Halifax conference 2007

Tragedy is no stranger to the shores of Halifax, Nova Scotia: historically, thearea has been fraught with disasters — from the Titanic and Swiss Air, to the Halifax Explosion. But tragedy is only as severe as the response allows it to be. “We’ve been impacted by almost every major disaster, both natural and man-made, but we’ve responded effectively,” Bruce Langille, 2007 Conference Co-chair, says. Each time catastrophe has struck Halifax’s home soil, the small but resilient province rebuilt itself to become more prepared for the next potential disaster – learning from past travesties and redefining them as beacons for the future.

“Lessons from the Past, Beacons of the Future” is the theme that will inspire positive change in the risk management industry, as risk managers, brokers, insurers and reinsurers gather in Halifax in September 2007 for the 32nd Annual RIMS Canada Risk Management Conference.

Charles Parker, risk and insurance specialist for Aliant and conference co-chair for the Halifax 2007 RIMS Canada Conference, says Beacons Halifax 2007 is aimed at learning how past events can provide insight into the future and how preparation can lead to a more secure, controlled outcome.

“‘Beacons of the Future’ means that appropriate systems must be put in place, from a planning and a response perspective, to address issues head on should they occur again,” Parker says.

Langille, risk manager for the province of Nova Scotia, says two major world dynamics affecting today’s risk management industry will be discussed at the 2007 Conference in Halifax. One dynamic is terrorism and the other is the unusual weather patterns causing uncertainty within the industry.

“Most of the events that will happen have already happened, so it’s just the demography of today that creates the greater challenge of how do you respond?” Langille says. “My favorite saying is: ‘A failure to plan is a plan to fail.’ I think from this conference you’ll see a move in [a planning] direction.”

Being involved with “every major event that has besieged Nova Scotia,” Langille promotes the importance of response planning. He says he hopes that through the conference committee and education agenda, he can assist in advocating this risk management stratagem. He speaks with unbiased authority on the subject: he has been on both sides of the insurance spectrum, also having worked as an adjuster specializing in large commercial risk.

Parker, a proficient speaker on risk management issues who has worked in the field for 25 years, also visited both sides of the insurance border. His roster of experience includes serving on the boards of two P&C companies and a life company as well as his current role as risk specialist at Aliant. Recently, an arrangement between Bell and Aliant has formed a new organization, of which Parker will serve as the risk insurance specialist. The new structure means Parker must be prepared for any potential issues that may arise.

Parker says a risk manager shouldn’t wait until a catastrophe arises before deciding what to do. “We’ve got to be ready … and have a plan on the shelf so you can simply pull it off the shelf and implement it,” Parker says.

“There is a changing world, whether it’s manmade or natural. Failure to plan for that and adjust your risks to absorb that will lead to disaster and significant financial cost,” Langille says.

“Education is the key portion of the conference, but we hope to have fun in Atlantic Canada,” Parker says. On top of its warm home feeling, Halifax also provides a “mecca of attractions” and history, exhibited at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Swiss Air Memorial and the “world-renowned” Peggy’s Cove, Langille says. Parker says visiting other parts of the Maritimes is also an attractive option that will entice guests to the 2007 Conference.

As appeared in the 2006 RIMS Canada Calgary Conference SHOW DAILY REPORT, edited by lise Desjardine, Canadian Underwriter magazine.