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.

John Bremen, Chief Strategy, Innovation and 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, which represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation’s $23.7 trillion banking industry. Rob joined ABA in August 2015 following ten years at the helm of the Financial Services Forum, a non-partisan financial and economic policy organization. Before joining the Forum, Rob served in the George W. Bush administration as the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Treasury Department, a position requiring confirmation by the United States Senate. In this role, he acted as chief spokesperson and head of the office of public liaison, serving as Treasury’s lead representative with the media, business, professional trade organizations, consumer groups and the public.

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.