Charlotte Hedemark made her first address this week as new president of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony at the FERMA Seminar 2023 in Belgium on Monday, Hedemark outlined the strategic priorities for the Federation during her presidency, which includes enhancing FERMA’s advocacy capabilities, strengthening its leadership position and elevating the value of risk management and making the Federation more agile and dynamic.

“We want to expand our advocacy capabilities by developing partnerships with other EU professional or sectorial associations and inside EU institutions,” she said. “We want to tap into even more expertise and knowledge and increase the involvement of the national risk associations in our advocacy work.”

On bolstering the standing of the risk management profession, Hedemark said: “We want to cement FERMA’s position as a risk leader and emphasise the value that we bring. We will focus on strategic foresight and work with high-level experts from various fields to gain insight on emerging topics.”

She committed the Federation to promoting “a new vision for global risk management”, while supporting education and training to “elevate the standing of the profession and attract new talent”.

As FERMA’s 50th anniversary approaches next year, Hedemark said her team would ensure that the organisation remains relevant at this time of risk evolution and transition, adding that it will look to “enhance our reputation as a knowledge resource for individual risk managers and national associations and increase our dialogue with you.

“We embark on this strategic journey with the following slogan: Connect, Influence, Empower.”

Earlier in the handover ceremony, Dirk Wegener concluded his four-year term as president, focusing his speech on the considerable progress that FERMA had made during that period in boosting its visibility at the EU level, strengthening its network and raising the profile of risk management.

“FERMA has become much more impactful and effective in its advocacy work,” he told delegates. “I would like to thank our members for their active engagement in our committees and working groups. This strengthens our expertise and the value we provide, both of which are recognised by the European institutions.”


Pictured: Dirk Wegener and Charlotte Hedemark (Image courtesy FERMA)

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