VIEW: On the changing face of risk in the public sector

This year Alarm celebrates 25 years supporting risk and insurance professionals in the public service arena. A lot has changed in that time; risk management was often driven from an insurance and operational perspective, rather than at a strategic level. Now insurance is regarded by many as one of a number of ‘tools’ of risk management, and risk management itself regarded as a tool to help achieve goals and objectives within an organisation.

What has not changed in the 25 years since its formation is that Alarm continues to be a membership organisation run by members for its members; with the intention of supporting professionals who manage insurance and risk. This principle helps us focus on providing clear and practical guidance, because of the insight afforded to those involved in the association through their employing organisation.

I think it achieves this, providing – as one member recently put it – “the ability to interact with like-minded people, share common problems, consider solutions that have worked elsewhere and adapt them for your own risk control purposes”. And while it is important to reflect on achievements, we at Alarm also want to focus on the future, and, as we count the days until our June conference, build on those successes by striving to continue to support our members. The importance of continual professional development is a key driver in ensuring members have the opportunities to keep up-to-date with topical issues and regulatory changes within the public sector, and wider risk and insurance profession.

We should also ensure we build our own personal skills too. Alarm has, over recent years, increased the opportunities it provides for members to improve their soft skills to help them in their professional roles. Alarm’s June conference will feature a number of topical soft skills sessions, including hints and tips for better public speaking, risk coaching and the use of social media – few of which you would have seen on any risk management conference agenda 25 years ago, but which show just how much the profession – and Alarm, too – have changed.

Click here for more information on Alarm's National Conference.

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