From partnerships with business and industry to networking and training, the Society actively supports professionals using geographical skills in the workplace.
In the Old Library of the Lloyd’s building, the Society recently took part in a seminar exploring the close relationship between insurance, risk and geography. This marked the start of a new partnership with the educational arm of the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA).
A recent survey conducted by the LMA Academy revealed a significant number of its members are geographers, working in a variety of roles at Lloyd’s – the world specialist insurance market.
Speaking about ‘Insurance and geography: partners in the world of risk’ to an audience of 200 geographers working at Lloyd’s, the Society’s Director, Dr Rita Gardner, remarked: “Geography is at the heart of understanding many of the challenges the world faces today. We are very pleased to be working with the LMA on this programme of events, given the strength of the interface between geography and insurance.”
Other speakers included Chartered Geographer Matt Foote FRGS, Head of Exposure and Catastrophe Management for Mitsui Sumitomo, who explored ‘Geo-intelligence and the role of the professional geographer in managing risk’; and Dr Catherine Souch, Head of Research and Higher Education at the Society, who provided an introduction to the Society’s Chartered Geographer scheme – the only internationally recognised professional accreditation for the use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills in the workplace.
“We are delighted to have been able to forge this new relationship with the Society,” said Ben Baker, Head of the LMA Academy. “This first masterclass examined why insurance and geography are natural partners. Both are fundamentally concerned with the interaction between physical, social and economic processes and activities.”
This is just one example of the Society’s activities supporting professional geographers using geographical knowledge and skills in the workplace. On the horizon is a networking event at the Society on 24 November for Chartered Geographers, and a talk by the Society to staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 November.