WRCIC 2026 sets inclusion benchmark with 50/50 speaker split
The Western Region Captive Insurance Conference opened its 2026 conference at The Cosmopolitan Convention Center in Las Vegas this week, with organisers hailing what they said was a sold-out event with captive insurance professionals, regulators, service providers, and industry leaders from across the country.
In a statement the organisers said: “With 43 states represented and numerous domicile regulators on hand from across the country ready to do business, WRCIC 2026 has brought together an influential and engaged gathering in the captive insurance industry. From regulatory leadership to top-tier service providers and captive owners, this year’s conference reflects the depth, strength, and continued momentum of the market.”
According to the WRCIC’s organisers this year’s event was distinguished by 50/50 speaker representation, with women and men speakers side by side on stage and women’s expertise amplified across every discipline louder than ever before. They said that the result is a powerful milestone for inclusion, representation, and the future of the industry — driving visibility, leadership, and community forward while setting a bold new benchmark for inclusive industry programming.
“This is truly an exceptional moment in time for our industry,” said Renea Louie, Chair of WRCIC. “WRCIC 2026 sets a new standard in captive insurance — equal stage, equal voice. Women and men speakers are standing side by side, and women’s expertise is being amplified across every discipline louder than ever before. This conference is driving visibility, leadership, and community forward, and it marks a milestone moment for inclusion, representation, and the future of the industry. We owe a great deal of thanks to Heather McClure, co-chair of the session committee, and her entire team for accomplishing this achievement. Together, we can meet any goals we set for WRCIC as a strong board that leads and serves others every day.”
The opening day program showcased the depth and quality of this year’s agenda, said the organisers. The keynote address was by Mark Habersack, executive director of risk management at Resorts World Las Vegas, along with breakout sessions that covered artificial intelligence risk, risk retention groups: emerging developments, 831(b) captive updates discussing recent legal developments and ‘From Structure to Substance: Governance That Defines Insurance for Regulatory and Tax’.
Josh Miller, President of the Nevada Captive Insurance Council moderated one of the conference’s most highly anticipated and popular sessions, the Insurance Commissioners Fireside Chat, featuring Commissioner Ned Gaines of Nevada, Commissioner Glen Mulready of Oklahoma, and Commissioner Jonathan Pike of Utah, which delivered insights into the policy, regulatory, and market issues shaping the future of captive insurance.
The conference also spotlighted its commitment to inclusive leadership through the featured Amplify Women Session: Bridging the Gap, a panel discussion focused on understanding generational differences to foster collaboration and innovation in the captive insurance industry. The session reflected WRCIC’s commitment to creating space for broader perspectives, stronger leadership, and continued progress across the business of insurance.
WRCIC 2026 featured top-of-industry representation from across legal, actuarial, tax, regulatory, risk management, and captive management disciplines. The strong turnout, the national regulatory presence, and the balanced speaker lineup all underscore the conference’s role as an important forum for education, networking, and business development in the captive insurance market, the organisers stressed.
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