The Damhurst Podcast: Ascendance to Leadership, with Diane Maxwell

Diane Maxwell is CEO of AIRMIC, the UK’s association for insurance and risk professionals, where she is leads the organisation at a time of significant change shaped by geopolitics, climate risk, cyber threats and AI.

Diane is an experienced senior executive with deep expertise across financial services, regulation and public policy, and a track record of leading complex transformation and shaping strategy at the intersection of business and regulation. Her previous roles include Executive Director at the Jersey Financial Services Commission and CEO of New Zealand’s Retirement Commission, alongside a range of board and advisory positions focused on financial inclusion and resilience.

In this episode, Diane speaks to us about why the best leaders are willing to admit when they don’t understand something, the importance of systems thinking in leadership, and the challenges women still face when operating in environments that don’t always expect that perspective. She also shares her thoughts on fear, adaptability and why AI will fundamentally reshape the way we work over the coming years.