Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   We’re kicking off the new year with an interview with RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche. We look back on 2023, with almost 10,000 attending RISKWORLD 2023, and how RIMS reacted in a dangerous crisis, but mostly ahead to what’s in store for 2024. This includes Riskworld 2024 in San Diego, CA with its “infinite opportunities,” greatly expanded space for DEI, innovative keynote Peter Diamandis, and developments with the RIMS-CRMP, growing by roughly 20% yearly. Listen in to CEO Gary LaBranche’s plans for chapters, what he foresees for AI in insurance and risk management, and more.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMScast. [:14] Public registration for RISKWORLD 2024 is now open. Explore infinite opportunities with RIMS from May 5th through May 8th, 2024, in San Diego, California. Register at RIMS.org/riskworld. [:30] About today’s episode of RIMScast. It’s our first episode of 2024 and we will be rejoined by RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche. [:52] The RIMS-CRMP is the only competency-based risk management credential. That matters because earning the certification shows employers and recruiters that you have the skills necessary to manage risk and create value for your organization. [1:08] Several Exam Prep virtual workshops are coming up, starting on January 13th, 20th, and 27th, 2024, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Virtual Workshop will be presented in conjunction with Conrad Clark Nigeria. [1:26] The RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop will be held on January 30th and February 1st. That’s a two-day course. Visit the certification page on RIMS.org for more information. A link is on this episode’s show notes. [1:44] RIMS is gearing up for awards season. At RISKWORLD 2024, we will honor individuals, organizations, and chapters for their outstanding achievements in risk management. If you know someone who is truly making an impact on the risk profession and paving the way for future generations, consider drafting a nomination! [2:02] The deadline to submit award nominations is Friday, January 5th, 2024. Last call for nominations! A link to the awards applications and guidelines page is in the show notes. Go to RIMS.org’s About Us page and see the awards link there. Nominations for Risk Manager of the Year have closed; other awards might appeal to you or a friend. [2:33] The first episode of 2024 kicks off with a dialog with RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche. Gary is here to discuss some of the things that went really well for us in 2023, challenges that became opportunities, a preview of RISKWORLD 2024, and other fantastic opportunities for the greater risk management community and risk profession. [3:15] Justin introduces RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche and welcomes Gary back to RIMScast for the first episode of 2024! Gary compliments Justin for the diversity of guests and notes that the RIMScast audience is just exploding!  [4:14] In the next two weeks, we’re going to hear Sacha Coburn from New Zealand, the CEO of Coffee Culture, and on January 16, FERMA CEO Typhaine Beaupérin will be on the show. [4:42] In February, Gary goes to New Zealand to participate in the New Zealand conference. On the same trip, he will stop by the Australia chapter, and then go to Singapore, where he will meet with RIMS-CRMP holders before making his way home. [5:05] In October, Gary will attend the FERMA (Federation of European Risk Management Associations) meeting in Madrid. The FERMA President is Charlotte Hedemark, a RIMS-CRMP holder. [5:47] Gary discusses 2023, his first full year leading RIMS. It’s been fun, challenging, and a learning adventure. Gary had come to RIMS in June 2022 from the Investor Relations Society, and at first, coming up to speed was like drinking from a firehouse. In 2023, he felt he could slow down from sprinting all day to jogging at an even pace. [7:31] Gary says RISKWORLD 2023 was wild. If you’ve never been, you don’t fully appreciate the e