ABIR To Host Global Insurance Leaders
The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers [ABIR] will host international insurance regulators and industry leaders next month for its Risk Forum in Bermuda, featuring keynote speakers from the EU, US, and UK.
A spokesperson said, “The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers [ABIR] will host globally renowned standard setters from the EU, US and UK next month.
“Keynote speakers include Petra Hielkema, Chairperson, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority [EIOPA], Scott White, President, US National Association of Insurance Commissioners [NAIC], Commissioner of the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance, and Sir Charles Roxburgh KCB, Chair, Lloyd’s.”
“As ABIR chair, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome such a distinguished list of prominent international supervisors to the Island. Bermuda has long been recognised as a centre of international business and is globally renowned in the area of regulatory and supervisory standards for insurers and reinsurers. It speaks volumes about the significance of our companies and our independent financial services regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority [BMA], that so many regulators travel here so frequently for important supervisory colleges,” said Mark Cloutier, ABIR Chair.
“ABIR is pleased to be able to enable these valuable discussions in Bermuda by hosting this important event,” said John Huff, CEO of ABIR. “As a former supervisor myself, I appreciate the important role that host supervisors play. It also once again demonstrates how critically important it is that Bermuda has mutual recognition in both Europe and the US via Solvency II equivalence in the EU and NAIC qualified and reciprocal jurisdiction status in the US.”
The spokesperson said, “ABIR’s Risk Forum has the theme – Compliance, Capital, Capacity – and will be held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on 8 April 2026. Proceedings will kick off officially at 10.30 a.m. with a welcome from His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Andrew Murdoch CMG. ABIR Chair Mark Cloutier will preside over the program.
“The first panel of the day entitled, ‘Compliance & Cooperation: Ten Years of Solvency II and Solvency II Equivalence,’ will be moderated by Shannon Bender, Group General Counsel, RenaissanceRe and feature Petra Hielkema, Chairperson, EIOPA and Craig Swan, CEO, BMA.
“Antoinette Hurtado, US Consul General, US State Department, will introduce a panel entitled, ‘Safety & Soundness: NAIC Qualified & Reciprocal Reinsurers Protecting Consumers’ moderated by Jonathan Kent, Business Editor, The Royal Gazette. Panelists include Nicolas Papadopoulo, CEO, Arch Capital Global, and Scott White, President-Elect, NAIC, and Commissioner of the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance.
“Following a Networking Lunch, Sir Charles Roxburgh KCB, Chair, Lloyd’s and Fiona Luck, Senior Independent Deputy Chair, Lloyd’s, will have a Seaside Chat around the theme: Lloyd’s & Bermuda: Our Foundation & Our Future.
“Andy Mais, former President, NAIC, Former Vice Chair, International Association of Insurance Supervisors [IAIS], and Senior Advisor, Deloitte will provide a special report on the global re/insurance market, including Bermuda.
“Mike Yaworsky, Florida’s Insurance Commissioner will discuss ‘Reinsurance and Resilience: Protecting 24 Million Floridians.’
“Jeff Manson, SVP, Underwriting and Head of Global Public Sector Partnership, RenaissanceRe will moderate Jonathan Dixon, Secretary-General, IAIS, Stephen Catlin, Executive Chair, Convex, Clement Cheung, CEO, Insurance Authority of Hong Kong, and Dennis Noordhoek, Director of Public Policy & Regulation, Genevea Association as they discuss ‘The Power of Partnerships’ to help close the protection gap.
“Global credit rating agency KBRA and US Public Policy Firm Mindset will convene a discussion on ‘Emerging Narratives’ including Geopolitical Risks and Quality of Credit with panelists including Ricardo Garcia, Managing Director of the BMA, and Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner and Chair of the NAIC [E] Committee Nathan Houdek.
“Finally, Gerald Gakundi, Deputy Managing Director, Head of Insurance and Investment Funds, BMA will moderate a panel of Bermuda Reinsurance CEOs called ‘Reinsurance to the Rescue – Leveraging Reinsurance Capital.’
“A Bermuda Market Cocktail Reception will bring proceedings to a close from 5.30-7.30 p.m. led with keynote comments by The Premier of Bermuda, The Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP.
“The event is supported by ABIR member companies and event partners KBRA, Bermuda Business Development Agency [BDA], Deloitte and The Institutes Knowledge Group.
“Click here to learn more about this must-attend event on the Bermuda Risk Calendar or visit www.abir.bm.”
