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| Néstor Abatidaga CEO Grupo Sancor Seguros (Argentina) Néstor Carlos Abatidaga, a native of the city of Sunchales in Santa Fe, Argentina, is the current CEO of Grupo Sancor Seguros, a position he has held since 1 January 2012, following a long career of 45 years within the organization. Currently, he also chairs the Argentina Network of the United Nations Global Compact. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Higher Council of FISO (Latin American Foundation of Occupational Health), Vice President of CESVI ARGENTINA S.A., and a Member of the Ethics and Arbitration tribunal of ADIRA (Association of Argentinian Insurers). He was also previously the Chairman of ADIRA for five years, and was Chairman of ALASA (Latin American Association for the Development of Agricultural Insurance) for six years. As a follower of the latest trends in management, leadership strategies and people relationships, he has attended different courses, training events, seminars and conferences, held in Argentina and abroad, related to current issues in the insurance market and other issues related to the ongoing nurturing of staff and (are continually necessary to nurture staff and maintain) leadership of a company. Highlighting how cooperative values have given rise to a leading insurance group, Néstor Abatidaga actively participates in conferences and seminars organized by various national and international associations that promote the cooperative model. | |
| Romana Abdin Chief Executive Simplyhealth (UK) As the Chief Executive of healthcare company Simplyhealth, Romana likes to describe herself as ‘the chief developer of talent’, aiming to ignite the ‘spark’ in everyone and everything by listening, listening and listening again! Leading with purpose and clarity, and more importantly by example, is Romana’s passion. To do this she draws on her experience as a Barrister, a Company Secretary and a mother to two teenagers. Her role as Chief Executive is to ensure Simplyhealth is a business that knows what it stands for and what makes it different. Simplyhealth helps nearly four million people with their healthcare needs, including 20,000 companies who choose them as their healthcare provider. The company also includes Denplan, the UK's largest provider of dental payment plans. With no shareholders, profits go straight back into supporting their customers and healthcare charities. Last year they donated GBP1.4 million (USD 2.1 million) to charitable causes, touching the lives of over two million people. With mutual values and an ambitious growth plan, Romana is leading an award-winning business that is commercially successful enabling it to support its customers, people and communities. | |
| Aris Alip Founder and Managing Director CARD MRI (The Philippines) Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip is the Founder and Managing Director of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), the Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service in 2008. Started in 1986, CARD MRI is a group of mutually reinforcing institutions serving 2.8 million poor families. Its microinsurance arm, CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA), insures more than 11.2 million individuals representing 20% of all insured Filipinos. In addition, Dr Alip brought to other Southeast Asian countries CARD’s model of poverty eradication by establishing its presence in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia. Dr Alip was awarded the Order of Friendship Award for his more than two decades of work in Vietnam in the field poverty eradication. He also received the Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2006. He served for six years as member of the International Board of Directors of Oikocredit from 2008 to 2014, and is currently the Chairman of the ICMIF Development Board Committee. Dr. Alip is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, having completed the three-year Owner/President Management (OPM) Program in 2007 and was given the Excellence Award on Strategy. He obtained his doctorate degree in Organization Development from the Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI), Philippines, in 2002. | |
| Alejandro Asenjo General Manager Grupo Asegurador La Segunda (Argentina) Alejandro Asenjo is currently the General Manager of Grupo Asegurador La Segunda, an integrated insurance group with a strong presence throughout Argentina, as well as Uruguay and Paraguay, which has been operating for 82 years in property insurance, workers' compensation, life insurance and pensions. His previous roles within the company include Deputy General Manager, Manager of Planning and Management, and Chief Financial Officer. Alejandro is an accountant, and graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Management at the National University of Rosario (UNR), where he also earned a Bachelor of Administration. He has over 30 years of professional experience and a background in consulting, strategy, management and control, in all aspects related to business management. He has been a speaker at various national and international forums on the issue of insurance business and member of the Board of the Aseguradores del Interior de la República Argentina (ADIRA). | |
| Julio José (Yoy) Banzon Member of the Board of Trustees CARD MRI (The Philippines) Yoy Banzon is the Senior Advisor to the CARD MRI Managing Director/ICMIF Development Chairman on the implementation of the new ICMIF Development strategy. He is also an independent consultant/advisor in project design and development, research and program implementation. Yoy’s 35 year-involvement in social development spans diverse fields including microfinance, microinsurance, health, micro and small enterprise development, cooperative development, agriculture and forestry and other poverty-alleviation related fields. He started his career as a Program Officer with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), a renowned business led non-government organization in the Philippines, and rose through the ranks to become the Director of Operations overseeing the implementation of programs directed at building capacities of community-based organizations to undertake poverty alleviation projects. After PBSP, Yoy worked with international non-government organizations based in Australia, Bhutan Laos and Cambodia. He served in different capacities, as a program officer, advisor and consultant in the areas of grant management, project implementation and capacity development. He is the principal research investigator for the Philippine country study on the landscape of mutual and cooperative insurance in the Philippines. | |
| Kathy Bardswick President and CEO The Co-operators (Canada) Kathy began her career with The Co‑operators in 1978. Prior to her appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Co‑operators Group on March 1, 2002, Kathy served as Chief Operating Officer of The Sovereign General and L’Union Canadienne. From 1998-2002, she was in charge of operations for these companies and their subsidiaries under the umbrella of The Co-operators Group Limited. A graduate of McMaster University’s M.B.A. program, Kathy also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Manitoba. Kathy is a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. She is Chairperson of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. Equally active in the cooperative sector, Kathy served as Chair of ICMIF, and is now a member of the ICMIF Executive Committee. She is also a board member of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). Kathy is a board member of Addenda Capital Inc. She has provided leadership to The Conference Board of Canada as a member of the board and executive committee. Kathy also served as Vice-Chair of the University of Guelph’s Board of Governors. | |
| Steve Barry Director ORIGOS Consultancy (UK) Steve’s twenty five year career has spanned a number of sectors including utilities, IT, business and professional services, and ten years as Human Resources, Learning & Development Director within financial services working for Engage Mutual Assurance (UK). Throughout this time, he has managed several large organisational and cultural change programmes, ensuring the businesses he works with are fit for purpose and have highly skilled and engaged teams. Steve’s pragmatic approach to People Leadership has delivered benchmark performance and successfully achieved the UK’s Investors in People, Gold Award, which is achieved by only 3% of the country’s employers. In addition to his roles within Human Resources, Steve has a successful track record as the Customer Operations Director in which demonstrated his leadership through non-HR lenses. It was during his tenure at Engage, Steve started working with ICMIF as a member of the Leadership Development Forum, and now works with ICMIF, helping shape the people development strategies that are now offered to members. Steve is a natural relationship builder and accredits a lot of his success to the strong working relationships that he has established. | |
| Jens Bærentsen CEO Alka (Denmark) Jens Bærentsen has served as CEO of Alka Forsikring for more than 12 years. Alka Forsikring is a significant player in the Danish private insurance market. It offers insurance policies with good coverage, low prices and high customer satisfaction, and its competitive edge lies in its strategic focus. For the past several years, Alka has experienced higher customer growth than the Danish market in general, due to a strong competitive position, high recognizability and a good image. A lawyer by training, Jens joined Alka Forsikring in 1991. Since then, he has held various managerial positions within legal, strategy, product and business development, before becoming CEO on 1 January 2003. | |
| Marc Bell Chief Executive Benenden (UK) Marc Bell is CEO of Benenden Group and also a Director of UK trade body, the Association of Financial Mutuals (AFM), and a CEO Representative in Europe for the Association of International Mutuals (AIM). Benenden is a mutual health and wellbeing provider, established in 1905 and now supporting the needs of around 900,000 people across the UK. It provides access to a GP 24/7 365 days a year as well as low cost diagnosis and treatment for over 250 elective procedures and support with mental health conditions. Its aim is to supplement the NHS and help to meet the healthcare challenges of an ageing and growing population. Marc joined Benenden in 2008 and has led a revitalization of Benenden since joining and has helped to grow revenues from GBP 65m (USD 100m) in 2008 to GBP 95m (USD 150m) in 2014. Over the same period Group Net Assets have also grown from GBP 54m (USD 84m) to GBP 93m (USD 149m) through a broadening of Benenden’s service offering. Marc is an active campaigner in the UK and Europe about the benefits of the co-operative model in health and wellbeing. He is committed to ensuring that Benenden’s co-operative heritage is at the heart of operations borne out by the fact that Benenden has won the Moneywise “Most Trusted Private Health Provider in the UK” for 5 years in a row. | |
