With business and society concentrating all too often on the downside of risk

With business and society concentrating all too often on the downside of risk, StrategicRISK has decided to highlight the upside with the 2004 StrategicRISK European Risk Management Awards. These provide the opportunity to identify and reward individuals and organisations who have embraced the complex challenges and set new standards of excellence within the risk management community.

In recent years, much has been said and written about risk management rising up the corporate agenda. Will the standing of today's risk manager rise with this greater recognition of risk? Much depends on how risk managers develop their awareness of key issues, how they communicate this knowledge internally, and their ability to suggest appropriate solutions. Risk managers need to focus more than ever on best practice, innovative solutions, managing the total cost of risk, and the most effective means of achieving their aims. Knowledge of how other risk managers and organisations have successfully approached such issues is key.

StrategicRISK is supporting this focus on knowledge-sharing and best practice with its European Risk Management Awards. These provide the opportunity for risk professionals to share their approach and their achievements, adding to the risk management community's treasury of knowledge

There are 14 categories within the Awards. Ten, ranging from European Risk Manager of the Year to Best Loss Prevention Strategy, are open to risk professionals who can demonstrate significant achievements in their fields. Individuals will be asked to outline the theory and practice that have contributed to developing and establishing individual and company strategies.

In addition, there are two awards open to service providers who can illustrate the effectiveness of their services or products for the risk manager. And StrategicRISK is also providing the industry as a whole with the opportunity to reward companies they feel have delivered exceptional value over the past 12 months – the European Business Insurers and European Commercial Broker of the Year Awards.