The state of the Bermuda insurance market and its future will be discussed by a string of industry heavyweights in the Insurance Day Summit Bermuda this week.

The event, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, will open tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. with comments from Premier Ewart Brown.

The two-day conference will feature CEO speakers including Marsh & McLennan Companies' Brian Duperreault, XL Capital's Mike McGavick, Alterra Capital's Marty Becker, Ironshore's Kevin Kelley, Endurance Specialty's David Cash, Argo Group's Mark Watson, Validus Re's Conan Ward, Hiscox Bermuda's Charles Dupplin and Torus Insurance's Clive Tobin.

Two of the leading figures in industry regulation will also speak — Terri Vaughan, CEO of the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Jeremy Cox, CEO of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Bermuda insurance stalwarts Don Kramer, the founder of Ariel Re, Michael Butt, chairman of Axis Capital, and David Ezekiel, the chairman of MMC Bermuda, will also appear on the panels.

On Tuesday, PCI president and CEO David Sampson will give the keynote address on "Seizing the Opportunities from a Financial Downturn", before Mr. McGavick gives a presentation on "The Next Crisis: Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future".

Panel discussions will focus on overcoming systemic risk, the implications of Solvency II, catastrophe modelling, capital market performance and cat bonds.

Mr. Duperreault will deliver the keynote address on Wednesday and he will then join the CEO leadership panel to discuss strategies to tackle risk areas in 2010.

Mr. Tobin will talk about building a franchise in present market conditions, before Mr. Ezekiel addresses developments in the captive market.

Wednesday's final two panel discussions will focus on the economy, capital markets and leverage cycle, and whether soft market conditions will influence acquisitions, before the conference wraps up at lunchtime.

For more information, see the website www.insurancedaysummit.com/bermuda