The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to closer ties between its national member associations, according to Philippe Cotelle, president of FERMA, speaking at the Federation's General Assembly in Brussels on June 30.
Cotelle, who took over as FERMA president in October 2025, used the address to build on the "Together Stronger" message that marked the start of his term.
"Together Stronger is our commitment to building a more resilient European risk management community by strengthening connections between our national associations, fostering greater collaboration, and creating more opportunities for everyone to contribute," he told attendees.
FERMA represents 24 national risk management associations across 23 European countries, with more than 6,800 risk managers active across sectors ranging from major industrial and commercial companies to financial institutions and local government bodies.
In recent months, the Federation has rolled out initiatives aimed at deepening engagement with its national associations, including its inaugural Presidents' Workshop, held in Brussels in November 2025 and attended by 15 national association presidents, and the establishment of the Next Generation European Risk Council.
Cotelle described the approach as reshaping FERMA's role within the profession, positioning the Federation less as a coordinator of activities and more as a hub connecting people, facilitating knowledge exchange and delivering value across its network of associations.
Cotelle pointed to Open Sesame, a joint initiative launched by FERMA and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in May 2026, as evidence of the Federation "pushing beyond our traditional boundaries." The project brings together representatives from risk management, insurance, sustainable finance, banking and the investment community to develop a unified finance framework that helps organisations fund climate-related prevention and adaptation measures before losses occur, rather than relying solely on post-event capital.
Open Sesame's focus on shifting capital towards pre-event climate resilience echoes concerns already raised in the UK, where the Association of British Insurers has repeatedly called on government to commit to sustained annual investment in flood defences after insurers paid out a record £585 million in weather-related home damage claims in 2024. Flood Re-commissioned research has found that flood defences already save UK households an estimated £1.15 billion in damage each year.
"Projects such as Open Sesame, which supports new approaches to financing climate adaptation, demonstrate that risk managers have an increasingly important role to play in addressing society's biggest challenges," Cotelle said. He closed his address by acknowledging that Together Stronger remains a work in progress, but one that is advancing quickly thanks to the commitment and engagement of the Federation's members.
The General Assembly also confirmed the election of five new members to the FERMA Board: Sonia Cambier, head of corporate insurance and prevention at Solvay; Sharon Cilia Tortell, chief risk and sustainability officer at Steadfast Insurance Partners Ltd; Gabriella Fraire, chief executive of Prysmian Riassicurazioni S.p.A.; Panu Haapaniemi, director of risk management at UPM; and Richard Hoult, vice president of risk, audit and compliance at Synthomer.
"Our Board represents an outstanding combination of expertise, leadership, and experience across the risk management sector," commented Cotelle. "Their collective insight and commitment enable us to shape the future of the profession, amplify the voices of our member associations, and champion the value of risk management across Europe and on the international stage."
FERMA's next major gathering, the FERMA Forum, is scheduled to take place in Rotterdam from October 4 to 6, 2026 under the theme "Widening the Lens: From Risk Insight to Strategic Foresight."