| Denis Berthiaume President and COO Desjardins Financial Security (Canada) Denis Berthiaume has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Desjardins Financial Security since 2011. He is also serving as Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, of Desjardins Group. In this capacity, he is in charge of the activities of Desjardins Securities, Disnat and Desjardins Asset Management, all subsidiaries of Desjardins. Mr. Berthiaume is also Director of NorthWest & Ethical Investments L.P. With his overall responsibilities, Denis Berthiaume heads an increasingly important activity sector, not only in Quebec, but also throughout the country. He is responsible for developing specialized savings and life and health insurance products, and supporting the integrated distribution of these products throughout the Desjardins caisses network and other complementary networks to increase Desjardins Group’s market share. Over his 30-year career, Mr. Berthiaume has held strategic roles that have given him the opportunity to work in most areas of life and health insurance and to specialized savings. He is a graduate of Laval University (BSc in actuarial studies), and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (F.C.I.A.) and of the Society of Actuaries (F.S.O.A.). | |
| Chris Black Chief Executive FMG (New Zealand) In both his personal and professional life, FMG’s Chief Executive Chris Black treats risk as a necessary and positive ingredient for achievement. Given the importance of the agricultural sector to NZ Inc., he feels the role FMG plays in providing advice to help rurally minded people and businesses in New Zealand take risks in order to grow and fulfil their aspirations is very important. Chris joined FMG in 2008 and is driven by its philosophy to give rural New Zealand a better deal. As an Otago University and Victoria University graduate, Chris held many varied and senior roles within the finance and banking sectors, including time with international firms such as Citibank, SG Warburg and NAB, before joining FMG. At an industry level, Chris is currently Vice President of the Insurance Council of NZ (ICNZ) and is on the ANZIIF NZ Members Advisory Board and also the Board of ICMIF. | |
| Grzegorz Buczkowski CEO TUW SKOK (Poland) Grzegorz Buczkowski is a member of the management board of TUW SKOK, the mutual property and casualty insurance company and TU SKOK Życie SA, the life insurance company of Polish credit union system. He has 23 years of experience in the Polish credit union system and 19 years in the Polish insurance market; he has also served as consultant to EU PHARE and UNDP programmes, World Bank’s CGAP programme and United Nations’ International Labour Organization. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of AMICE (Association of Mutual Insurers and Insurance Cooperatives in Europe). He has published on insurance and mutuality topics for the International Labour Organization, Bloomberg European Law Journal and Polish Cooperative Research Institute. Mr. Buczkowski holds an MA in English Literature from Gdansk University, Poland and an MBA from Gdansk University and Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland. He is married and lives in Gdansk, Poland. | |
| Adam Canning Senior Vice President, Catastrophe Analytics Willis Re (Canada) Adam, based in Toronto, serves as Head of Catastrophe Analytics for Willis Re’s clients in Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He is an expert in the use of catastrophe models and has worked with insurers, reinsurers and governments to help manage and understand their exposure to natural hazards. Adam has extensive experience in modeling exposures throughout the Americas through his leading work with some of Willis Re’s domestic, regional, and multi-national clients. His primary objective has been to help them understand the applicability of catastrophe models for both their reinsurance purchase requirements and as a tool to help manage their portfolios. Utilizing proprietary and third-party catastrophe models, bespoke analytical tools, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the expertise of the Willis Research Network, Adam works with various stakeholders to help enable them to make informed decisions relating to their exposure wherever it is touched by physical hazard. Adam, originally from England, joined Willis Re’s Catastrophe Management Services (CMS) team in 2003. Prior to joining Willis, Adam held a number of roles using GIS, including Transport for London (TfL). Adam has a B.Sc. in Geography from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. | |
| Roberto Castro Hiraldo President Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples (Puerto Rico) The professional career of attorney Roberto Castro Hiraldo, current President of Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico (CSM), has been closely tied to that of said cooperative insurance company. He was appointed to the company´s legal division in 1972, where his experience in the insurance and cooperative business was enhanced by practicing corporate law and representing the company before the Courts and the government´s administrative agencies. In 1993, he was promoted to General Director of the Legal Division and named as Executive Secretary of CSM. In 2006, he was appointed as the company´s Executive Vice-President. In 2009, he was appointed to his present position as President of Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples. While fulfilling his many professional duties, he also taught courses at the National Cooperative School, and had an active involvement in the Puerto Rico Bar Association, where he was President of the Río Piedras delegation, awarded as Delegation of the Year in 1996. In 2011 and 2012, he was elected as President of the Cooperative Investment Fund (Fidecoop). In 2012, his achievements as leader of Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples were acknowledged by the Puerto Rico Sales and Marketing Association, with the prestigious “Top Management Award” for Insurance. He holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from Inter American University of Puerto Rico and a Juris Doctor “Cum Laude” from the University of Puerto Rico Law School. He completed a master Degree in Civil Law from the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain. | |
| Stéphane Cossé Director of Public Affairs COVEA (France) Stéphane Cossé studied economics at IEP Paris and has a Master’s Degree in International Economics from the London School of Economics, UK. He began his career in 1992 working for the French Agency for Development (AFD). From 1994 to 1997, he worked as an economist in the Africa department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), before becoming the technical advisor at the office of the French Ministry of Cooperation and Development from 1997 to 2000. He was the IMF’s representative in Romania from 2000 and 2002. He then worked as senior economist for the IMF in Washington for four years. At the end of 2006, Stéphane Cossé joined RTE (Réseau de Transport d’Electricité) as the deputy director of communications and public affairs and then as director of institutional relations. He then became RTE’s director of the greater Paris mission. Stéphane Cossé started his new role at Covéa in January 2015. | |
| Thierry Couret Executive Director, Insurance Services and Solutions MAIF (France) Thierry Couret has been an Executive Director of the MAIF Group since January 2008. In this position, he is mostly responsible for the business operations of the Group such as marketing, technical insurance, strategy, life subsidiaries, finance, banking, support of the MAIF Group as well as international activities. Thierry Couret is a member of the Executive Management and the Executive Committee of the Group. In addition, he is a director of several French and foreign subsidiaries of MAIF Group. Following his degree in Law and Economics, Thierry Couret began his career in the mutual sector in 1980 by joining Mutuelle de Poitiers Assurances. In 1992, he joined Groupama with the position of Deputy Director of Groupama Centre Atlantique before becoming the Chief Executive of the Caisse Régionale Groupama Rhône Alpes Auvergne in 2000. He held the position of Chief Executive of Insurance, Banking and Services of Groupama France until 2004 before joining the MAIF Group. | |
| Jean-Louis Davet Chief Executive MGEN – ISTYA Group (France) Jean-Louis Davet is Chief Executive of MGEN, a French health mutual insurance and services company created in 1946 and covering 4 million people. MGEN provides complimentary health insurance and provident insurance, and also manages state health insurance (state social security) for civil servants in Education, Culture and other public services. Jean-Louis is also Chief Executive of ISTYA Group, an insurance group formed in 2011 by MGEN and five other health insurance mutuals, which is the largest health insurer in France covering 6.3 million people (10% of the French population). Jean-Louis started his career as a professor in mathematics at Paris University and as a researcher at CNRS (French National Scientific Research Center). In 1988 he switched to industry as Chief Executive of the French subsidiary of FESTO group, a German company specialized in automation. Then from 1992 to 2006, Jean-Louis, as Vice President of strategy consultancy firms (CMC-Mercer-Oliver Wymann, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young), has been working for leading companies in various industries (new technologies, telecom and internet operators, food retail, luxury, banks and financial institutions, insurance), before specializing in insurance and social protection. In 2006, he joined the executive committee of Mutualité Française (FNMF), the French federation of health mutuals, before joining MGEN in 2008. He graduated from Ecole Centrale de Paris engineering and business school in 1983, and is a Doctor in Mathematics from Paris 6 University (1987). | |
