in the world. The 2004 conference attracted some 1,200 people from nine countries and 42 states. www.vcia.org

Registration period for classes at the Bermuda Insurance Institute; information on all of the classes is available on the Institute?s website, www.bii.bm. The classes range from ?the claims environment?; an overview of personal insurance coverages and the ?essentials of risk management?. There are also accounting, business and financial analysis courses for those working towards the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. The courses currently being offered all begin in September.

will be hosting a series of Labour Studies Seminars through its Professional and Career Education (PACE) initiative. The three seminars are offered over a four-week period in September. For more information contact Eugenie Simmons, director at Bermuda College Centre for PACE at 236 9000 or on e-mail at esimmonscollege.bm.

National African-American Insurance Association 2005 Conference and Empowerment Summit.

A summit held each year, dedicated to empowering African-American insurance professionals, to be held at the New York Hiltion, New York. www.naaia.org

Annual reinsurance conference Monte Carlo Les Rendez-Vous de Septembre. The official conference begins on Tuesday 13 September with a session called ?Facing terrorism: a threat to peace, a threat to our industry?. www.rvs-monte-carlo.com.

, to address key industry issues through a presentation, panel discussion and workshop format. The summit takes place at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. www.theinsurancesummit.com

The First Bermuda Captive Conference is designed to focus in on issues of interest to captive owners, prospective owners and market professionals. For more information on this conference which will take place at The Fairmont Southampton Hotel contact Mike Hardy, Conference Co-ordinator at 236 9893 or

Sedgwick?s Third Annual Hot Topics Seminar for the Bermuda Insurance Market, Wednesday, 5 October at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Annual reinsurance conference Baden-Baden, Germany from October 24.

takes place November 14 to 15 at the Fontainebleau Hilton in Miami Beach. Organised by investigative newsletter writer David Marchant, the conference show attendees how to establish and implement procedures that will reduce their risk of becoming involved in financial crime. It will also include discussions on technology and techniques that will facilitate the overall due diligence process. For more information visit kycnews.com/conferences.