RIMS Canada Conference Set for Toronto

The 33rd Annual Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Canada Conference will take place on Sept. 21-24 in Toronto, Ontario. More than 1,500 risk professionals and industry partners are expected to attend. The conference is hosted by RIMS Ontario Chapter.

“RIMS Canada Conference is one of the largest annual conferences for risk practitioners in the world that gathers risk executives from every province and territory of Canada,” says Nancy Chambers, Canada Conference co-chair and director of risk management at Ontario College of Art & Design.

“The Exchange: Where Great Ideas Come Together” is the theme for this year’s conference. “For four days, RIMS Canada Conference will provide risk professionals with top-notch educational offerings and an environment that encourages the exchange of great ideas within the Canadian risk community. We are committed to providing attendees with a variety of forums that will foster relationships with all facets of the industry,” adds Susan Meltzer, RIMS Canada Conference co-chair and assistant vice president of risk management at Aviva Canada Inc.

This year’s event boasts some 20 educational sessions, a record-setting 80+ exhibitors and networking events galore. Featured speakers at RIMS Canada Conference include:

· Stephen Lewis, co-director for AIDS Free World and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations;
· Robert Kennedy, Jr., Environmental Activist and Attorney, speaking on “Our Environmental Destiny”;
· Joanna Makomaski, risk manager at Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and co-author of “Enterprise Risk Management for Dummies”, speaking on “Finally—ERM Made Easy: ERM for Dummies Has Evolved!”;
· Gert Cruywagen, author and group risk manager at Sappi Limited, speaking on “Jungle Risk Management—Risk Lessons from the African Bush”;
· and Dr. Ann Cavoukian, commissioner of Ontario’s Office of Information and Privacy, speaking on “Minimize Risk—Maximize Protection and Gain, A Competitive Advantage: Privacy is Good for Business”.

The conference also features panel sessions comprised of risk managers and industry experts in order to provide a multi-faceted perspective. Topics include the “Canadian Business Leaders Forum”, which will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear from business leaders in Canada how they achieved unparalleled success; “China: Danger and Opportunity”, which will focus on Canadian corporations doing business in China; and the “International Risk Manager Panel”, sponsored by the International Federation of Risk and Insurance Management Associations Inc. (IFRIMA), which will identify the dominant issues within worldwide organizations and the approach that each of the panelists have adopted for proactive risk management.

Panel speakers include executives at Aon Asia Pacific; Association of Risk Management in Japan; Aviva Canada; Canada China Business Council; Canadian Litigation Counsel; Canadian Tire Corporation Limited; The Harmonie Group; IFRIMA; Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated; Lang Michener LLP; and McCague Peacock Borlack McInnis & Lloyd LLP.

Other sessions include “Privacy and Network Liability: What’s Your Exposure”, “Risk Management and the Media: The Importance of the Crisis Communication Plan”, “Sustainability and Risk Management”, in addition to traditional risk management topics.

Other speakers include executives at AIG Environmental; Aon Reed Stenhouse, Inc.; ArcelorMittal Dofasco; Association of Workers Compensation Board of Canada; Bank of Montreal; Bell Canada Enterprises; CAE, Inc.; Canadian Airports Reciprocal Insurance Exchange; City of Calgary; Cott Corporation; Crawford Risk Management Services; Cunningham Lindsey Canada Limited; The Delphi Group; Dion Durrell and Associates; Dolden Wallace Folick LLP; Edmonton Airports; Ellis Don Corporation; Executive Risk Insurance Services; Hudson’s Bay Company; LIU Canada; Marsh Canada Limited; Nova Scotia School Insurance Exchange; Rio Tinto Alcan; Scotiabank; ShawCor Ltd.; Technical Standards and Safety Authority; TELUS Corporation; Willis North America; YMCA for Greater Toronto; York University; and Zurich Insurance Company.

Attendees are also invited to race their peers to the finish line at the fifth annual McGannon Foundation 5K Fun Run / Walk, jointly sponsored by RIMS Canada Council and FM Global. Proceeds from the event will benefit the William H. McGannon Foundation, dedicated to providing resources and grants to advance risk management in Canada. Other networking events include an opening reception, Black and White Gala, Exhibitor Champagne Reception and Exhibit Hall coffee breaks and luncheons.

The early bird registration deadline for RIMS Canada Conference is Aug. 1. Online registration ends Sept. 12. Complete details on RIMS Canada Conference are available at http://conference.RIMScanada.org.