| Philippe De Ridder Strategic Planning & Intelligence Manager P&V Group (Belgium) Philippe joined the P&V Group in April 2013 as Strategic Planning & Intelligence Manager. His role is focussed on the implementation and continuous improvement of the strategic planning process within the group. He is also the co-creator of P&V’s Management Trainee program for which he is now responsible. Prior to joining P&V, Philippe worked for 18 years as a knowledge professional in the Brussels-based office of McKinsey & Company, where he specialised in insurance. He was also a regular facilitator of internal training sessions and was involved in various people development initiatives. Philippe is a member of ICMIF’s Intelligence Committee and is also active in Euresa’s Innovation Circle. | |
| Georgina Díaz Sánchez General Manager Sociedad de Seguros de Vida del Magisterio Nacional (Costa Rica) Georgina Díaz Sánchez, 50 years old, married with two children, graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Costa Rica. She is a Certified Public Accountant and worked for over 12 years as Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, starting as an assistant in the audit department of Sociedad de Seguros de Vida del Magisterio Nacional (SSVMN). She then held the position of Lead Auditor for 4 years, and since 2001, she has served as General Manager, the highest position in the company. Georgina Díaz is a member of the Board of Directors of ICMIF/Americas, and has held the position of Chair since August 2015; the Latin American Reinsurance Group (LARG); Seguros del Magisterio S.A; and the Corporación de SERVICIOS Múltiples del Magisterio Nacional (the National Union of Teachers). In her spare time, Georgina volunteers for non-governmental organizations that help elderly people with disabilities and nature conservation projects. | |
| Rowan Douglas CEO Capital, Science & Policy Practice, and Chairman, Willis Research Network Willis Group (UK) Rowan Douglas is CEO Capital, Science & Policy Practice at Willis Group, a global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker with approximately 20,000 personnel operating in around 100 countries. Previously, Rowan served on the board of Willis Re as CEO Global Analytics. He also sits on the Executive Committee of the International Insurance Society (IIS), USA. Rowan is also Chairman of the Willis Research Network of approximately fifty universities and science institutions across the world confronting challenges of resilience, finance and sustainable growth. He serves on the UK Prime Minister's Council for Science & Technology, the Natural Environment Research Council and of the Royal Society's Working Group on Resilience to Extreme Weather. In 2015 he was elected and founding co-chair of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF). The IDF brings together national and regional Governments, the global re/insurance sector, UN Agencies and other international institutions to enable the development of insurance-related capabilities and capacity to support disaster resilience and the wider objectives of the Post-2015 Agenda. The IDF meets on the margins of IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings & the UN General Assembly, with a secretariat provided by the World Bank. Following degrees in Geography at Durham (BA Hons.) and Bristol (M.Phil) Universities, Rowan began his career underwriting reinsurance at Lloyd’s Syndicate 1095 before founding the international risk information company WIRE Limited in 1994 which was purchased by Willis in 2000. In 2014 he received the Kenneth R Black Distinguished Service Award from the International Insurance Society. | |
| Jessica Fries Executive Chairman The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) Project (UK) Jessica Fries is Executive Chairman of The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S), established by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2004. She has led A4S since 2008, working with the finance community to catalyse a shift to a sustainable economy, with a focus on practical actions and targeted interventions capable of achieving global change. While at A4S, Jessica has been responsible for establishing the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), as well as A4S's CFO Leadership Network and capital markets programme. Previously, Jessica held a number of roles at PwC advising a wide range of companies, governments, investors and not-for-profit organizations. Jessica has written extensively on ways to integrate sustainability into business and finance, and has been a member of a number of International, European and UK Government Committees, including the UK Treasury’s Sustainability Reporting Steering Committee and the European Commission’s Expert Group on Non-Financial Disclosure. She currently sits on the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Advisory Group and is an IIRC Board member. Jessica is a chartered accountant, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, has an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge. | |
| Gina Fusco Director of Strategy & Marketing NFU Mutual (UK) Gina’s career has centred on Strategy, Marketing and Product development. To date she’s held positions such as Head of Saving, Investments & Banking at Abbey National, Head of Advertising at Barclays and was a founding director of ING Direct UK. Gina also worked as an independent consultant with clients such as Tesco Bank, O2 Telefónica and NFU Mutual. In fact, she enjoyed working with NFU Mutual so much that she joined them permanently in October 2011. As Director of Strategy & Marketing, Gina is responsible for Strategy, Propositions, Marketing and Corporate Communications across the NFU Mutual Insurance Group. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, keeping fit and going to the movies. | |
| Steve Garrity CTO and Founder Hearsay Social (USA) Steve Garrity is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and founder of Hearsay Social, and an expert in developing scalable enterprise software solutions. Hearsay Social is the leading social business platform for the financial services industry, empowering global financial services teams to efficiently and successfully use social media to attract prospects, retain customers, and grow business. Before founding Hearsay Social, Steve worked as an engineer at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle on the Azure.net Services platform, live mesh and mobile search technologies. He is a graduate of Stanford University with a BS and MS in Computer Science. While at Stanford, he was selected as a Mayfield Fellow in the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. During which, he joined Fortify Software as a product manager. Steve is also an investor in, and advisor to a number of Silicon Valley start-ups. In his spare time, he enjoys ultra-marathons and Ironman – distance triathlons. | |
| Tom Gitogo Group CEO CIC Insurance Group (Kenya) Tom Gitogo is the Group Chief Executive of CIC Insurance Group. Tom has an MBA in Strategic Management and holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) as well as ICPAK and ICPSK. He has served as the Deputy Chairman of Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) and the Chairman of its Life Insurance Council. Tom also sits in the Life Insurance Committee of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) and is also a Member of Institute of Directors of Kenya. Before joining CIC, Tom was the CEO of Pan Africa Insurance Holdings and in 2012 won the coveted CEO of the Year Award in the prestigious COYA awards. He started his career with Price Waterhouse (Nairobi and London) where he specialized in the audit of Financial Services Companies. Tom left PricewaterhouseCoopers to join British American Insurance in 2001, rising to the position of Group Finance Director before joining Pan Africa Insurance. Tom was recently appointed by the Government to serve as Board member in the Policy Holders Compensation Fund. He is married and has 2 daughters and a son. | |
| Jim Glossat CEO Capricorn Mutual (Australia) Jim is an accomplished Senior Insurance Executive with over 30 years’ experience in all facets of the general insurance industry including Product Management, Underwriting, Sales, Claims and Reinsurance. Senior positions held within a number of leading Australian insurance companies include Head of General Insurance, Senior Business Planning & Strategy Manager, National Product Manager, National Underwriting Manager, State Claims Manager and Senior Project Manager. In 2012, Jim was called to a parliamentary inquiry into insurance claims management practices following the 2011 Queensland floods. As Head of General Insurance at Westpac, a leading Australian bank, Jim was asked to describe his company’s handling of the event in light of the many accolades it received in the press. Capricorn is a member based organisation proudly operating by cooperative principles to primarily support businesses within the Australian and New Zealand automotive industry. Jim joined Capricorn in October 2014 where he is the CEO of the organisation’s Risk division. Capricorn Risk distributes risk protection products exclusively to Capricorn members. All products are issued by Capricorn Mutual which was formed for this purpose in 2003. Jim is degree qualified having completed an MBA and a Bachelor of Legal Studies at University of New England and Macquarie University. Jim is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. | |
| Charles Goldie CEO PartnerRe Global (Switzerland) Charlie Goldie, CEO of PartnerRe Global, is responsible for the executive management of all PartnerRe’s Global non-life operations. He is also a member of PartnerRe Global's executive team and has been responsible for the management and direction of the Global Specialty Lines underwriting portfolio since 2010. Charlie has 25 years of experience both as an actuary and as a reinsurance underwriting manager. He joined PartnerRe in 2002 as head of the U.S. Specialty Lines portfolio and in 2009 was named Head of Risk Management and Reserving for PartnerRe Global. Prior to joining PartnerRe, he worked for Gerling Global Reinsurance Corp of America as Head of Casualty Underwriting and for Milliman as a consulting actuary. Charlie has a BSc in Economics from the State University of New York at Binghamton and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. | |
