21 March 2018Analysis

Diversity, cyber and blockchain themes for Bermuda Captive Conference


Board diversity, female leadership, cyber risk, blockchain and climate change will be among the hot topics shaping the 2018 agenda of the 14th Bermuda Captive Conference, slated for June 11–13 at Fairmont Southampton.

The three-day agenda features a mix of moderated panels and roundtables focusing on fast-changing insurance issues, including insurtech, US tax reform, pensions and employee benefits, healthcare and cyber risk, and investment strategies. Bermuda is the top global captive jurisdiction, home to nearly 740 captive insurance companies supporting primarily Fortune 500 corporations in the US and generating $55 billion in annual gross written premiums.

Diversity—of risk, talent and products—is the theme of this year’s conference that will feature human rights visionary Derreck Kayongo and insurance industry leader Jonathan Reiss as spotlight speakers. Key industry sessions will explore the issue of board diversity and the perspective of millennials, while an opening-day session spotlighting female corporate leaders, titled “Women in the Captive Industry—Empowering Industry Awareness,” is also expected to be well-attended.

“It’s important to recognise the impact of diversity within the industry, particularly that of women, Bermudians, and young insurance professionals, as the captive insurance sector evolves,” said Grainne Richmond, President of the Bermuda Insurance Management Association (BIMA). “We’ll highlight some very successful women— senior executives who are excellent role models for young men and women. We feel their insights will inspire the whole audience, especially younger attendees who are just heading into captive careers.”

Overall, David Gibbons, Agenda Committee Chair, added: “This year’s conference agenda also addresses the many changes affecting the industry, particularly in the global tax and regulatory environment. “You have increased guidelines, AML, new accounting pronouncements such as short-duration contracts under US GAAP, changes in interest rates—and our programme will explore many of these issues. We’ll have sessions dealing with investments, diversification, and risk appetite for insurers and captive insurers and how that matches to potential returns.”

Hot topics fueling include cyber and data protection, the emerging blockchain juggernaut, employee pensions and benefits, the increased frequency and severity of weather-related losses, plus a look at emerging markets such as Latin America, Asia and Canada.


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Analysis
21 March 2018   Representatives from major client corporations self-insuring via Bermuda captives including General Motors, Caterpillar, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and True Value Hardware Stores will speak at the 2018 Bermuda Captive Conference.

More on this story

Analysis
21 March 2018   Representatives from major client corporations self-insuring via Bermuda captives including General Motors, Caterpillar, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and True Value Hardware Stores will speak at the 2018 Bermuda Captive Conference.