The ICMIF Global Strategy Summit took place on 29 October 2025 in Paris (France).
The ICMIF Global Strategy Summit brings together CEOs, C-Suite executives and strategy leaders from ICMIF members and other leading mutual and cooperative insurers across the world.
The theme for this year’s event was Profits for purpose and the agenda covered topics including:
- Operationalising a purpose-led strategy to effectively drive performance and profitable growth.
- Seizing new business opportunities and operational efficiencies through innovation and emerging technologies.
- The role of mutuals in addressing key societal challenges and future-proofing the mutual model for long-term relevance in a changing world.
The inaugural ICMIF Global Strategy Summit, held in October 2023, attracted more than 110 senior leaders, and focused on how mutual insurers can drive growth and create long-term value by embracing their mutual purpose.
AGENDA OVERVIEW
Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Profits for Purpose
08:30 - 09:00
08:30 - 09:00
09:00 - 09:10
09:00 - 09:10
Introduction and opening remarks
- Liz Green, CEO, ICMIF
- Xavier Freynet, Managing Partner, Financial Services, EY France
09:10 - 09:30
09:10 - 09:30
Welcome messages
- Rob Wesseling, ICMIF Chair, and President and CEO, Co-operators (Canada)
- Pascal Michard, ICMIF Board Member, and President, Aéma Groupe (France)
09:30 - 10:30
09:30 - 10:30
Session 1
Future-proofing the mutual model
A panel of CEOs from mutual/cooperative insurers around the world discuss how they are navigating the intensifying global challenges being faced today and adapting their businesses to ensure the mutual model remains resilient and relevant in the evolving insurance landscape.
SPEAKERS:
- Hilde Vernaillen, Chair of the Management Committee, P&V (Belgium)
- Rob Wesseling, President and CEO, Co-operators (Canada)
- Izak Smit, CEO, PPS (South Africa)
- Alexandra Stråberg, Chief Economist, Länsförsäkringar (Sweden) - Moderator
Key topics to be discussed include:
- Strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of mutuals in a rapidly changing world.
- How mutual insurers can balance financial performance with its purpose-driven missions, using profits as a force for good to benefit member/policyholders and society.
- Mutual insurers’ role in addressing key global issues such as geopolitical uncertainty, insurability risks, climate resilience and aging populations – and the future opportunities to forge powerful collaborations across the global mutual network.
10:30 - 11:00
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee and networking
11:00 - 12:30
11:00 - 12:30
Session 2
Roundtable discussions
Facilitated small group discussions to share insights and connect with like-minded leaders
12:30 - 13:30
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 15:00
13:30 - 15:00
Session 3
Mutual strategies to drive commercial performance and sustainable growth
Case study presentations featuring practical examples of how mutual/cooperative insurers are transforming their organisations to unlock new business opportunities and drive long-term value creation.
SPEAKERS:
- Barry O’Dwyer, Group CEO, Royal London (UK)
- Valérie Lavoie, President and COO, Desjardins General Insurance Group (Canada)
- Claudia Stewart-Duijndam, Director, Strategy, Change & Digital - Centraal Beheer, Achmea (Netherlands)
- Jonathan Zhao, EY Global Insurance Leader (Hong Kong)
- Glenn Croasdale, Chief Client Officer, FMG (New Zealand) - Moderator
Key topics to be discussed include:
- Strategic initiatives to accelerate performance and drive profitability through operational excellence and purpose-led transformation.
- Seizing new opportunities through AI and digital innovation to build modern, customer-centric organisations.
- Leveraging the principles of mutual differentiation to compete effectively in a dynamic market and deliver enhanced member value.
15:00 - 15:30
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee and networking
15:30 - 17:00
15:30 - 17:00
Session 4
Roundtable discussions
Facilitated small group discussions to share insights and connect with like-minded leaders
17:00 - 17:15
17:00 - 17:15
Concluding comments
17:15 - 18:15
17:15 - 18:15
Cocktail sponsored by EY
Registration for ICMIF Strategy Summits is complimentary with places generally limited to two delegates per organisation. For more than two registrations per organisation, a registration fee is applicable.
The 2025 Summit was hosted by ICMIF Supporting Member EY at their Paris office: Tour First, 1 Pl. des Saisons, La Défense, Paris 92400.
“I always find it very enriching to participate in ICMIF summits or conferences. Every time I participate, it strikes me that across the world we face similar challenges, but we also face similar opportunities. This is the foundation for sharing thoughts and ideas which can inspire each other despite our differences. In Toronto, we covered a lot of ground and through the presentations and roundtables, we were presented with new thinking on what drives competitive advantage for mutuals around the world”.
Jan Kamp Justesen, CEO, LB Group (Denmark)
"The Global Strategy Summit in Toronto was a successful demonstration of the collaborative spirit of ICMIF member organisations looking to work together to build new, innovative solutions for the benefit of their member-policyholders and society as a whole. Thanks to the impeccable organisation provided by ICMIF, we were able to discuss, in a non-competitive environment, the challenges that we all face as mutual/cooperative insurers: focusing on topics such as transformation, sustainability, and how to communicate our unique difference as mutual insurers. It was an event that allowed for inspiring exchanges and networking, and I encourage all fellow leaders who share these aspirations to join the next event".
Pascal Michard, President, Aéma Groupe (France)
“The format allowed for an interesting mix of presentations, discussions, roundtables, and networking. It was very rewarding to meet mutual colleagues from around the world, in an atmosphere where everyone had an openness and willingness to share. This provided a fantastic opportunity to be inspired by others and exchange experiences, new ideas, and leaving the attendees with a boost in their own knowledge and thinking around mutuality".
Lena Hedlund, Head of Communication, Länsförsäkringar (Sweden)
Previous ICMIF Global Strategy Summits
Wednesday 18 October 2023, Toronto (Canada)