The ICMIF Biennial Conference has always been more than a date in my diary. For senior leaders across the mutual and cooperative insurance sector, it’s a unique environment where trust, openness, and long-term thinking come together.
In November, I will attend my seventh ICMIF Biennial Conference and my second as ICMIF’s Chair. Each Conference has been a chance to connect with fellow leaders from mutual and cooperative insurers around the world, and to learn from their experiences. I have heard truly inspiring stories, and the value of those conversations, from both a professional and personal development perspective, has been significant.
What keeps me coming back is that it is also more than just another insurance event: it’s a trusted, collaborative forum where senior decision-makers can discuss challenges, opportunities, and practical solutions. The strategic exchange is unusually candid. It is a chance to hear from ICMIF members leading in different fields who are willing to share what has worked and what hasn’t. Those discussions often spark new ideas, and many members tell me they’ve gone on to make real strategic shifts in their organisations. At Co-operators, those insights have directly shaped internal conversations and the “From protection to prevention” session at the 2019 Conference informed our strategic resilience journey. That trusted environment where we learn from one another and offer support is what makes the ICMIF Biennial Conference so special. By shaping conversations and contributing to sessions, members play a central role in making it a success.
The Conference also includes a Young Leaders Programme for emerging professionals identified as strong future leaders within their organisations. Participants in the Programme can attend the full Conference at a discounted rate and take part in additional sessions and networking designed specifically for their development. At Co-operators, we believe strongly in nurturing young talent, which is why we continue to send participants to the Programme.
We expect mutual and cooperative leaders from more than 50 countries to attend the 2026 Conference, including many CEOs and board chairs. Co-operators is proud to host the event in Canada, a country where cooperative and mutual insurers were first established 150 years ago. Together, we’ll draw on that heritage while exploring how mutual and cooperative insurers are future-proofing their businesses, delivering on the trust placed in them by policyholders and communities, and remaining relevant for generations to come.
At a time of intensifying global uncertainty and a rapidly evolving insurance landscape, this Conference gives us a timely opportunity to explore joint challenges, compare approaches and learn from one another. I look forward to welcoming leaders from around the world to another successful and enriching ICMIF Biennial Conference – an opportunity for our community to come together, strengthen connections, and help shape the future of our industry.
This year’s Biennial Conference takes place in Toronto (Canada) from 3-6 November. Learn more about the Conference and agenda here and the ICMIF Young Leaders Programme here.