| Marc Gordon Coordinator, HFA Review United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (Switzerland) Marc Gordon is the Coordinator, HFA Review, in the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). He coordinates the biennial governmental review of progress in implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and now the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and is a contributing author to the Global Assessment Report (GAR). He is also responsible for managing and coordinating collaboration with the OECD, the G20, G8 and G7. From 2006 – 2012 he established and led the UNISDR Donor and Business Partnerships Unit, and continues to support the UNISDR Private Sector Partnership for Risk Sensitive Investment, notably with the insurance industry and financial regulators. Prior to this, he was the Manager of the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Programme (DIPECHO) - South East Asia of the European Commission, operating out of Bangkok, Thailand. From 1997-2003, he served in various capacities from Country Director to Emergency Officer, with both the United Nations & the international non-governmental sector in conflict, complex emergencies, political and chronic crises. Having spent the early part of his career developing multi-disciplinary intervention strategies to respond to the needs of vulnerable populations in fragile states and other situations of instability, since 2003 he has been working to proactively build the resilience of societies, systems and individuals to shocks (current and future), through a better understanding and management of disaster risk. He has extensive experience in supporting and navigating political agenda, and has an extensive track record in building partnerships, whether with community members, public institutions at all levels, or global policy change agents, business and industry. | |
| Liz Green Senior Vice-President, External Relations ICMIF Liz Green joined ICMIF as a Senior Vice-President in 2012. She has almost 20 years of experience in UK financial services and was previously Head of Corporate Affairs for Royal Liver Group (UK) where she headed an award-winning team, working with numerous stakeholders to successfully transform member and employee engagement. During her term as Deputy Chair of Communications for the UK Association of Mutual Insurers (AMI) she led the development of the UK mutual sector’s CSR programme, ‘Fun to Save’, which focused on financial education in primary schools. Liz is now responsible for ICMIF’s influence strategy, which seeks to raise the profile of the sector with the world’s most senior policy makers and commentators. Liz leads a 100-strong Communications Leaders Forum (CLF), selected from ICMIF’s member organizations. The CLF is charged with collaborating to enhance and protect the reputation of the world’s cooperative and mutual insurers and recently met in Finland for their third annual meeting. A certified Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach and in her spare time Liz is training for the Amsterdam half marathon during which she will raise money for Unicef. Liz is married to Richard and they have two children Daniel (13) and Charlotte (9). | |
| Dame Pauline Green President International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Dame Pauline Green is the first woman President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in its 120 year history. Re-elected for a second term at the end of 2013, Pauline urged co-operatives to build on the success and momentum of the UN International Year of Co-operatives (IYC) in 2012. Speaking at the UN General Assembly during the launch of the IYC, Pauline asked the representatives of governments to recognise the impact on the global economy of a model of business that is owned by nearly one billion of the world’s citizens, and which puts people at the centre of its economic decision making. Since then, Pauline has taken the voice of the billion into the UN and its institutions, the FAO, ILO, the World Bank, IMF and the B20 arguing that co-operatives are a more sustainable model of business and bring greater stability and balance to national economies. She has been invited to the Vatican by Pope Francis to support his argument that ‘it is time for the human being to be put back into the global economy’. In 1989, Pauline was elected as a Co-operative Member of the European Parliament. Over the next ten years she rose to be the leader of the largest political group in the European Parliament. In 2000 she became Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK, the apex body for co-ops in the UK. She retired from Co-operatives UK in 2009 after being elected as President of the ICA. On the 25th June 2015, Pauline Green announced that she will retire from her role as President of the Alliance at its forthcoming General Assembly in November 2015. | |
| Daniel Grieger Managing Partner and Head of Private Debt Twelve Capital (Switzerland) Daniel Grieger is a co-founder of Twelve Capital. Prior to co-founding Twelve Capital, Daniel worked for the alternative investment manager Horizon21 in Pfaeffikon, Switzerland, where he was responsible for portfolio and liquidity management of non-life Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) transactions. In 2004, Daniel joined the management consultancy firm BearingPoint in Zurich as a Senior Consultant and was responsible for managing risk, finance and compliance-related projects for major banks and insurance companies worldwide. He also served as a member of BearingPoint’s Banking Practice management team. Daniel began his career in 1999 as an Associate with Swiss Re in Zurich, where he was responsible for executing structured credit transactions involving credit default swaps and financial guaranty technology. Daniel holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where his major areas of study were finance and capital markets. Daniel also holds a German Banking degree. | |
| Jens Henriksson President and CEO Folksam (Sweden) Jens Henriksson has an extensive experience from financial markets, public finances, private companies and international economic affairs, gained during his years as an advisor and policy maker in government, international agencies and policy organs, and president and CEO in private companies. Since September 2013, he has been the President and CEO of Folksam, Sweden’s largest insurance company, active both in life and non-life. Folksam has yearly premiums of around SEK 35 billion (USD 4 billion), and SEK 300 billion (USD 35 billion) in assets under management. Every second Swede has an insurance policy with Folksam. Before joining Folksam he was a Senior Vice President with NASDAQ OMX, the world’s largest exchange company, and the President of the Swedish Stock Exchange, NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. From 1994 to 2006, Jens was with the Swedish Ministry of Finance where he served as State Secretary from 2002 to 2006. At the Ministry, he was responsible for economic development, structural reforms, international financial affairs, Ecofin-related issues, public finances, public procurement, government real estate, and statistics issues. He worked closely with Sweden’s Riksbank and the financial markets and was responsible for IMF, World Bank, NIB, EIB, CEB, EBRD, and Paris Club matters. From 2008 to 2010, Jens was Executive Director at IMF in Washington, D.C., responsible for the Nordic and Baltic region, and worked with the Latvian and Icelandic IMF programs. He has also been a long-time member of the EU Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) and participated in WP3 in OECD, discussing economic policy with G7. | |
| Brad Hewitt CEO Thrivent Financial (USA) Brad Hewitt has the honour to serve a Fortune 500 fraternal society as Chief Executive Officer. Thrivent Financial has a mission to help Christians to be wise with money and to inspire generosity. Thrivent Financial is one of the 10 largest mutual insurance companies in the U.S. The organization currently has more than USD 100 billion dollars of assets under management. Brad joined the organization in 2003. In 2008, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). He was named President and CEO in February 2010. He began his career in 1982 with Minnesota Mutual Life in the Actuarial Services, then joined UnitedHealth Group (UHG) in 1986 and served in a variety of roles ending with being CEO of Diversified Pharmaceutical Services when it was sold. After a successful business career, Brad felt called to an administrative role serving the Lutheran Church from 1998 to 2003. Brad currently serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity International and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). Brad volunteers as co-chair of the Itasca “Mind the Gap” initiative – a public/private sector Twin Cities leadership group – to reduce the barriers of opportunity and reduce the achievement and income gap in the region. Brad and his wife Sue live in Medicine Lake, Minnesota, and have two adult children. | |
| Peter Hunt Managing Partner Mutuo (UK) Peter founded Mutuo in 2001 as the first cross mutual sector body to promote mutual business to opinion formers and decision makers. He has 20 years’ experience in the mutual sector, working with co-operatives, mutuals and employee-owned businesses. For 10 years, he was General Secretary of the Co-operative Party. In 1999, he was a co-founder and secretary of Supporters Direct, the football supporters’ initiative, which has gone on to establish over 100 supporters’ trusts at professional football clubs. He led the Parliamentary teams which piloted five private members bills through the UK Parliament, working with all parties to update co-operative and mutual law. He led the Mutuo teams in major constitutional and governance reviews by the Co-operative Group and Nominet. He is a founder member of the management board of the Oxford Centre for Mutual and Employee-owned business, based at Kellogg College, Oxford University, UK. Since 2004, he has worked closely on a number of public sector structural reforms, including NHS Foundation Trusts, advising both Government and Trust Boards on the adoption of new membership structures. In 2011, he advised the Government on its plans to mutualise Post Office Ltd and in 2012 published the report of the Ownership Commission, a two year study into corporate diversity. In 2015, Peter published an independent review into public policy affecting mutuals and completed work on the Mutuals Deferred Shares Act, which permits mutual insurers to issue cooperative share capital. | |
