Risk managers who are looking for new innovations, new encounters and new knowledge were in “the right place” Monday morning, said Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. President Richard Roberts, as RIMS opened its 2015 conference and exhibition in New Orleans.

Those three opportunities, plus “New Orleans” — the site of this year’s event — form the theme of the conference.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Roberts noted that RIMS has a longstanding connection with the Crescent City. He pointed out that after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, many groups that had scheduled meetings in the city canceled them. RIMS was not one of them, said Mr. Roberts.

He called Hurricane Katrina “a prime example” of what risk managers must prepare the organizations they serve to deal with — “the unthinkable.”

RIMS Executive Director Mary Roth pointed to reauthorization of the federal government’s terrorism insurance backstop, which was created by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, as an example of RIMS’ influence. She noted that the program affects any organization with a U.S. presence. RIMS members, including several past presidents, pushed for reauthorization, she said.

Enactment of the reauthorization legislation is a “reminder RIMS can do remarkable things,” said Ms. Roth, who is marking 30 years with the organization this year.

Looking ahead, Mr. Roberts said RIMS will launch a “virtual member engagement platform” later this year.

Ms. Roth said the new platform will be a “home run” on many levels.Among other things, the new platform will allow the organization to engage the next generation of risk professionals, said Mr. Roberts. Ms. Roth stressed that the platform “connects great people with great ideas.”

RIMS continues to grow internationally, Mr. Roberts said. The society is working to strengthen its international network by participating in worldwide events. Mr. Roberts noted that his predecessor as RIMS president — Carolyn Snow — made numerous international trips during her tenure and had counseled him that he should be prepared to travel. He said he would continue that tradition.

The emphasis on international growth marks this year’s conference. A new lounge for members from outside North America provides a “unique meeting place” for international members to network and share ideas, Mr. Roberts said.

Ms. Roth pointed out that RIMS has members in more than 60 countries. One country in which the membership has been growing rapidly is Australia, she said. This is reflected in the fact that a risk forum has been slated to take place again in Melbourne in August.

“We are truly a global society,” said Mr. Roberts.

Ms. Roth listed several upcoming events that will draw risk managers’ attention this year. Among them are the release of the risk manager compensation survey, the release of the RIMS benchmarking survey and a RIMS legislative summit.

The opening session concluded with a keynote address by Erik Wahl — a graffiti artist, entrepreneur and best-selling author.

“I’m in the business of creating disruptive strategy,” Mr. Wahl said.

He opened his address by painting on stage a portrait of U2 lead singer Bono as a U2 music video played.

“I thought we’d open with something different,” he said.

Mr. Wahl said he heard the late Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. urge graduating college students to “stay hungry, stay foolish.”

For risk managers, this means to resist “institutional complacency,” said Mr. Wahl.

The question for risk managers is how to reawaken their own artistry, he said.