XPRIMM: Please introduce The Institutes CPCU Society and The Institutes Knowledge Group to our readers and what opportunities it offers insurance professionals. In particular, we would be interested to learn more about their European projects.

Sherry McFadden: The Institutes Knowledge Group helps people build foundational, technical and leadership skills to say ahead of evolving trends in risk management and insurance. They offer more than 25 practical Institutes designations, including CPCU®, along with online courses, collegiate studies and executive and leadership education programs, all focused on the business of risk management and insurance.

The Institutes CPCU Society, an affiliate of The Institutes, is a global membership community that is dedicated to providing knowledge and leadership opportunities for the global community of risk and insurance professionals in order to advance the industry and benefit those they serve while adhering to the highest ethical standards.

Membership benefits include networking opportunities, webinars, access to educational content, facilitated study groups for CPCU exams, mentorship programs, leadership opportunities, career resources, interest groups, and local chapter support.

• International Insurance Interest Group and Global Virtual Community
  Within the CPCU Society, members can connect through 8 special interest groups. Our International Insurance Interest Group known as 3iG, brings together professionals worldwide, including those in Europe, to share global perspectives, assists with webinars, and produces content relevant to cross-border insurance/risk issues. All are essential mechanisms for Europe-relevant learning.
  In addition, the Society’s Global Virtual Community provides a dedicated space for members around the world to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that transcend borders. This community is especially valuable for our non-US members, offering opportunities to build professional networks without geographic limitations.
  Together, 3iG and the Global Virtual Community ensure that every member, no matter where they live or work, can access international insights and feel part of a connected, global professional network.
• European Activities and Projects

The CPCU Society has a local chapter in Europe, the Europe CPCU Society Chapter. This chapter serves risk management and insurance professionals in Europe. Its benefits include access to technical education resources, webinars, publications, and networking opportunities through chapter meetings. The chapter also organizes events in Europe, including virtual gatherings.

To make CPCU Society membership more accessible globally, the Society has introduced tiered membership pricing based on World Bank classifications, making membership more accessible globally. The emphasis on establishing global and equitable membership rates helps members in developing countries.

The International Ambassador Program further extends our global reach by appointing an ambassador to champion outreach and awareness for the CPCU designation and the CPCU Society. This year, Paul Dumitru, President of the Romania Chapter, was named International Ambassador. The ambassador program helps with outreach, awareness, chapter development, and sustainability.

XPRIMM: CPCU has recently opened a Central & Eastern Europe chapter, or CEE for short. Please let us know more about your development strategy in the region. What role do you see CPCU playing in bridging knowledge gaps between mature insurance markets and emerging ones, particularly in Europe?

Sherry McFadden: Our focus is on helping professionals in the region access the same knowledge and resources that have long supported mature markets. We are especially proud of our newest chapter in Romania, one of only two new chapters formed in the past 20 years, both of which are international (the other being in West Africa). The creation of these chapters reflects the CPCU Society’s broader global growth and engagement strategy, as we continue to support insurance and risk management professionals in building local communities that connect to our international network.

Mature markets such as Western Europe and North America have longer histories with complex regulations, reinsurance structures, product diversity, and risk modeling (including cyber, climate, etc.). CPCU course content can help CEE professionals gain exposure to those concepts and methods. For example, courses on risk management, insurance operations, analytics, legal aspects, and emerging risk trends could help close the knowledge and skills gap. CPCU's online modular format helps with that.

Additionally, many CEE markets have undergone regulatory evolution (Solvency II, EU directives, IFRS, consumer protection and more). CPCU coursework could help professionals understand and implement compliance, risk governance, and actuarial input. The Institutes' leadership and management tracks, including Executive Education and Leadership Acceleration programs, are likely to help emerging markets build capacity in management, sophisticated risk assessment, and product development. Having a globally recognized designation helps professionals in emerging markets benchmark themselves, improve their opportunities, move between countries, and attract international employers or reinsurers.

XPRIMM: The insurance industry is going through a profound transformation driven by technology, not only because of the changes that technology brings to insurers' operations, but also because of the way technology is changing customers' needs and expectations. How do you see CPCUs responding to and leading within these trends?

Sherry McFadden: The Institutes CPCU Society and The Institutes Knowledge Group are extremely focused on ensuring that insurance professionals are prepared for the industry's digital transformation. Beyond the foundational technical and leadership skills that CPCU has always provided, the curriculum now emphasizes emerging topics such as data analytics, cyber risk, digital distribution, AI applications in underwriting and claims, and customer-centric design. Education is no longer about static textbooks alone — CPCU increasingly delivers modular, online, and on-demand learning that keeps pace with rapid changes in technology and customer expectations. This "learning in the flow of work" approach allows professionals to integrate new skills immediately into practice.

XPRIMM: On CPCU Society's Global Reach in 5–10 Years

Sherry McFadden: The CPCU Society is already expanding beyond its traditional U.S. roots, with active chapters in Japan, Europe, Bermuda, Korea, West Africa and most recently, Romania. These chapters represent our growing commitment to supporting professionals across diverse markets, while ensuring that local members feel connected to a global community of peers. Our tiered membership model further ensures equitable access worldwide, making participation possible in regions where affordability might otherwise be a barrier.

Looking ahead, we anticipate the Society evolving into a truly global professional community — with local chapters in key regions (CEE, Africa, South America), content tailored to local regulatory and cultural contexts, and a vibrant network of professionals exchanging knowledge and perspectives across borders. CPCU's impact will not only be measured in designations awarded, but in its ability to bridge knowledge gaps, standardize best practices, and foster leadership in markets where insurance and risk management are growing rapidly.

XPRIMM: One Message to Insurance Professionals in CEE Considering CPCU Society Membership

Sherry McFadden: For insurance professionals in Central and Eastern Europe, joining the CPCU Society is a powerful step toward connecting with an international network, gaining access to global perspectives, and participating in education and leadership opportunities tailored to both mature and emerging markets. Membership alone opens doors to resources, community and professional growth that can help you make an impact locally and globally.

Separately, pursuing the CPCU designation provides a rigorous, globally respected credential that deepens your technical expertise and distinguishes you as a leader in the field. The CPCU Society supports members on this journey through facilitated study groups, peer support and resources that make earning the designation more achievable. While many members have or choose to pursue the designation, it is not a requirement for membership.

My message is simple: whether you are joining the CPCU Society, earning the CPCU designation, or both, you are investing in yourself and in the future of the insurance industry. The earlier you engage, the greater the influence you can have in shaping that future.