First-ever virtual SIRC 2020 garners support from reinsurance industry stalwarts

Reinsurance industry stalwarts from Allianz Re, AXA XL, Lloyd’s, Munich Re, Partner Re, SCOR Re and Validus Re, in addition to co-host Swiss Re, have pledged their support for the first-of-its-kind virtual Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC).

The virtual event, ‘ SIRC 2020 Re-Mind’, will take place between November 2 to 5, 2020. The physical SIRC event has been rescheduled to 2021 due to the travel restrictions and social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To fill the void, the conference organisers are hosting a virtual event this year, featuring senior leaders and experts from around the world engaging in discussions on a range of re/insurance topics, such as ‘Digitalisation of insurance in a post-COVID world’; ‘De-risking global supply chains’; and ‘Managing climate risks'. The event will be co-hosted by global reinsurer Swiss Re.

SIRC said within less than two weeks of the announcement of a virtual event over 750 delegates from 36 countries have already registered.

Prominent industry leaders who have been lined up for the virtual conference include Denis Kessler, chairman and CEO of SCOR who will reflect on the industry response to the pandemic in his keynote address, while Christian Mumenthaler, group CEO of Swiss Re, will share his views on a host of topical issues, including post-COVID risk landscape, sustainability and partnerships, in an intimate fireside chat. Insurance ratings agency AM Best, as contributing partner, will be hosting its Insurance Market Briefing featuring its ratings analysts from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The organisers are looking to create the feel of in-person SIRC events, with virtual zones where delegates will be able to navigate around seamlessly to attend keynote and panel sessions; engage in open chats or roundtables; visit meeting rooms and pods.

Marc Haushofer, chairman of the Singapore Reinsurers’ Association (SRA), host of ‘SIRC 2020 Re-Mind’, said: "I am really very happy with what we have achieved with this game-changing event. Out of Adversity, comes Opportunity. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a daunting challenge at all of us, but I believe as a community and an industry, we have demonstrated inventiveness and resilience in evolving and transforming our existing business models to create more sustainable solutions for the future.”

Russell Higginbotham, CEO reinsurance Asia & regional president at Swiss Re Asia, said: “Even though we live in a different world today than a year ago, we should not change our fundamental human desire to explore, adapt, and innovate. Swiss Re has decided to co-host this year's SIRC because we believe in the power of working together to move forward. We know we can achieve more if we join forces to explore ways to transform, especially in this region where we continue to strongly believe in its growth and development. We are pleased and honoured to co-host ‘SIRC 2020 Re-Mind’ and lead the industry conversation on transformation."