Airmic Report Highlights Strategic Priorities and Risk Landscape for 2025

The 2025 Airmic member survey, titled "Another World Is Possible," offers a detailed look at how risk professionals are navigating an increasingly complex environment marked by geopolitical upheaval, technological disruption, and emerging risk. According to Airmic, the survey captured responses from 92 members between May and June 2025 and outlines both top risks and the evolving role of the risk profession.  

Geopolitical instability, particularly related to shifting US trade policy and global tariffs, continues to impact supply chains and investment decisions. Per the report, organizations are facing not just the so-called "three Ts"—Trump, tariffs, and turmoil—but a broader range of interconnected risks, including cyber threats and inflation, that demand long-term strategic thinking and adaptability. 

According to Airmic, managing emerging risks—defined as risks that are either not well understood or which arise from change—requires integration into core decision-making frameworks. The report highlights the importance of horizon scanning and scenario analysis, recommending that risk professionals rely on trusted intelligence sources and internal stakeholder dialogue to anticipate threats and opportunities. 

Technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber threats ranked as top priorities for 86 percent of survey respondents. Airmic said recent cyber attacks on UK retailers have reinforced the need for proactive rather than reactive security postures. Respondents noted a gap between the pace of technological adoption in business and the insurance industry's ability to respond with adequate solutions, prompting interest in alternative risk transfer options. 

Geopolitical and geoeconomic concerns were noted by 65 percent of respondents as significant. According to Airmic, survey participants expressed anxiety over global instability, citing a loss of trust in institutions and increased state-level aggression, which impact business strategy and consumer confidence. 

Natural catastrophes and climate-related risks were also a central concern, particularly in the context of rising insured losses. Per Airmic, insured losses from such events are expected to reach $145 billion in 2025. Some members cited these risks as a major reason for reconsidering risk financing strategies and exploring captive insurance options for upcoming renewals. 

In discussing emerging risks more broadly, Airmic noted that members are increasingly attuned to risks that were once considered minor but now carry operational or financial weight—such as energy prices and regulatory change. Respondents emphasized the need for agility and a readiness to explore alternative solutions, including captives and blended catastrophe covers. 

Captive insurance continues to gain strategic relevance. According to the report, Airmic members see captives not just as tools for hard markets but as vehicles for managing emerging risks, incubating sustainability initiatives, and aligning with broader business strategies. The report reinforces findings from Airmic's earlier 2025 captive survey, which found members spend more than £5.1 billion in annual premiums through captives, with £22.6 billion in assets under management. 

Airmic also noted that today's global risk landscape contains opportunities as well as threats. Survey respondents identified upside risks such as increased productivity, digitalization, the adoption of clean energy, and wider use of parametric insurance and AI. These were seen as ways to strengthen resilience during volatile periods. 

Organizational agility has improved since Airmic's 2021 survey, with more respondents now reporting that their companies are better equipped to adapt and respond to high-impact, low-probability events. According to Airmic, alignment between risk professionals and business strategy is seen as key to navigating these shifts effectively. 

Finally, the report underscores the evolution of the risk profession itself. Risk professionals are increasingly viewed as strategic contributors rather than back-office staff. Per Airmic, more than half of respondents emphasized the importance of soft skills and collaboration across departments, and many hold cross-functional roles, particularly in enterprise risk and insurance management. 

According to the report, a majority of senior risk professionals with over 10 years of experience now earn more than £100,000 annually. Airmic also observed progress in gender diversity, though noted there is more work to be done in achieving equity across the profession.