Events
Risk Leader Tour
2025 Risk Leader Tour:
Key Lessons from the Conversation
The Risk Leader Tour brought our community together across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney to hear directly from this year’s award winners and leading voices in the profession. We had senior executives, emerging professionals, and past award winners in the room — all sharing their experience and insights. The Tour matters because it connects our community nationally, celebrates excellence, and sparks ideas that push the profession forward.
Across the cities, we were privileged to hear from Peter Taylor (Risk Leader of the Year), Kate Gannon (Risk Consultant of the Year), Ling Huang (Risk Manager of the Year), and Ella Withers (NextGen Risk Professional of the Year). Their reflections on leadership, consistency, accountability, and career journeys reminded us how diverse and how vital the profession has become.
One idea that resonated was flipping the usual “risk versus reward” framing. What if we start with reward? It’s commercial, it puts the business first, and it reframes risk as an enabler. A simple analogy made this clear: risk as a bridge, controls as the handrails, and a loose bolt signalling an issue before anyone falls.
Other themes included:
Risk can be a competitive advantage, not just a safeguard.
Consistency and deliberate action matter (thank you Ella for that insight).
Networking is not optional; it’s a core skill.
Many of us still find our way into risk by accident, which makes career pathways more important than ever.
AI will keep evolving, but people remain at the centre of every decision.
Accountability works best when it’s paired with a culture that avoids blame.
Above all, the willingness of our community to connect and share is what makes events like this powerful.
A special thank you to our award winners, past, present, and those who may have been inspired by what they heard and saw at the event. Thank you also to everyone who joined us, and to our generous sponsors ReadiNow, Amstelveen, and LexisNexis for making the Tour possible.
These takeaways remind us that risk isn’t just a framework. It’s lived, shaped, and strengthened by people.
— Simon Levy, RMIA CEO
CLICK HERE to view the complete event gallery.
2024 Risk Leader Tour:
Reflections and insights from RMIA’s CEO, Simon Levy.
Celebrating Excellence
The RMIA Risk Leader Tour was a resounding success, taking us to three vibrant cities – Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. Each venue set a perfect backdrop for recognising and celebrating the exceptional achievements of our latest award winners. From the moment the doors opened, there was a palpable sense of anticipation, with attendees eager to hear from some of the leading risk professionals in the industry.
A Showcase of Talent and Diversity
The tour was not just about recognising individual success; it was a platform to highlight the diversity and depth within the risk management profession. Our Risk Award winners represented a broad cross-section of industries. Melissa, from the industrial manufacturing sector, shared her insights into managing complex risk environments. Abhi, with his background in advisory, brought a fresh perspective on strategic risk consulting. Jane and Peter, who responded to the Prudential Inquiry into CBA, shared their work on the transformation that followed. Their stories were about impact, cohesion, and alignment, underscoring how working together and being transparent are critical to success. They also highlighted the distinct but complementary nature of risk and compliance, showing how both disciplines can collaborate to deliver shared outcomes.
Each presentation was unique, reflecting the specific expertise and contributions of our winners. Attendees were captivated by the breadth of knowledge on display, and the passion these professionals bring to their work was undeniable.
Connecting with the Risk Community
Beyond the stellar presentations, the connection between the speakers and their audiences stood out. Each speaker spoke directly to their home risk community, delivering insights tailored to the challenges and opportunities faced by their respective industries. Jane, who travelled across all three cities, spoke powerfully about evolving leadership, the importance of building communities and tribes, and how these concepts can foster resilience within the profession.
Looking around the room at each event, I could see the audience completely engaged, absorbing the content and reflecting on how these insights applied to their own work. The diversity of talent in attendance was inspiring – from seasoned professionals to emerging leaders, all coming together to learn, share, and grow.
A Bright Future for Risk Management
The overwhelming feedback from attendees was incredibly positive. Many commented on the high calibre of both the speakers and the discussions. As CEO, I was particularly struck by the sense that the future of the risk profession is in good hands. The passion, dedication, and knowledge demonstrated by both the speakers and attendees was humbling.
While much of today’s conversation revolves around technology, artificial intelligence, and automation, this tour reinforced a simple truth: risk management is fundamentally a people-centred profession. Systems and processes can only take us so far – it's the expertise, intuition, and leadership of people that drives true risk management success.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up this year’s Risk Leader Tour, I’m filled with optimism. The talent we celebrated and the enthusiasm of those in attendance remind me that the profession continues to evolve and thrive. The RMIA is proud to be at the forefront, supporting the growth and development of risk professionals across Australasia.
Our community is strong, our future is bright, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.