| Mike Jackson Chief Executive PPS (South Africa) Since taking on his position as Group CEO of PPS Insurance (South Africa) in 2003, Mike Jackson has made a significant contribution to the growth of the business. In 2014, the PPS Group celebrated another excellent year, sharing R3.1 billion in profits in respect of 2014 with PPS members. In addition to his role as CEO, Mike was also the Chairman of the Life Offices’ Association (LOA). His board memberships have been extensive and include representation as Chairman of the Insurance Industry Employers Association and Loadstone Multimanager. He was Managing Director of Charter Life and he served on the boards of Simeka, Ermitage UK, Hightree UK and Kagiso Trust. He further served on the Liberty Main Board, as the Executive Director of Insurance Operations, as well as the boards of Liberty Asset Management, Liberty Collective Investments and Liberty Healthcare . In 2013, Mike was elected as a board member of ICMIF, as well as the Council of the University of the Western Cape. With more than 40 years of experience in business, primarily in the insurance, health care and asset management industries, Mike is an expert in the fields of Bank Assurance, Human Resource Management, Sales and Marketing, Management and Development as well as Strategy Formulation. This, together with a BA (Hons), MA (Industrial Psychology) and an Executive Leadership Programme, from the Manchester Business School, positions Mike well to bring optimal value and support to the company’s top calibre graduate professional clientele. | |
| Andrea Keenan Senior Managing Director - Industry Relations A.M. Best (USA) Andrea Keenan is head of Industry Relations for A.M. Best, based in Oldwick, New Jersey. She is responsible for the developing and maintaining of relationships and communications with key stakeholders of ratings throughout the Americas, including Canada, the USA, Caribbean and Latin America. Prior to assuming this role, Andrea was on assignment in Mexico City as Managing Director of A.M. Best in Latin America, launching A.M. Best’s first Latin American subsidiary. She spent the previous 13 years in various positions at A.M. Best. Before moving to Mexico, Andrea was Vice President – Research and Ratings Criteria and Training, where she was responsible for the creation and distribution of industry research, country risk and economic analysis in support of A.M. Best’s ratings, as well as the development of ratings criteria and analytical training. Andrea has also held the positions of Head of Research and Economic Analysis and Head of Country Risk Analysis at A.M. Best. Prior to joining A.M. Best in July 2000, Andrea was US economic analyst at Toyota Motor North America and an analyst at International Technology and Trade Associates. Currently, Andrea is serving on the Board of Directors of the Microinsurance Network. She holds a master’s degree from American University in International Affairs and a bachelor's degree from York College in International Studies, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Economics from Temple University. | |
| Bruce G. Kelley President and CEO EMC Insurance Companies (USA) Bruce Kelley began his career with EMC Insurance Companies in 1985 when he was named the company's first in-house counsel as well as a vice president. Six years later, he was promoted to his present position of President and CEO of the company. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Kelley earned a law degree at the University of Iowa with a focus on corporate insurance issues and practiced for several years with the Des Moines law firm of Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave before joining EMC. Kelley has led EMC to high levels of performance, earning national honors such as Forbes' 100 Most Trustworthy Companies list and ranking fourth for Developing Leadership Within by Chief Executive Officer magazine. Since Kelley became CEO, Employers Mutual has grown from approximately USD 1 billion in assets to USD 3 billion in assets. Including its life insurance subsidiary, EMC National Life, the enterprise has USD 5 billion in assets and more than 2,200 employees in 25 states. Kelley has served in various roles for numerous national insurance organizations, including the American Association of Insurance Services, the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU), and the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI). He remains the ethics chair for the Iowa CPCU Society, 15 years after completing his four-year president/officer term. He also serves the Des Moines Rotary as its current president. In May 2015, Kelley was inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame. | |
| Sean Kidney CEO Climate Bonds Initiative (UK) Sean Kidney is the CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international NGO working to mobilize debt capital markets for climate solutions. Projects include a green bond definitions and certification scheme with USD 34 trillion of assets represented on its Board and some 50 organizations involved in its development and governance; developing proposals for the European Commission on Europe’s role in mobilizing private sector capital for climate solutions; and working with the China’s central bank on how to grow green bonds in China. Sean is is Consultant (Green Bonds) to the United Nations Secretary General; a member of the German International Aid Ministry’s TRANSfer Expert Group on “Using Climate Financing to Leverage Sustainable Transport”; and was a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Expert Committee on Climate Finance. He was previously an award-winning marketing advisor to a number of the largest Australian pension funds and a social marketer and publisher. Sean has four daughters and lives in London with his partner. | |
| Faye Lageu Vice-President, Business Intelligence ICMIF Faye joined ICMIF in 1995 and currently has overall responsibility for Business Intelligence which includes market research and analysis, strategic and financial reports, member publications and the ICMIF conference agenda. She has led ICMIF’s work on corporate social responsibility and sustainability since it first began, and is now involved in its contributions to resilience and disaster risk reduction, including the Smart Risk investing initiative. She holds an MBA with specializations in risk and insurance, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR), from Nottingham University Business School (UK). She has a keen interest in the strategic and economic benefits of sustainability, is a regular conference speaker and article contributor and has authored three ICMIF reports on the topic. Faye is a member of the UNEP-FI (United Nations’ Environment Program – Finance Initiative) Principles for Sustainable Insurance team. She is also an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK). | |
| Monique F. Leroux Chair of the Board, President and CEO Desjardins Group (Canada) Monique F. Leroux is the Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada. Ms. Leroux is a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, the Founders' Council of the Quebec Global 100 Network, the Board of Governors of Finance Montréal, the Canadian Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service, the Economic Advisory Council to the Federal Minister of Finance, the Government of Canada’s Advisory Council on Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board, the Trilateral Commission and the B20 Financing Growth Taskforce. In 2015, Ms. Leroux was asked to represent the Canadian business group at the B7 Summit in Berlin and at the G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women. Ms. Leroux is also a member of the Board of Directors of CIC, a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel and the International Confederation of Popular Banks. Already active with the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), she chairs the International Accounting and Regulatory Affairs Committee and the High Level Contact Group of the European Association of Co-operative Banks. Ms. Leroux has received a number of honours, including being named a Member of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec and a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur (France). She is also the recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award (United States), the Outstanding Achievement Award and Fellowship from the CPA Order, and the Institute of Corporate Directors Fellowship Award. She also holds honorary doctorates from eight Canadian universities. | |
| Admarie Marcelo Vice President and COO CLIMBS (The Philippines) Admarie Marcelo is the Vice President and COO of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, a composite insurance owned by over 2,000 primary cooperatives in the Philippines. Admarie is a graduate of Mindanao State University in 1994, where she received a B.S. in Business Administration major in Accounting. She was certified as a Public Accountant in 2000. After graduation, Admarie began her career at SGS Philippines in Makati City, Philippines where she began her specialization in Branch Accounting, Treasury and as ISO Auditor. In 1999, Admarie moved to Ergo Group where she attained various promotions from being an Export Accountant to being placed as Internal Audit Manager, Corporate Planning Manager, Finance and Administration Manager and then as CFO. In 2009, Admarie felt the need to be professionally involved in a job that will allow her to give back to the community. She responded to the call of her hometown credit union – Tagum Cooperative (TC) by signing the post as the cooperative’s first General Manager and CEO. Admarie’s significant accomplishments while working at TC also included TC’s fast attainment of its billionaire status (attained in June 2010 instead of its original target in 2012) and TC’s continuous achievement as a branded finance organization achieving certified credit union standards. Admarie is a certified Development Educator for Asia by the Association of Asia Confederation of Credit Unions based in Bangkok, Thailand. She is actively involved in the various co-op networks through the apex organization Philippine Cooperative Center, as a volunteer and as an officer. | |
| Bill McKinney Vice-President, Strategy & Long Term Development Management Thrivent Financial (USA) Bill McKinney is Vice President, Strategy and Long Term Development Management and People Solutions at Thrivent Financial. In his role at Thrivent, he is responsible for developing and launching new ways for members to work with Thrivent that leverage the unique fraternal nature of the company. Prior to joining Thrivent Financial, McKinney was an Engagement Manager based in the Minneapolis office of McKinsey & Company where he served a variety of clients on issues related to strategy, organization design, and operations effectiveness. Previously, McKinney managed a same-day delivery firm in Minneapolis. McKinney also serves as the President of the Board for the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Bill is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of the Directors of the American Fraternal Alliance (AFA) having served as Chair of the Board from 2013-2014. He is also a member of ICMIF’s Intelligence Committee. McKinney has an MBA from The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a BA from Carleton College. | |
