The eighth Asian Captive Conference brought together more than 300 risk and industry professionals in Kuala Lumpur on 10 September, co-organised by Labuan IBFC and the Labuan International Insurance Association (LIIA). The conference saw the launch of LIIA Women in Captive Insurance, which the association describes as Asia’s first dedicated industry network for women in the captive insurance sector. The initiative aims to advance female talent through mentorship, leadership development and cross-border knowledge exchange. Affendi Rashdi, director-general of the Labuan Financial Services Authority, was named its inaugural male ally champion. Delegates spanned regulators, multinational corporations and the wider captive insurance ecosystem. Ben Quah, chief executive officer of Labuan IBFC, opened the conference. He says: "A captive is no longer simply an alternative mechanism for financing predictable or difficult-to-place risks. Increasingly, it is becoming a strategic instrument that enables organisations to understand their risks more deeply, respond with greater flexibility and retain greater control over how those risks are financed." Rashdi delivered the keynote address, on the evolving role of captives in addressing complex risks. He says: "We may not be able to eliminate volatility, but we can be better prepared for it. Volatility may be unavoidable, but vulnerability does not have to be." The flagship panel brought together regulators from Labuan IBFC, Hong Kong and Singapore on regulatory perspectives from Asia and emerging markets, reinforcing the case for closer regional engagement and alignment between regulators and industry to support the growth of captive markets across Asia. An industry dialogue with experts from Labuan IBFC, China and Hong Kong addressed the relevance of captive structures for Chinese businesses expanding internationally, particularly as companies seek greater control and diversification in managing cross-border and emerging risks. The afternoon programme covered captive takaful, employee benefits captives and emerging technologies, and the conference closed with an executive panel on how captives and parametric insurance can complement traditional programmes in addressing climate, energy transition and other emerging risks. Annie Undikai, chairwoman of LIIA, delivered the closing remarks. She says: "Capital builds captives, but people, ideas, and relationships shape the future of captive insurance."
