11. Global Risks Summit: Managing Uncertainty and Opportunities in the Era of Multiple Crises
The 11th Global Risks Summit, organized by the Corporate Risk Management Association (KRYD), was held on February 18, 2025, at the Sabancı Center, focusing on the theme ‘Managing Uncertainty and Opportunities in the Era of Multiple Crises.’ This summit brought together leading figures from the industry in Turkey and around the world, covering a wide range of topics from geopolitical and economic risks to disaster resilience, the risk agenda in corporate boards, and innovations in the insurance sector. Risk management professionals and business representatives called for urgent collaboration to manage the increasing uncertainty.
KRYD has been organizing the ‘Global Risks Summit’ annually for the 11th time this year, bringing together professionals from various sectors operating in the field of risk management in Turkey. The summit was hosted at the Sabancı Center, where in-depth discussions were held on the main theme of ‘Managing Uncertainty and Opportunities in the Era of Multiple Crises.’
The summit, held with the main sponsorship of AXA Insurance and strategic partnerships with significant sponsors such as Aon, Marsh, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), featured leading figures in the field discussing current global risks and their impacts on Turkey and the business world from a holistic perspective.
Panels during the summit detailed topics such as economic and geopolitical approaches to uncertainties, resilience strategies in business focused on disasters, risk agendas in corporate governance, and innovative insurance models. The summit began with opening speeches by Gökhan Eyigün, Group President of Strategy and Business Development at Sabancı Holding, and Bora Akdoğanlar, Chairman of the KRYD Board.
Bora Akdoğanlar, Chairman of the KRYD Board, stated, ‘One of our key messages at the Global Risks Summit is that preparedness for disasters and risk management should always remain a priority on the business agenda. In this context, we emphasize the importance of collaboration among the business world, civil society organizations, public and local governments, and the community. We must interpret today correctly by learning lessons from past experiences and prepare for the future now. We are in a transformation process in terms of green transformation, digital transformation, and social transformation. The results affect all dimensions—natural, political, economic, and social—on a global scale. From a risk management perspective, we should focus on balancing the needs of the business world and human life with the sustainability of natural resources in this transformation and the era of multiple crises. I believe that especially digitalization and social transformation necessitate making our business models more resilient, agile, and lean.’
Charlotte Hedemark Hancke, President of the European Risk Managers Federation (FERMA), representing Turkey in KRYD, took the stage as the honorary guest and shared FERMA’s 2024 global risk manager survey report and the 2025 roadmap with the participants.
Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Turkey, stated, ‘We need to reassess the role of insurance in the age of uncertainty. We are not the guardians of the future; our aim is to make the future more livable and secure against predictable or unpredictable risks, to create comfort. Insurance is not just about offering a product or service; it is an ecosystem focused on collaborating for a better future. As insurers, we act as a sector that provides sustainability to businesses and produces collaborative solutions for them. We must accurately analyze the risks faced by governments, institutions, companies, and individuals. Business empathy is crucial at this point. Reinsurers, brokers, and we, insurance companies, have significant responsibilities in this process. We must understand the growth journeys of businesses and draw inspiration from the best practices while managing risks.’
Onur Ünlü, Chairman of the Business for Goals (B4G) Platform, noted, ‘It is our actions that transform natural events into disasters. As the earthquake risk in Istanbul and its impact on our economy grow, it is imperative that we take precautions. With the United Nations’ motto ‘Rebuild Better and Greener!’, we must shape the rebuilding processes with this understanding before disasters cause destruction.’
Ahmet Cemal Dördüncü, Chairman of UN Global Compact Turkey, emphasized, ‘Achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals is not just an ethical choice or a temporary trend. It is a necessity that requires the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, forming the basis of risk management and creating long-term value. The stagnations we experienced in the past during the Copenhagen Summit and the financial crisis showed us the importance of adaptation and strategy change. Today, amid economic and security concerns, dependence on fossil fuels, and pressures created by uncertainties, the time has come to focus on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘why’ in developing sustainable business models and leading transformation.’