| Melina Morrison CEO Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (Australia) Melina Morrison was appointed the inaugural CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) in July 2013. The BCCM formed in 2013 following a national campaign Melina led in 2012, to raise awareness of the contribution of co-operative businesses in the Australian economy. From 2010-2013 Melina headed the national Steering Committee and Secretariat that oversaw Australia's International Year of Co-operatives (IYC) campaign. She is a founding director of the cooperative businesses advocacy organisation, Social Business Australia, established in 2009 to increase recognition of the added value of member based business in the national economy. For the last ten years, Melina has headed media campaigns for peak co-op bodies including the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). Melina wrote and produced the flagship ICA Digest (2006-2012) and was on the international media team for the ICA in 2012 as the world celebrated the International Year of Co-operatives. Furthermore, she developed the message platform for the ICA's 10 year plan, Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade. She is also an associate of media firm, Sommerson Communications, which developed the strategy for the global digital case study site www.stories.coop. Melina is a graduate from the University of Tasmania. | |
| Michael Morrissey President and CEO International Insurance Society (USA) Michael J. Morrissey is President and CEO of the International Insurance Society (IIS). The IIS is the world’s largest and most diverse industry organization, with members representing global insurance leaders, international regulatory authorities and worldwide insurance scholars from over 95 countries. Prior to joining IIS, Mr. Morrissey was Chairman and CEO, Firemark Investments. He has advised insurance company managements and regulators and served on a number of insurance company boards in North America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Morrissey currently is a member on the Board of Directors of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. and is Chairman of its Finance Committee. Mr. Morrissey is a member of the Board of Overseers of the St. John’s University School of Risk Management, Senior Advisor to the Asia-Pacific Financial Forum (APFF) and a member of the Board of Governors of the Asia Pacific Risk & Insurance Association. He is also a member of the American Risk & Insurance Association and the Group of Risk & Insurance Economists. He is an advisor to the United Nations Environmental Program Finance Initiative’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance, and was the global insurance industry representative on the Private Sector Taskforce on Regulatory Convergence in Financial Services, organized by the G20. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Council on Insurance and Asset Management. Mr. Morrissey holds a B.A. from Boston College, an M.B.A. from Dartmouth College and graduated from the Harvard Business School’s Corporate Finance Management Program. Mr. Morrissey is also a CFA charter holder and past President of the Association of Insurance and Financial Analysts. | |
| Hiroshi Nakaseko President Zenrosai (Japan) Mr. Hiroshi Nakaseko is President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zenrosai (National Federation of Workers and Consumers Insurance Co-operatives). Based on the co-operative principle, Zenrosai provides insurance and mutual help for its members in Japan. It was established in 1957 and has mainly been run by trade union members as a part of the workers’ welfare movement: however, its service expands to all workers and consumers in the community today. Mr Nakaseko joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, now known as Panasonic Corporation, one of the leading electronics companies in Japan. Soon he also started to serve in the trade union and held senior positions in its group unions throughout his career. He joined Zenrosai as Head Director of Osaka prefectural office in 2009, and then became Head Director of the Middle Regional Office in 2011. In 2013, he was elected as President of Zenrosai by the General Assembly. He is a Board member of ICMIF and Japan Joint Committee of Co-operatives (JJC). | |
| Ken Ng Chief Executive NTUC Income (Singapore) Ken Ng, 46, was appointed Chief Executive of NTUC Income in 2013. He joined NTUC Income in 2007 as its Chief Actuary and Chief Risk Officer. Prior to assuming the position of Chief Executive, Ken held key positions such as General Manager of Distribution and Life Insurance. He also led in strategy development. Before joining NTUC Income, Ken held senior roles in global insurance companies. He was based in the UK, China, Hong Kong and Singapore at different times. Ken is a graduate of the London School of Economics and holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Imperial College School of Management, UK. He is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, UK. | |
| Clive O'Connell Partner Goldberg Segalla (UK) Clive O’Connell is recognised as one of the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance legal professionals. He has focused his practice on reinsurance law since qualifying as a solicitor in 1982. Before joining Goldberg Segalla in 2012, he was previously the head of the Commercial Risk and Reinsurance Department at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert in London. His experience includes representing clients in some of the largest reinsurance disputes in recent years, including disputes involving sums in excess of USD 100 million and multijurisdictional issues, and he has acted for clients on wording both of their general programmes as well as unique transactions. He has also been involved in every aspect of run-off and exit strategies for reinsurers and insurers. Clive is ranked highly in all major international legal ranking directories. The Chambers and Partners Global Guide listed Clive in its 2014 edition as one of the UK’s top-ranking reinsurance lawyers. In December 2014 he was named by Insurance Day as one of the 50 most influential people in the global insurance and reinsurance industry, the only lawyer on the list. He is currently the UK representative for DRI (Defense Research Institute) International, as well as General Counsel of the International Insurance Society (IIS). Mr. O’Connell writes regularly for publications including Insurance Day, Reactions, and Global Reinsurance. | |
| Sabbir Patel Senior Vice-President, Emerging Markets ICMIF Sabbir joined ICMIF in 1996 and qualified as a chartered certified account (FCCA) in 2001. In 2002 he completed his Masters degree at the Institute of Development and Policy Management (IDPM) and holds a CII Diploma. He is responsible for the ICMIF Development function and works closely with new/emerging member organizations providing technical assistance, capital support, advocacy and regular publications and events. More recently he has overseen the development of the ICMIF Microinsurance Simulation which is now being run in workshops across various countries. In addition Sabbir is spearheading the Federations support to the Takaful (Islamic Insurance) sector since 2001, setting up the ICMIF Takaful website (www.takaful.coop), Takaful and Mutuality Journal, annual Seminar and building close collaboration with GTG and IFTI to further the mutual values in Takaful and microtakaful. As a result ICMIF now has nineteen Takaful and ReTakaful operators as member organizations. | |
| Mike Pritula Director McKinsey & Company (USA) Michael S. Pritula is a Director of McKinsey & Company. He is a partner in McKinsey's New York Office, where he is a senior leader in its strategy practice, serving the insurance industry on issues of strategy. His work includes extensive experience in all areas of the world, and he serves clients based in Asia, North America, and Europe. Mr. Pritula’s views on the insurance industry are published widely, with articles on strategy, industry structure and other topics appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Best’s Review and other publications. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and management retreats. Mr. Pritula serves on the Boards of New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, the St. John's School of Risk Management in New York, the International Insurance Society (IIS), the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation and The Joyce Ivy Foundation. He is a graduate of Princeton University, and holds a graduate degree from Stanford University. | |
| Pooja Rahman Vice President, International Regulatory Affairs New York Life (USA) Pooja Rahman is responsible for developing and implementing substantive policy positions influencing domestic and international policymakers’ decisions on issues related to international solvency and accounting standards for insurers, as well as on insurance supervision. Prior to joining New York Life, Ms. Rahman was manager and counsel, international policy and analysis for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Prior to the NAIC, she was director, senior corporate counsel for Aviva plc, and in-house counsel for the Iowa Insurance Division. Additionally, she worked at Principal Financial Group as a technical analyst. Ms. Rahman earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai, an M.B.A. from the University of New Orleans, and a J.D. from Drake University Law School. She resides in New Providence, New Jersey with her husband, Hashmath, and their two children. | |
| Holly Ransom 2014 co-Chair G20 Youth (Y20) Summit and CEO Emergent Solutions (Australia) Holly Ransom is the CEO of Emergent Solutions, a company specialising in the development of high performing intergenerational workforces, leadership and social outcomes. In 2012, she was the youngest person to be named in Australia’s ‘100 Most Influential Women’, and also became the world’s youngest-ever Rotary President. In 2014, the Australian Prime Minister appointed Holly to chair the G20 Youth (Y20) Summit, and her corporate career has involved working as Chief of Staff to NAB Wealth Chief Executive Andrew Hagger and for Rio Tinto CEO Sam Walsh. Holly’s company Emergent Solutions has worked with the likes of INPEX, CBH, Conoco Phillips, KPMG, as well as local, state and federal government departments around the world. Holly is renowned for generating innovative solutions to complex multi-stakeholder problems for corporations, governments and non-profit organisations, and for coaching and professionally mentoring leaders of all generations around the world. | |
