Risk Management Educational Forum
For more than 20 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority has hosted the Risk Management Educational Forum, a two-and-a-half-day conference featuring world-class keynotes and sessions presented by risk management experts. The Forum allows members to learn about topics relevant to local government, including legal liability, workers’ compensation, and public safety. The event is the one time of year all Authority members can come together, and it also features networking activities, including a golf tournament, where attendees can address common issues and share knowledge. The Capstone Award is presented annually at the Forum and recognizes individuals who drive risk management efforts within their organizations.
Speakers at the 2025 Forum
Erin Stafford
Keynote Speaker
Author, Social Psychologist
With increasing demands, evolving challenges, and public scrutiny, burnout among government leaders and teams is on the rise. Without the right tools to navigate stress, productivity and morale can take a hit. Drawing from her personal experiences with burnout, decades of leadership in hyper-growth organizations, and insights from interviews with Fortune 100 CEOs and top experts, Erin offers strategies to ignite purpose and cultivate lasting success.
Traci Park
Closing Speaker
Councilmember, Los Angeles District 11
Traci uses the 2024 L.A. wildfires as a case study to examine communications techniques such as real-time updates, social media, and coordinating with local authorities and media outlets. The wildfires presented a unique set of circumstances that required swift and accurate communication to the public, ensuring safety and minimizing panic while prioritizing emergency response efforts. Whether you are involved in public relations, emergency management, or a related field, this discussion will offer valuable takeaways to enhance your communication strategies during critical situations.
California JPIA Capstone Award
The California JPIA presents the Capstone Award each year to an individual who best exemplifies the practice of risk management by working to support risk management efforts, developing loss control programs, and coordinating systems that support their agency’s risk management efforts.
2025 Forum–Registration Open
Moments from the 2024 Forum
The 2024 Risk Management Educational Forum took place at the Hyatt Indian Wells with the theme Risk Management Confidential. The keynote speaker was professional drummer Mark Schulman, who spoke about adopting a “rock star” mindset to achieve peak performance. He emphasized that “Attitude drives everything. While we can’t control what happens to us, we can control our attitude. Choose one that serves you.” The Forum included sessions on various topics such as artificial intelligence, design immunity, workers’ compensation, managing mental health in public safety, and handling disruptions during public meetings. Networking opportunities were provided during breaks and the Thursday evening “Grand Reception.”
Forum-related questions?