Letting go of Tokyo – our conference blog part 4

The third and final day of our conference has come and gone - almost in a heartbeat. After the usual hustle and bustle at breakfast, delegates headed to David Taylor’s loss prevention workshop. Here we learnt that now is the time for marine insurers to maximise opportunities and minimise threats. And that loss prevention is about being proactive and not reactive, to be pivotal and not peripheral and to perform rather than just exist.

We were struck by the quality of the presentations given, not just at this workshop but throughout the conference. Speakers had clearly gone to some length to put together riveting and sometimes interactive powerpoints backed-up with really engaging delivery. Well done to them!

President Dieter hosted the event’s final workshop and concentrated on the topical issue of the impact of disruptive technologies. More great presentations focused on the dark arts and black magic of blockchain and the Internet of Things. But no longer are these “buzz words” a mystery to us. Thanks to this afternoon’s speakers we are now experts in cutting edge technology.

Onwards to IUMI association business and it was a delight to welcome new Executive Committee Vice Chair, Takeshi Miyazaki from Japan. Of course, the corollary was that we had to say farewell to Shuichi (Steve) Terakawa – he leaves the committee with best wishes from us all.  

IUMI stalwart Mike Davies took the podium to tell us about a new and exciting adventure. In April 2018, the first IUMI Asian Forum will be held in the maritime hub of Singapore to coincide with Singapore Maritime week. Watch this space for more details, but we understand brokers and clients will also be welcome.

And finally… Japan passed the IUMI flag to South Africa. Resplendent in their national flag costumes, Viviene Pearson and Mike Brews from the 2018 organising committee introduced us to the delights of their country and invited us all to come and visit South Africa, with our families, in September 2018.   

And so that’s it…. but not quite.

Tonight we are off to celebrate the end of the conference with a “Japan evening” at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa. Time to put on our glad rags and eat some delicious food – huge thanks to the General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ) for organizing this dinner and such an amazing conference.

So, farewell Tokyo and arigatō gozaimashita for your hospitality.