| Teresa Rasmussen President Thrivent Financial (USA) Teresa J. Rasmussen was promoted to President of Thrivent Financial’s core fraternal business unit in September 2015. In her new role, Rasmussen assumed leadership of the core business of Thrivent, and is responsible for the organization’s focus on delivering strong sales and membership results. Prior to this appointment, Terry served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, where she led more than 230 professionals in the corporate risk management and external affairs departments. Before joining Thrivent in 2005, Terry served in progressively responsible legal positions with American Express and Ameriprise Financial. At American Express she was responsible for global legal support of financial service products and services. She began her legal career in 1984 as part of the U.S. Attorney General’s honors program where she was a trial attorney in the tax division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. After passing the CPA exam, Terry earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota. She is a member of the bar in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado. Terry serves on the boards of Walker Art Center and InFaith Community Foundation. She was recently appointed to the B20 Financing Growth Taskforce. She is president of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel. She is chair of the legal section for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and serves on the global risk management committee for ACLI. She is the past chair of the American Fraternal Alliance (AFA), the trade association for fraternal benefit societies, and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. | |
| Kumar Shailabh Executive Director Uplift Mutuals (India) Shailabh has been associated with Uplift Mutuals since its inception and leads it in the capacity of Executive Director. Uplift Mutuals is one of the pioneers in developing community-owned models of mutual health micro- insurance in India and has been recognized as one of the high client value models in India. Shailabh has been instrumental in setting up Health Mutuals in rural areas of India and making the mutuals model technically sound and robust. Shailabh has a strong interest in community capital, health, education and emerging technologies and is currently experimenting with a low cost model of providing primary health care and plans to scale the mutual model across low income communities in India. | |
| Tamotsu Shozui President of the Board of Directors Zenkyoren (Japan) Tamotsu Shozui joined Zenkyoren in 1975. Beginning his career in the Sales Department, he also worked in the Product Development Department, Securities Department and Corporate Planning Department, where he gained experience in a wide range of business activities. He later held positions as General Manager in the Affiliated Business Improvement Department, Human Resources Department and Corporate Planning Department, after which he assumed several management positions as Standing Auditor, Managing Director and Senior Managing Director of Zenkyoren. In July 2014, he was appointed as President of the Board of Directors, and as such, he continues to show his leadership in the management of Zenkyoren. During his term of office as Senior Managing Director, Mr Shozui established a long-term, sound and stable income base by applying the asset-liability management (ALM) framework to the fund management of Zenkyoren with a business scale of more than 50 trillion yen (USD 420 billion) in total assets and 6 trillion yen (USD 50 billion) in premium and other insurance income. Now, as President of the Board of Directors, Mr Shozui is leading its efforts to enhance comprehensive risk management of all business operations of the organization and to promote more community-rooted businesses and thorough efficient operations in order to achieve Zenkyoren’s mission to provide a wide range of security and satisfaction to its members and policyholders and support further development of local communities. | |
| Nick Shufro Director, Sustainable Business Solutions and AR!SE PwC (USA) Nick is the PwC US lead for AR!SE in the Americas and Southeast Asia. AR!SE is United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Private Sector Alliance for Risk-Sensitive Investment. AR!SE is a multi-stakeholder, global initiative operating under the UN umbrella – mobilizing businesses, public sector, academia, civil society, insurance industry and investors to make investments risk-sensitive and create risk-resilient societies – and includes several insurance related projects. Nick has more than 25 years of sustainability, energy, financial, supply and EH&S management and performance reporting experience including working and consulting for industry, government, utilities, trade associations and non-governmental agencies in the US, Europe, Asia and Central America. Nick joined PwC in 2003 after working for the US-Asia Environmental Partnership, United Technologies Corporation and Merrill Lynch. Recent engagements include the Carbon Disclosure Project 2008-2013; Co-chair World Business Council for Sustainable Development/World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas Scope 3 Standard; Walmart's Supply Chain GHG Innovation Project; and developing the PwC US carbon footprint baseline. Nick holds a Masters of Environmental Management from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business Administration, and a B.A. in Honors History from the University of Michigan. | |
| Lindsay Sinclair Group Chief Executive NFU Mutual (UK) Lindsay Sinclair was appointed Group Chief Executive of NFU Mutual Insurance Society Ltd on 1 November 2008. Prior to joining NFU Mutual he was CEO of ING Direct (UK) and over a period of 25 years Lindsay has also run retail businesses around the world for Barclays, ING and Standard Chartered (including bancassurance together with AIA across South East Asia). In addition to being an ICMIF Board Member, Lindsay sits on the General Insurance Committee of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). | |
| Ann Sommer CEO Länsförsäkringar Sak (Sweden) Ann has a long, wide and solid experience in insurance. She began her career in 1983 as an accounting manager for Skandia International, Sweden, and was later appointed CFO of Wasa International in 1988 (both company groups were active in the reinsurance business). In 1993, Ann received her first director appointment and over time she has become a director of more and more companies within reinsurance and direct insurance, both domestic and international. Since 2000, Ann has been CEO of the non-life insurance group “Länsförsäkringar Sak” owned by Länsförsäkringar AB. Her main responsibilities are animals insurance, health, medical / medical and accident insurance, liability, transportation, and specialty, including the responsibility for the entire Länsförsäkringar Alliance's reinsurance programs. Through the years, Ann has built up a vast knowledge in most areas of insurance relating to non-life insurance. After 22 years as a CEO, Ann is well versed in both earnings and balance sheets. Ann is married to an Australian, and has three children, five horses, two dogs and a cat. | |
| Ruth Soto General Manager Cooperativa Nacional de Seguros (Dominican Republic) Ms. Soto has a Bachelor of Marketing from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, the official State University of the Dominican Republic. From a young age she began developing her professional career in the field of cooperatives and insurance. She has trained in management, business leadership and cooperative finance. She is a specialist in insurance business, achieving successful results at various levels nationwide, and has an extensive knowledge in financial analysis, planning, international business, budgeting, insurance and reinsurance. She has held numerous management positions and is currently the General Manager of COOPSEGUROS, a position she has held since September 2014. She is also a member of the Board of the Latin American Reinsurance Group (LARG). Ms. Soto’s recognitions in the cooperative sector, include: “Women Entrepreneurs”, Coop. Herrera; “Women Enecoop 2015”, National School of Cooperatives; and Revolutionary General Manager at the XXVI General Assembly of Delegates at COOPSEGUROS. The Business Year, an English magazine, published an article about the insurance sector in Dominican Republic, in which Ms. Soto participated with significant contributions on the theme of cooperative insurance. | |
| Antony Spalton Risk Reduction and Resilience Specialist UNICEF (USA) Antony has worked for the humanitarian and development sector for more than 20 years. With an M.A. in Rural Social Development, Antony has worked for NGOs and has spent 16 years with the Red Cross Movement including work in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, Rwanda and Tanzania. In 2008, Antony joined UNICEF as the organisation’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and resilience adviser. Currently based in New York, Antony works through UNICEF’s country offices to support governments and partners to strengthen the resilience of children and the systems that support them to shocks and stresses. This includes working with UNISDR, other UN partners and the private sector to deliver on commitments to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. UNICEF has a focus on child sensitive risk assessment, disaster preparedness and social services including education, water, health and child protection, that reduce risk and strengthen resilience. Safe school structures, school preparedness and teaching and learning materials that promote a culture of safety and resilience at the local level is a particular niche for the organization. | |
| Anders Sundström Chair ICMIF Anders Sundström serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Swedish Cooperative Union and Chair of the Board of Directors of Swedbank. Mr. Sundström served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Folksam General and Folksam Life from 2004 to September 2013 and Chairman of Folksam Life from 2014 to April 2015. Mr Sundström served as Minister for Employment from 1994 to 1996, Minister for Enterprise and Energy from 1996 to 1998, and Minister for Social Affairs in 1998. From 1998 to 2002 he served as Chief Executive Officer of Sparbanken Nord (the Savings bank Nord) and from 2002 to 2004 he served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Sparbanken Nord. He served as a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2004. Mr Sundström holds a BA Degree (Soc. Sci.) from Umeå University. | |
