PRMIA Announces 2026 Risk Management Challenge Champions
The 2026 PRMIA Risk Management Challenge proved to be a truly exceptional year that showcased some of the strongest student talent in risk management from around the world in this year’s case competition.
Congratulations to Team Goldman Chase from University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management, the champions of this year’s PRMIA Risk Management Challenge! The team, comprised of Zhanyuan (Eric) Gao, Allen Gong, Qizheng (Bruce) Guan, and Kaidi Xie, was a clear standout to the judging panel. They impressed with their executive presence, structured thinking, and ability to balance analytical rigor with practical, actionable recommendations. Their clear, confident communication consistently set them apart.
Congratulations also to the two teams that tied for second place -- Team RiskLens from Columbia University (Adriana Cuca, Syed Muzaffar H. Kazmi, Enyu (Preston) Lin, and Xingjian Peng) and Team Virgin Island Boys from University College London (Robson Gentner, Eric Jiang, Adrien Lesage, Thai Nguyen).
A Remarkably Close Competition
This year’s competition emphasized hands-on, real-world application, challenging teams to analyze evolving global risks, make high-stakes decisions, and communicate their insights with clarity and impact.
The 2026 case study centered on Varenia, a fictional environment designed to simulate the complexity of modern global risk. Across three rounds, teams moved from strategic risk assessment to real-time crisis response, and ultimately to executive-level decision-making and board-style communication under pressure. The experience reflected the end-to-end demands placed on today’s risk professionals, from analysis to action to leadership.
The result was one of the closest and most competitive finals in recent memory, reflecting the high caliber of all 25 participating teams. Their performance reflects not only technical excellence, but also the leadership, adaptability, and critical thinking that define the next generation of risk professionals.
A sincere thank you to all of our judges who contributed their time and expertise throughout each stage of the competition. Their insights, dedication, and careful evaluation made this experience both meaningful and impactful for all participants.
Thank you to this year’s Silver sponsor, Royal Bank of Canada.