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Jorge Luzzi: Honouring a pioneer of global risk management

A discussion with Javier Mirabal and Manny Padilla

At this year’s RISKWORLD 2026, the global risk management community came together not only to exchange ideas and shape the future of the profession, but also to honour the remarkable legacy of one of its most influential figures: Jorge Luzzi.

During the conference, RIMS officially honoured Jorge Luzzi with a distinguished nomination to the RIMS Hall of Fame 2026, a recognition that serves not only as an accolade but as a lasting tribute to a man whose impact on global risk management continues to resonate across generations.

For Brokerslink, Jorge’s contribution was transformational. His work was instrumental in embedding risk management as a strategic discipline within the business, while also helping establish both the Risk Managers Forum and the Brokerslink Risk Management Practice (BRMP). Yet beyond titles and achievements, those who worked closest with him remember something even greater: his humanity, humility and relentless commitment to sharing knowledge.


A legacy that shaped global risk management

Speaking at RISKWORLD, Javier Mirabal reflected emotionally on both Jorge’s recognition and the extraordinary journey that led to it.

“For me, really, it was an act of justice,” Javier said. “He gave his life to risk management. He passed away still working for the profession, for the community, for the people around him.”

Javier first met Jorge in 1992 and worked alongside him for more than three decades. Following Jorge’s passing, he and others across the industry felt compelled to pursue an international recognition worthy of Jorge’s lifelong contribution.

The nomination process itself was extensive, requiring detailed evidence of Jorge’s impact across more than 45 years in the profession. According to Javier, the effort reflected the scale of what Jorge had built throughout his career.

And that legacy is difficult to overstate.

Jorge played a foundational role in shaping risk management organisations across Latin America and Europe. He also served as president of FERMA and was deeply involved in international risk management leadership and education initiatives.


Leadership through knowledge and humanity

Yet despite these achievements, Javier repeatedly returned to one defining quality: Jorge’s simplicity.

“He was the most simple guy that you can meet,” Javier shared. “Very open, very friendly, never complicated. He could speak with anybody, people at the highest level or someone just starting their career.”

That accessibility, he explained, became one of Jorge’s greatest leadership strengths. Whether discussing technical risk management concepts, global strategy or football over lunch, Jorge had a rare ability to connect with people one-to-one.

“He put people in his pocket very easily,” Javier laughed. “The knowledge gave him respect, but the way he communicated made people love him.”

A gifted communicator fluent in six languages, Spanish, Portuguese, English, German, Italian and French, Jorge became known not only for his expertise, but for his ability to unite professionals and businesses across borders.

For Javier, Jorge now stands as an enduring example for the next generation of risk professionals.

“If you want to have a successful career in risk management, you need to study what he achieved. He is like a lighthouse for the profession.”


A lasting influence on future generations

That sentiment was echoed by Manny Padilla, who also reflected on Jorge’s influence during RISKWORLD.

“Jorge has been deserving of this recognition for a long time,” Manny said. “But this is just one extra check mark on a long list of accomplishments recognised throughout the world.”

For Manny, Jorge’s greatest contribution was his technical expertise and his willingness to share it openly.

“He was an advocate for the profession and a connector of people. He had knowledge and was never hesitant to share that knowledge with professionals, even people who had no clue what was going on.”

Manny described Jorge as both a visible industry leader and a powerful force behind the scenes, someone who helped establish businesses, move initiatives forward and strengthen the global risk management agenda through collaboration and mentorship.

“The risk management community lost a giant,” he said. “He made us better people first, professionals second.”

Despite his global stature, Jorge remained deeply approachable.

“You knew he was competent. You knew he had experience,” Manny recalled. “But you could always approach him directly. And I never walked away from a conversation with Jorge without having a big laugh.”

For those who knew him, Jorge’s energy and positivity left a lasting impression everywhere he went.

“You walked into a room and if Jorge was there, he would greet you and make you feel like a king.”

The recognition from RIMS, therefore, represents far more than a professional milestone. It is a collective acknowledgement from the global community that Jorge Luzzi’s work fundamentally shaped modern risk management, not only through institutions, certifications and leadership roles, but through the countless people he mentored, inspired and encouraged throughout his life.

His legacy now lives on in the organisations and associations he helped build, the professionals he guided, and the collaborative spirit he championed across the global risk management community.

As the industry looks ahead, Jorge Luzzi remains exactly as Javier described him: a lighthouse for future generations.

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