GIF 2018 - Heading for the innovation transformation
Source: Asia Insurance Review | Jul 2018
Global Technology
Over 500 insurance professionals from around the globe are expected to descend on Berlin in July 2018 for this year’s Global Insurance Forum, with the timely theme of ‘The Innovation Transformation’.
Some 40 leading influencers will be at the International Insurance Society’s benchmark event to present their views on the future of insurance and the role of innovation. The topics to be addressed are:
- Investing for resilience
- Building a blockchain innovation strategy
- Closing a talent gap
- InsurTech and innovation
- Regulatory reflections on insurance development
- Cyber: Threats and opportunities
- Digital agendas in the insurance industry
- The expanding duty of care
- InsuResilience global partnership
Besides major insurers, speakers from outside the insurance industry include UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative programme leader Butch Bacani, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany state secretary Marin Jaeger and World Bank group managing director and chief financial officer Joaquim Levy.
Shuzo Sumi inducted into Hall of Fame
This year’s GIF will also see Tokio Marine board chairman Shuzo Sumi inducted as the 2018 Insurance Hall of Fame laureate. He will be honoured at the 9 July gala awards dinner during the forum.
In addition to his contributions to Tokio Marine Holdings since he joined in 1970 and subsequently led through overseas expansion to become a major global insurance group, Mr Sumi also helped to modernise Japan’s earthquake insurance regime, and has led research in the fields of climate change and natural catastrophe risks in his capacities as vice chairman of The Geneva Association and as co-chair of the Extreme Events and Climate Risk Working Group.
“Induction into the Insurance Hall of Fame is the highest accolade in our industry and is a testament to Sumi-san’s outstanding achievements during his brilliant career at Tokio Marine. As an effective leader with innovative vision coupled with his deep commitment to issues surrounding resiliency, Sumi-san embodies the criteria of the Insurance Hall of Fame award,” said IIS honours committee chairman James Vickers.
“He led Tokio Marine’s overseas expansion and business process reforms which solidified its position as a market leader,” said IIS president and CEO Mike Morrissey. “Following Japan’s earthquake, Sumi-san challenged conventional standards in order to expedite claims to provide relief for those in desperate need, exemplifying the role and purpose of the insurance industry.”
Asia Insurance Review looks forward to meeting all delegates in Berlin. A