So three weeks into my new job, I managed to get myself on the invite list for the 360 Risk Insight conference, jointly organised by Lloyd’s and NATO.

To be honest I was a bit sceptical when looking at the Lloyd’s website when it said we accept any degree discipline. However, that recruitment/HR cliché is actually true at Lloyd’s (as well as my degree, two of the other grads did biology and civil engineering!) and this conference proved to me that there are plenty of opportunities at Lloyd’s to get involved in areas that interest you. My first placement is also with the small (but the most important ) Government Policy and Affairs Team which fits really well with my background.

The conference looked at three emerging risks that the insurance sector and the wider business world needs to consider – climate change, cyber risk and piracy.

Some very senior people were attending or speaking at the conference including the Lloyd’s Chairman Lord Levene, Anders Fogh Rasmussen the new Secretary General of NATO and the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation. I also got to see Andrew Marr in action as chair.

On the topic of climate change, I was very impressed with this smartly suited man who turned out to be a modern day version of Robert Scott! – He had just returned from surveying the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice cover. The volume of cover has decreased by 60% and in some places it is only 1.7 metres thick. This of course has implications for global stability including the risks that may arise as the northwest sea passage (across the top of Canada) opens up and nations begin to vie for access to new oil and gas reserves.

Cyber risks were more technical but just as worrying – it’s not just an issue of annoying viruses, as the entire Estonian government was attacked by cyber terrorism in 2007.

You have probably heard about all the pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia but the conference just highlighted how much of a problem it has become. Piracy has cost the international shipping industry over $90 million and over 250 attacks have occurred this year already. Problems include the lack of international framework to prosecute captured pirates and the potential economic impact of ships diverting away from high risk areas. There is also growing concern over the increased violence shown by Somalian pirates towards crew members.

I promise that for my next blog I will write a bit more about what life is like on a daily basis and about some of the great perks you get here.