Industry, regulatory, and government leaders are among the high-profile speakers at this week’s inaugural Abir Risk Forum at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

The full-day event on Wednesday features chairwoman of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, president of the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and chairman of Lloyd’s, among other keynote guests.

The forum kicks off at 10.30am with official welcomes from Abir chairman Mark Cloutier and Bermuda’s Governor Andrew Murdoch, and closes with an expert panel of industry C-suite executives.

The last session includes Paul Simons, CEO, Bermuda Reinsurance, Convex Re; Emmanuel Brulé, chief risk officer, Sompo; and Mark Wheeler, co-CEO, Mosaic Insurance, who will discuss “Leveraging Bermuda’s Reinsurance Capital,” moderated by Gerald Gakundi, deputy managing director, head of Insurance and Investment Funds, Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA).

“These Bermuda re/insurance leaders will provide astute insights about current global externalities, including geopolitical dynamics and political risks, along with the current state of reinsurance capital, capacity and growth at this point in the market cycle,” said John Huff, Abir’s CEO.

The day’s first session features Andy Mais, former president, NAIC, former vice chair, International Association of Insurance Supervisors, and senior adviser, Deloitte, who will provide a special report on the global re/insurance market, including Bermuda.

That will be followed by the day’s first panel, “Compliance and cooperation: ten years of Solvency II and Solvency II equivalence” will be moderated by Shannon Bender, Group General Counsel, RenaissanceRe, and feature Petra Hielkema, chairwoman, EIOPA, and Craig Swan, CEO, BMA.

Antoinette Hurtado, Bermuda’s US Consul General, will introduce a panel entitled, “Safety and soundness: NAIC qualified and reciprocal reinsurers protecting consumers”, moderated by Jonathan Kent, deputy editor, The Royal Gazette. Panellists include Nicolas Papadopoulo, CEO, Arch Capital Global, and Scott White, president, NAIC, and Commissioner of the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance.

Following a networking lunch, Sir Charles Roxburgh, chairman of Lloyd’s, Fiona Luck, senior independent deputy chair, Lloyd’s, and Stephen Catlin, founder and life president, Convex, will discuss: “Lloyd's and Bermuda: our foundation and our future.”

Nathan Houdek, Commissioner, State of Wisconsin and chairman, NAIC Financial Condition (E) Committee, Ricardo Garcia, managing director, BMA, Rebecca Ebert, global head of regulatory and government affairs, KBRA, and Chris Brown, partner, Mindset, will discuss “Emerging narratives: geopolitical headwinds and quality of credit.”

Mike Yaworsky, Florida’s Insurance Commissioner and Shanna Lespere, deputy CEO, BMA, will engage in a moderated discussion with John Huff, CEO, Abir, on “Reinsurance and resilience: protecting 24 million Floridians”.

Jeff Manson, senior vice-president, underwriting and head of global public sector partnership, RenaissanceRe, will moderate Jonathan Dixon, secretary-general, IAIS; Stephen Catlin, founder and life president, Convex; Clement Cheung, CEO, Insurance Authority of Hong Kong; and Dennis Noordhoek, director of public policy and regulation, Geneva Association, as they discuss “The power of partnerships” to help close the protection gap.

A Bermuda market reception closes the day from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, featuring keynote comments by David Burt, the Premier, and Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour.

The event is supported by Abir member companies and event partners KBRA, Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), and Deloitte, along with education partner The Institutes Knowledge Group.

Several highly engaged “Special Topics in Insurance” course students from Bermuda College will attend free of charge, giving them direct exposure to the conversations on trends and market challenges, as well as to leaders shaping the global risk landscape.

• Click here to learn more about the Abir Risk Forum