What is the most accurate metric to measure a conference’s success? The quality of speakers, the amount of sponsorships raised, the number of attendees, the level of participation in the event itself, and much more. Whatever metrics you choose, Airmic’s 1st Ireland Island Forum 2022 was a huge success.
In an interview with Insurance Business UK, the association’s CEO, Julia Graham (pictured), described the first (but not the last) meeting of its kind and the reaction it has received from risk management professionals across the Irish island market. I looked back on She pointed out that the Airmic team had to end both registration and sponsorship.
“It was full, so it was exciting,” she said.
How Airmic first expanded into Ireland
Airmic hosting the Irish Island forum was like “a leap into the unknown,” she added, but there were several pressing factors behind the decision to do so. First, Airmic has always had members in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Seeking opportunities to accommodate these representatives was therefore a natural next step, and especially timely as captives have become so important to Dublin.
Graham says being encouraged to host an event by an existing Airmic member was a catalyst, as well as her own personal connections. In her previous insurance role, her authority extended to the company’s business there, and she attended every insurance association dinner in the North and South during the year. She says she traveled there a lot and has so many fond memories of it that she didn’t need much encouragement to go back.
“So we decided to host the Ireland Island event in Dublin because the biggest risk and insurance community on the island is Dublin,” she said. It’s accessible and meant we could go back and forth in a day without having to park the car on the street and paying for an overnight stay.”
Gathering the right contacts to ensure a great event
Once the decision was made, Airmic embarked on discussions with new contacts in the market and established relationships with Brokers Ireland and Insurance Ireland. Airmic’s message of ‘collaboration, not competition’ was welcomed, and both associations expressed their commitment and full support to the initiative.
“We want the island to succeed as an international center for risk management and insurance,” she said.
Airmic’s stance as a non-profit industry association, operating solely for the benefit of its members and partners, resonated with both Brokers Ireland and Insurance Ireland, and the broader market at large. As such, the team began leveraging contacts with both Ireland and its UK partners located there. It quickly became apparent how many Airmic members and partners had an Irish presence, and there was both enthusiasm and support for the idea of the new forum, she said.
Aviation, Cyber and Regulatory Reform – Topics of the Day
As for the event itself, Graham designed it very much for the Irish Isle audience with all the keynotes, panels and sessions tackling the topics that are dominating the market at the moment, from aviation to insurance reform to cyber risk. I said that it is.
“Of course, these conferences are or are not built on the quality of the speakers,” Graham said, emphasizing the high-quality line-up of experts who participated in the discussions. “We were also very fortunate to have Dara Calleary, Minister of Government, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Business Regulation, at the opening of the event. We talked about some of the big issues specific to Ireland that we want.”
Once again, Graham pays tribute to Airmic’s network of contacts in Ireland, particularly Moyagh Murdock, CEO of Insurance Ireland and Cathie Shannon, General Insurance Director of Brokers Ireland, saying they are the best keynote speaker and the best. panelist.
Special mention should be made to George Ong, Member of Airmic and CRO of Northern Ireland Water. His inspiration brought the event to life in the first place, and he became a valuable member of the organizing project team. I should also mention his sponsorship of Forum Platinum and his sponsorship of events. The Forum would not have been possible without their financial and intellectual support.
“Now that we have run the forum and made business connections there, we can see that the island is really taking off as a financial and insurance hub,” she said. …and it won’t be a one off for us, we plan to have another forum in Dublin in October 2023 and an event in Belfast.
“We also plan to conduct a Special Interest Group session for the islands at the conference in Manchester in June 2023. We have a programme. And when we asked those who came to Dublin in October if they will be back in 2023, they said yes. “
