After the Forum, of course, we all took a few days to pause and restore our energy. Then it was on with the future! Our plans for 2014 aim at reinforcing the position of the profession. Our key activities are our seventh risk management benchmarking survey and the certification project.

Florence Bindelle

Demonstrating what risk management does is not always straightforward; the principles remain the same, but job descriptions vary a lot across organisations. The survey, however, will gather data that all of us can use to explain the role of risk management in the success of business today. In the previous survey in 2012, one of the most important findings was that companies with mature risk management policies and processes produce better, more sustainable results.

This is serious research. It is part of the value that membership of FERMA gives to national associations, because they can use it to strengthen the relationship with their members. Risk managers will be able to use the results to show what they do and why it’s important. This sort of internal marketing is particularly worthwhile when other, more clearly defined job roles are looking to bring risk into their territory.

Our second big project for 2014 is to advance certification, which will help risk managers communicate the high standard of knowledge and experience that defines their professional standards. The certification steering group will be reporting on its progress throughout the year.

On 20 and 21 October, we will welcome our members to Brussels for the announcement of the survey results and the seminar. This will be an opportunity for us to show how we work with the European Commission and other institutions and represent the views of our members and their memberships.

We were thrilled with the 2013 Forum. The interest from stakeholders, members and press has never been so high, and it showed how much value FERMA can offer. Julia Graham started her term as president “sur des chapeaux de roues” (which is French for ‘to hit the ground running!’). It is now a challenge to do better, but we have many ideas.