Guernsey can lead in risk financing as Airmic 2025 opens

Rupert Pleasant (pictured), chief executive of Guernsey Finance, has helped formally to open the 2025 Airmic Guernsey conference with a warm welcome to delegates, noting the breadth of attendees from risk professionals and regulators to practitioners and service providers.

Speaking on behalf of his team, he expressed delight at co-hosting this year’s conference, themed “Leading the way in international risk financing” and emphasised the importance of collaboration in tackling shared industry challenges.

Pleasant highlighted Guernsey’s status as a leading international finance centre, underpinned by a robust regulatory framework, decades of captive expertise and a highly collaborative ecosystem of service providers. Together, he said, these elements enable Guernsey to deliver innovative solutions to pressing global risks, from climate change to cyber threats. The island’s agile and specialist focus makes it an ideal partner for international risk financing, whether through captives, protected cell companies or insurance-linked securities.

He paid tribute to the Guernsey International Insurance Association for its input on content, speakers and sponsorship, before acknowledging the vital support of key sponsors including Aon, Artex Risk Solutions, BWCI, Davies Group, Howden, Marsh, SRS Management Services and Willis Towers Watson, alongside title sponsor Titan Wealth. Pleasant remarked that last year’s conference had set a high benchmark but expressed confidence that the 2025 programme would match it, particularly with Dr Jo Salter MBE, Britain’s first female fast jet pilot, delivering the keynote address.

Pleasant outlined the day’s schedule, including breakout sessions on captives, climate risk, AI, geopolitics, employee benefits and cyber resilience, as well as a plenary panel on captives moderated by Julia Graham. He encouraged delegates to engage actively, network during breaks, challenge speakers with questions and provide feedback via the event’s QR code to help shape future conferences.

Concluding, he reaffirmed Guernsey’s pride in hosting the event and expressed hope that new partnerships, productive discussions, and innovative ideas would emerge to shape the future of international risk financing.

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