SIRC 2022 to address ‘softer’ issues of gender equity and inclusivity

The organiser of the  Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC) have unveiled a stellar cast of panellists for this year’s 18th annual conference to be held in Singapore from October 31 to November 3.  SRA chair Marc Haushofer said that this year’s conference will be different from past events and also address the “softer” but important issues of gender equity and the future of work, taking a “more inclusive approach” than ever before.

“SIRC is such a special event, not just for the seniors,” he said.

SIRC is one of the most important events on the global reinsurance calendar where leading insurers, brokers and reinsurers come together to take stock of the reinsurance market and set the tone for the renewal season while exploring new opportunities for business cooperation.

The theme for the 18th SIRC 2022 is ‘Re-connecting … Re-shaping the future’, which reflects the positive sentiment of the industry after enduring two years of restrictions and disruptions to lives and livelihoods forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also addressing the challenges that the industry faces today, with looming inflation, economic turmoil, geopolitical tensions being thrown into the mix as the industry seeks to re-shape itself amidst the global movement towards net zero sustainability and climate resilience.

Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Monetary Authority of Singapore Board Member will kick-off proceedings at the opening ceremony on October 31. The event will also feature a leadership roundtable, comprising Christopher Townsend, board member of Allianz SE; David Priebe, chairman of Guy Carpenter; and Ian Parker, group CEO of Catalina, who will deliberate on the subtheme of ‘Re-shaping the Future!’ in a panel facilitated by Winston Nesfield, strategy consulting leader at PwC South East Asia.

The opening plenary on Day Two will address the hot issue of “Global Inflation: Implications for the (Re)insurance Industry”, which will see Kai-Uwe Schanz, deputy MD and head of research & foresight, The Geneva Association, moderating a panel comprising Michael Menhart, global chief economist at Munich Re; Matthew Rose, MD & head of life and capital at Guy Carpenter; Rachel Turk, group head of strategy at Beazley and John Zhu, chief economist Asia at Swiss Re Institute.

Another roundtable session, comprising Emiko Maki, director, executive officer, CRO of Sompo Japan Insurance; Shilpa Pankaj, head of agriculture APAC at Guy Carpenter; Robert Riha, head of claims Asia at AXA XL; and Tai Hui Yen, regional director at head of analytics APAC at Gallagher Re, will discuss the topic “Who’s Onboard? Gender Equity in (Re)insurance” with broadcast journalist Melissa Hyak as moderator. This session is being co-curated by the SRA’s Women in Reinsurance sub-committee.

Other sessions that have been lined up on Days Three and Four of the 18th SIRC will address topics such as “The Transition to Net Zero – Commitment of Lip Service”, “The Future of Work – Leading the Multi-Generational Workforce” and “Climate threats on Agriculture in Asia and insurance responses”.

SRA chair Marc Haushofer said: “You may notice that the programme for this year’s 18th SIRC is different from past events, which had typically addressed broader strategic and technical issues. This year, we are also addressing the ‘softer’ but no less important issues of gender equity and the future of work.”

“We had adopted a more inclusive approach by involving our younger subcommittee members in co-curating these sessions and also extended complimentary passes to the younger cohorts within our SRA membership to attend the conference and experience why the SIRC is such a special event, not just for the seniors”, he added.

“We have received an overwhelming response to this year’s 18th SIRC,” said SRA executive director Jeffrey Yeo. “The two-year COVID-19 enforced hiatus in in-person events has resulted in an explosion of pent-up demand. We had secured the support of 20 Partners, some of whom were supporting us for the first time.”

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