Call for Sessions | RIMS ERM Conference 2026

The RIMS ERM Conference is the premier event for professionals shaping the future of enterprise risk management. This two-day experience brings together over 500 thought leaders, innovators, and practitioners to explore strategies, solutions, and best practices—and to stay connected in a rapidly shifting risk landscape.

The conference is designed for knowledge sharing, peer engagement, and practical learning to help you navigate change and lead with confidence. Join us in Columbus, Ohio, November 19–20, to strengthen your ERM program and expand your network.

• Hear from experienced speakers leading the conversation on emerging risks and ERM innovation.
• Gain actionable insights through relevant, real-world presentations.
• Expand your network with ERM professionals from diverse industries.
• Sharpen your strategy with proven tools and forward-thinking approaches.

If you want to stay informed, connected, and ahead of what’s next, this is the place to be.

Topics should fall within the Foundational or Advanced category.

FOUNDATIONAL (Core ERM Leadership Capabilities)

These are table stakes for any effective ERM leader:

• ERM Organizational Alignment & Governance: Core to establishing authority, structure, and accountability.
• Developing and Customizing Enterprise Risk Strategies: Strategy design is fundamental, not advanced.
• Embedding Risk into Strategy, Operations & Projects: This is the bridge from theory to execution.
• Integrating Risk into Organizational Decision Making: If this isn’t in place, ERM isn’t functioning properly.
• Risk Assessment, Quantification & Metrics: Measurement is foundational, even if sophistication varies.
• Standards, Frameworks and Best Practices in ERM: COSO / ISO / NIST alignment is baseline knowledge.

ADVANCED (Optimization, Influence, and Next-Level ERM)

These require a mature program or deeper expertise:

• Evolving Risk Management Capabilities & Practices: Continuous improvement, transformation, scaling maturity.
• Building Risk Management Maturity: Explicit maturity modeling and progression is advanced.
• Strategic Risk & Enterprise Resiliency: Forward-looking, scenario-based, resilience engineering.
• Technology & AI Applications in ERM: Tooling, automation, predictive analytics—beyond basics.
• Ethical, Privacy & Security Risks in AI: Emerging, specialized, and rapidly evolving domain.

Speaker Requirements: Ensure all speakers are qualified subject matter experts and meet the specific requirements for the session length.

• For 60-minute topics, a maximum of up to three (3) speakers and for 30-minute topics, a maximum of two (2) speakers, including the risk professional.
• At least one speaker MUST be a risk professional (as defined below).
  • A risk professional is someone who manages risk for an organization but is not employed by brokers, underwriters, insurers, or similar entities. Their role involves developing and implementing risk management practices to help organizations make decisions that add and sustain value.
    • 60-minute topics should be interactive and include engaging elements like case studies, peer-to-peer learning formats, and interactive discussions.
    • 30-minute topics should be interactive presentations that offer quick strategies for enterprise risk professionals to address a wide range of emerging and dynamic risks and opportunities.
• Travel: RIMS ERM Conference does not reimburse session speakers for expenses related to travel or entertainment, nor do we provide fees or honorariums.
  • For international travel, confirm your passport is valid and check visa requirements with your embassy or consulate.
• Registration: All speakers participating in the ERM Conference must register for the full conference. All accepted speakers—both members and non-members—are offered a preferred full-conference registration rate of $450, which provides access to the entire event.
  • Note: There is no option for speakers to attend only for the day or for the session in which they are presenting, and one-day or session-only registrations are not available to speakers.
• Speaker Agreements & Guidelines: Upon acceptance, all speakers must sign the Guidelines and Speaker Agreements. Failure to sign by the deadline may result in the cancellation of the session.

1. Session Title: Catchy title stands out but when creating ensure that the title is not misleading or misaligned with the session description.
   • Tip: Ensure the title accurately reflects the session content to avoid attendee confusion.
2. Session Description: Provide a comprehensive, detailed overview of the session content.
   
   • Don't submit a one-line summary or include speaker names.
   • Spell out all acronyms at least once for clarity.
   • Speaker names must not be included in the description to maintain the blind peer review process.
   • Submissions with speakers’ names will be disqualified.
3. Learning Objectives: Submit three (3) clear, specific, and substantive learning objectives.
   • Focus: Highlight what attendees will learn, gain, or be able to do as a result of attending your session.
     
4. Speaker Requirement: You MUST include speakers’ details in the submission before you can SUBMIT and finalize your topic.
   • Note: Failure to provide this will result in your submission being marked as a work in progress until finalized. Work in progress submissions will not be reviewed
5. If your session has been previously presented, upload supporting materials such as PowerPoint slides or handouts.

• Session Submission Modifications: The Strategic Enterprise Risk Management Council reserves the right to modify session titles, descriptions, time allocations, number of speakers, and other elements to ensure alignment with the conference’s goals and program objectives.
• Speakers: For 60-minute sessions, at least two (2) speakers must be confirmed at the time of submission, one of whom must be a risk professional. For 30-minute sessions, at least one (1) speaker must be confirmed at the time of submission, one of whom must be a risk professional. Submissions cannot be completed without this information.
  • When speaker details are added, an automated email will be sent to each speaker to confirm their agreement to participate.
• AI-Generated Content: RIMS will not accept session content created by generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT). All content must be original and created by the presenters.
• Content Ownership: Session content must belong to the submitter unless submitted on behalf of an organization.
  • If a submitter leaves the organization and no longer wishes to retain ownership of the session, ownership may be relinquished to the organization.
  • Written approval via email to speakers@rims.org is required for ownership transfer.
  • Once a session time slot is assigned, it cannot be changed.
• Agreements: All speakers must sign by the designated deadline. Failure to do so may result in session cancellation.
• Travel and Expenses: RIMS ERM Conference does not reimburse speakers for travel or entertainment expenses and does not provide speaker fees or honorariums.
• Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in cancellation or reassignment of your session.

If a 60-minute session is not selected, it may be considered for inclusion as a 30-minute presentation.

• All topics are reviewed by The RIMS Strategic Enterprise Risk Management Council and evaluated solely on the relevance of the content and its value to RIMS ERM Conference attendees.
• Note: The initial round of review is conducted as a blind process. Council members do not see speaker or submitter names and will not see company names until the second round of review.
• No preferential treatment will be given to any applicant, regardless of sponsor status.