Speakers | ABA Insurance Risk Management Forum

Paul Benda, Executive Vice President, Risk, Fraud and Cybersecurity, American Bankers Association

Paul Benda is the Executive Vice President for Risk, Fraud and Cybersecurity at the American Bankers Association. Paul joined the ABA in 2018, where he leads the association’s initiatives in fraud, cybersecurity, physical security, and information security practices and chairs the ABA Fraud Coordination Group. In addition, he acts as a media spokesman for the ABA and the banking industry on these issues. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council which is the primary point of contact for the Departments of Treasury and Homeland Security on cybersecurity and resiliency issues facing the Financial Sector.

His past experiences include leadership positions in the Department of Homeland Security where he was head of research and development and in the Department of Defense where he was a DARPA Program Manager and designed security systems for the Pentagon. Paul started his career as an Active Duty U.S. Air Force officer and transitioned to the private sector where he worked as a consultant for Booz Allen before returning to government service.

John Bremen, Chief Strategy, Innovation & Acceleration Officer, WTW

Bremen helps companies see the future and get there when it comes to people, risk and capital. He is a recognized global business leader, thought leader, and C-suite and board advisor. He oversees Willis Towers Watson’s various Thinking Ahead Groups, and forums for innovative, disruptive and early-adopting executives to share perspectives, conduct research, challenge the status quo, and collaborate on topics driving their global business agendas. At WTW, John has led and sponsored multiple growth-oriented businesses and practice areas across disciplines covering people, risk, and capital, including Human Capital & Benefits, Talent & Rewards, Health & Benefits, Total Rewards, ESG, and DEI.

Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association

Rob Nichols is the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, the voice of the nation’s $23.7 trillion banking industry and the only organization that represents banks of all sizes and charters in Washington. Since joining ABA in August 2015, Nichols has led ABA's advocacy efforts, working to ensure that banks of all sizes operate in a policy environment that allows them to best serve their customers and communities.

Reid Sawyer, Managing Director, Emerging Risks Group and US Cyber Consulting Leader, Marsh

Reid Sawyer leads the strategy and delivery of Marsh’s cybersecurity consulting services in the US, working closely with Marsh’s cyber insurance brokerage team to offer clients a unified cyber risk management approach. Reid brings 25 years of experience in identifying and managing critical risk issues facing businesses and government. He spent more than 20 years with the US Army as a senior advisor on emerging risk trends, served in Special Operations forces, founded its premier strategy group on counterterrorism, and was on the faculty. He’s an advisor on cyber, geopolitical and other risks.

Joan Woodward, President, Travelers Institute, Executive Vice President, Public Policy, The Travelers Companies, Inc.

A recognized leader in the insurance and financial services industries, Joan Woodward heads Travelers’ public policy division and is founder and president of The Travelers Institute, the company’s thought leadership and public policy platform. An economist and award-winning Washington analyst, Joan is a sought-after public speaker on topics spanning financial services, insurance, the economy and public policy, and has keynoted and moderated hundreds of conferences. Prior to joining Travelers, she worked at Goldman Sachs for a decade and on Capitol Hill for a dozen years.