Julia Graham the new FERMA President

Former Airmic chair Julia Graham has been elected the new President of FERMA, (Federation of European Risk Management Associations). It is the first time a UK-based risk manager has taken the post since Hugh Loader in 1994.

She was elected by the board at its meeting before the start of the FERMA Risk Management Forum in Maastricht. She takes over from Jorge Luzzi.

After her election she said the association’s role is “to inspire, educate and influence. We have some projects already under development, such as European certification for risk managers and our 2014 Benchmarking Survey. Others will be new.”

The news was welcomed by Airmic, which she chaired for a year between 2008 and 2009. "Julia is a great choice. She will bring the same passion, dynamism and intelligence that served Airmic so well when she was Chairman. She has our total support", said chief executive John Hurrell.

Graham is Director of Risk Management and Insurance for the global law firm, DLA Piper.

She joined the board of FERMA in 2010, led the programme committee for the Forum 2013 and serves on the certification working committee.

Her professional life began in the insurance market working for Zurich, Aviva and what is now RSA. At RSA, she moved into the developing area of risk and compliance. Nine years ago she joined what is now the world's largest law firm DLA Piper as its head of risk management.