Tomas Tragan, IRMCert: Head of Risk Management, RENOMIA
How did you get your job?
I started in risk during my university studies more than 20 years ago. At this time Seveso directive was an issue in the Czech Republic, so we made a working group to help the industry with risk assessments and programmes. I worked on many interesting projects for industry, government and also international bodies like OECD. I entered the insurance industry 15 years ago after 2 years working for a US company as an EHS manager.
What’s a typical day like as a risk manager?
I am responsible for risk management services within the RENOMIA insurance broker company, which is the leading CEE insurance broker with many international activities and number one in the Czech market. We consider insurance as a part of risk management of our clients, so we try to help them also with risk assessments and issues of risk management. My job is not only about insurance risk engineering but also about strategic decision consultancy.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
My job is to help our clients to obtain objective information to make the right decisions. My job involves technical skills, soft skills and strategic thinking.
Each client is different. It is very interesting to work with different scopes of risks managed by different people.
What are the challenges?
The biggest challenge is to convince people who work in the same job for years without unsettling them, that the risk you assessed is relevant to them and could really affect them, or their company. Risk management issues are always related to costs. Investing money in prevention measures means you invest money in that nothing will happen. Sometimes it is very challenging and demanding with regard to communication and presentation skills to convince management to make these investments.
In what way are your IRM qualifications relevant?
The IRM International Certificate has helped me to understand risks better and in the wider context. Previously I was more focused on operational, or you could say safety risks. This wider view helps me to better understand how senior management is thinking and the strategic part of risk management. I believe that after studying with the IRM our consultancy is in a better position to advise the terms of long-term thinking to our clients.
What would you say to others thinking about joining IRM as a member?
IRM membership gives me a lot of useful materials, webinars and supporting information about ERM. Very important is also the inspiration on how different risk issues could be managed within the world and within the different types of industry.
How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions? Has being linked to the IRM helped?
My carrier ambitions haven’t changed; I am Head of the Risk Management Department. of RENOMIA GROUP. What has changed is both my knowledge and the also the effectiveness our consultancy.
Top tips
Don’t have your eyes closed. The risk world is very diverse and IRM qualifications will help you to explore and understand it better.
