INTRODUCTION
The Geneva Association is the international “think-tank” and research institution supported by the insurance industry. In this role The Geneva Association:
■ detects early ideas and emerging debates on political, economic and societal issues concerning our industry;
■ inspires and initiates further research into and analysis of such issues;
■ organises debates on the issues detected;
■ disseminates research results and analysis and pushes underlying ideas among clearly defined target groups.
The Geneva Association has provided through the General Assembly a meeting and discussion ground for top insurance CEOs where important issues and challenges facing the insurance industry can be addressed.
Through various platform initiatives, like the General Assembly, member CEOs have the opportunity to discuss the strategic developments of their business. Events like these help to create a positive image for insurance in the public eye and allow for direct interaction between panellists and the audience.
The Geneva Association has been carrying out this research role well over the past 30 years and established a global reputation for serious and forward-looking work. The influence and weight of the insurance industry have increased substantially with its ever more important task as pre-eminent risk manager and asset gatherer – and thus investor – in modern economies. A global, official discussion forum for insurance does not really exist. The banking and related sectors – with the exception of insurance – profit from the annual IMF assembly as a meeting ground. In addition there are other organisations for the banking leaders to gather regularly in restricted numbers. (One could also consider the Group of Thirty that provides a bridge between private and central bankers.) The Geneva Association through the exclusive list of its members and the name and reputation of its work has laid in part the ground for a similar global forum of discussion for the insurance industry, but restricted to the biggest and most influential companies.
The Geneva Association General Secretariat is situated, as the shortened name suggests, in Geneva, Switzerland. This has been an advantage on several accounts: as an international city that hosts many important transnational organisations, Geneva is an excellent place to engage in a closer relationship with other institutions and conduct transborder activities. Geneva also displays an infrastructure that helps running an international organisation, not least because the workforce is highly trained and educated.
The work of the General Secretariat is directed by the Secretary General, the Vice-Secretaries General and the dedicated Heads of Research Programmes. They are supported by a number of employees that engage either in clerical activities, help managing publications and perform other organisational tasks. The Geneva Association also co-operates with several partly-remunerated outside collaborators, generally on a project basis. They usually stay in their respective countries and come to Geneva only as needed.