Speed Interview with Shanil Williams, Global Head Financial Lines at AGCS

Shanil Williams, Global Head of Financial Lines at AGCS

Why is participating to the European Risk Management Seminar important to you?

This seminar couldn’t be more important. We are experiencing huge changes in our personal lives, a challenging hard insurance market, a unforeseen and unprecedented global risk event with all of this there can be nothing better to get to together a risk professionals to approach the future more collectively and openly. For me personally, I miss (not in the beginning!) my travels to listen to our clients about what is on their mind and how we can help, it’s a great chance to connect again together after a very tough few months.

Why is the theme “Corporate Risk & Finance: how to finance the ever growing universe of risk?” relevant in today’s fast-paced world?

The risk register is evolving so quickly and we are moving rapidly from a focus on insuring tangible assets to a focus on mitigating and transferring intangible risks. As an industry we much to do on quantifying these risks first and then finding solutions to both mitigate and financially protect from the consequences. These risks are also now all on the Boardroom table both in terms of financial and reputational impact and also personally responsibility. This is a great moment for our industry to elevate its importance to the strategic sustainability of business.

At the Seminar you will be presenting:” Technology Exposure”, what would you like the audience to remember after your session?

COVID-19 is a wake-up for our industry that reactive approaches to risk aren’t good enough. We have to plan, invest and collaborate proactively to be able to mitigate the next event. Technology could cause the next global aggregate risk event, a ‘Cyber-Swan’, or another virus but digital next time?

How will the role and responsibilities of the European risk managers evolve in order to achieve the dual green and digital transition?

I would come back to forward looking risk approach and looking at those risks on the horizon and not waiting to get closer to them. Climate Change, Cyber-Cat etc. Our industry can help our world prepare and navigate some of the biggest concerns of a generation.