| Shaun Tarbuck Chief Executive ICMIF Shaun joined the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) in 1995 as Vice-President, Membership and Finance and was appointed Chief Executive in 2005. He is a board member of the Climate Bonds Initiative and a board member of Regis Mutual Management. Shaun has established working relationships with key global policymakers in areas as diverse as climate change; disaster risk resilience; poverty alleviation; economic growth; and regulation/legislation. This includes regular contact with the G20 and B20 (where he sits on the B20 Financial Regulation taskforce); the United Nations, including speaking at the UN General Assembly; the UNISDR where he spoke at the WCDRR Conference on integrating risk into the financial system; the UNDP (with a seat on the Insurance Development Forum); the IMF; the World Bank; the OECD; and the more insurance specific arenas of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). Shaun regularly speaks at conferences on mutuality, regulation, governance, marketing, branding and other strategic issues affecting the mutual and cooperative insurance sector. He writes articles and blogs on mutual insurance and has contributed to several research projects on the sector. Shaun is a chartered accountant, married to Francesca with four adult children. He has a passion for most sports but particularly rugby union – a sport he has played, coached and refereed. | |
| Hilde Vernaillen Chair of the Management Committee P&V Group (Belgium) Hilde Vernaillen has been working in the financial services industry for more than twenty years and is a committed defender of the mutual/cooperative business model in insurance. She is a regular conference speaker on various subjects of insurance, mutual and cooperative business. Hilde was appointed as CEO of P&V Insurance and VIVIUM in 2011 after twenty years in the P&V Group, first in the bank and later on in the insurance companies. She is a member of the ICMIF Board and President of AMICE (Association of Mutual Insurers and Insurance Cooperatives in Europe) since June 2013. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Euresa Holding, an European Economic Interest Group for cooperation and collaboration among the European insurance companies belonging to the Social Economy, and President of the Board of Directors of Febecoop which promotes and defends the co-operative model at regional, federal, European and international level. Furthermore, she is a member of the Board and the Executive Committee of the Belgian insurance association (Assuralia), and several other organisations in Belgium and other European countries. | |
| Sebastian von Dahlen Chairman, G-SII Analysts Working Group (G-AWG) International Association of Insurance Supervisors (Switzerland) Dr. Sebastian von Dahlen is the Chairman of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Global Systemically Important Insurers (G-SIIs) Analysts Working Group (G-AWG). This work within the IAIS is guided by the respective G20 / Financial Stability Board (FSB) requirements. Prior to his appointment, Sebastian was part of the IAIS Secretariat, most recently as Economic Counsellor (Chief Economist). His current responsibilities also include tasks with both the World Bank and the United Nations where he contributes to increasing disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework), improving regulatory requirements, advancing access to insurance, and progressing risk- and change-management. In helping to progress related tasks on the ground in different regions Sebastian works with governments, regulators, companies and other relevant organisations. At the same time, Sebastian has been contributing recognised research together with his co-authors. His most recent publications include: “Effective regulation for mutual and cooperative insurers” (in ICMIF’s Voice magazine), “Insurance regulation for sustainable development: protecting human rights against climate risk and natural hazards” (University of Cambridge report), “Integrating disaster risk and resilience in financial & wider regulation” (in Exploring Extremes: building resilience for the future), and “Reinsurance and stability: catering to the needs of countries at different stages of development” (in The Journal of Financial Perspectives). Furthermore, Sebastian has been quoted in distinguished international media, such as The Economist report on “The cost of inaction: Recognising the value at risk from climate change” (August 2015). Sebastian studied economics and natural sciences at different universities in Europe and the USA, including a period as research fellow at the University of California at Berkeley. Sebastian´s experience includes senior roles in regulation, academia and experience within the insurance sector. | |
| Margareta Wahlström Special Representative of the Secretary-General For Disaster Risk Reduction United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (Switzerland) In November 2008, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Ms. Margareta Wahlström as his first Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction. Ms. Wahlström is the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the UN system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Under her leadership, the UNISDR supports the implementation of the "Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters" and now the "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030" throughout the world. Ms. Wahlström has extensive experience in both disaster relief operations and disaster risk management, with the UN system and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Her broad experience spans conflict and non-conflict emergencies, and addressing long-term issues of sustainable development. Her previous appointments include Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2004-2008); UN Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance to the Tsunami-Affected Communities (2004-2005); Deputy Special Representative for Relief, Recovery and Rehabilitation, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (2002-2004); and Under-Secretary-General for Disaster Response and Operations and Deputy Director Operations, IFRC (1995-2000). | |
| John Weber Senior Associate Editor A.M. Best (USA) John Weber is a veteran reporter of the insurance industry having worked for A.M. Best for nearly a decade. He has covered numerous conferences including RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society), the Vermont Captive Insurance Association, PCI (Property Casualty Insurers Association of America) and NAPSLO (National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices), and has interviewed industry leaders worldwide. In addition to covering the insurance industry, John can be heard as a fill in news anchor for National Public Radio (NPR) station WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, USA, and is a frequent contributor to NPR programs. John has also written and produced documentaries for public television. John is thrilled to be covering the ICMIF Conference in Minneapolis for A.M. BestTV. | |
| Rob Wesseling Executive Vice-President and COO, P&C Operations The Co-operators (Canada) Rob joined The Co-operators as an Application Architect in 1997 after completing his MSc. Applied Statistics from the University of Guelph. Rob currently holds the roles of Executive Vice-President and COO of P&C Operations and Executive Vice-President and COO of The Sovereign General. Rob was appointed COO of The Sovereign General in June 2007 and, in November 2012, he took on the additional role of Executive Vice-President, National P&C Product. Previously, Rob successfully held a number of positions in increasingly senior leadership roles within The Co-operators. These roles covered a breadth of focus areas including product design, pricing and segmentation, technology development, business information, client relationship management and government relations. Rob has served on a number of boards in the insurance industry and is actively involved in youth sport on a volunteer basis. | |
| Matthew White Human Resources Generalist The Co-operators (Canada) Matt grew up in rural Saskatchewan, Canada in a small town without stoplights and one grocery store; a Co-op, incidentally. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Regina, where he was the recipient of the University Prize for the highest GPA in his graduating class. He started his professional career with The Co-operators shortly thereafter, based out of Regina, Saskatchewan, and now works in Human Resources. For Matt, this work experience has ignited a passion for the cooperative model and what it stands for. Matt is currently developing a program that will educate Regina’s youth on the merits of cooperatives, ensuring the future of cooperation will be in good hands. Matt is also particularly proud of his recent involvement in helping to bring a Living Wage to The Co-operators, replacing the notion of a minimum wage and ensuring employees have the financial means to support their families. Matt is extremely excited about the future of cooperatives and hopes to play an important role in their future. | |
| Monica Woodley Editorial Director, Thought Leadership The Economist Group (UK) Monica manages a team of editors across EMEA who produce bespoke research programmes for a range of clients. In her six years with the Economist Group, she personally has managed research programmes for companies such as Barclays, BlackRock, State Street, BNY Mellon, Goldman Sachs, Mastercard, EY, Deloitte and PwC, on topics ranging from the impact of financial regulation, to the development of innovation ecosystems, to how consumer demand is driving retail innovation. Monica regular chairs and presents at Economist conferences, such as Bellwether Europe, the Insurance Summit and the Future of Banking, as well as third-party events such as the UN Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, the Geneva Association General Assembly and the Globes Israel Business Conference. Prior to joining The Economist Group, Monica was a financial journalist specialising in wealth and asset management at the Financial Times, Euromoney and Incisive Media. She has a master’s degree in politics from Georgetown University and holds the Certificate of Financial Planning. | |
