The ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council

The ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council is a group of C-suite executives drawn from across ClimateWise’s global membership base. They commission impact research into ways the insurance industry can support the zero carbon, climate-resilient transition.

Insurance is among the industries most affected by climate change due to what it insures and invests in. Consequently, insurers are keen to mitigate the risks of climate change. While many organisations have worked voluntarily, both individually and in leadership groups, a more co-ordinated response is required across the financial system. This requires a combination of industry leadership supported by cutting-edge research and analysis.

The Council’s purpose is therefore to draw on the University of Cambridge and its partners’ expertise to help strengthen the industry's response and inform regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders on how to promote more systematic responses to climate change across the financial system.

The Council was established in 2016 and is currently led by Co-Chairs, Vivek Syal, Chief Underwriting Officer at Tokio Marine Kiln, and Ian Branagan, SVP Innovation, RenaissanceRe.

For queries relating to the Council, please contact us.

Chairs

Vivek Syal, Co-Chair

Chief Underwriting Officer, Tokio Marine Kiln Group Ltd

“The combination of increased attention on climate change and the leadership / influence of the collective insurance sector provides a unique opportunity for us all to both protect our planet and transform the lives of those most vulnerable to its rising challenge. The ClimateWise Advisory Council provides a pathway for us to come together to make this a reality to support a cause that I am passionate about and carry out with utmost care and attention.”

Ian Branagan, Co-Chair

SVP Innovation, RenaissanceRe Ltd 

“I am proud to co‑chair the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council, working with member companies to advance the industry’s response to climate change. By combining CISL’s leading research with the industry’s expertise in managing risk and capital, we can deepen our understanding of climate‑related risks and support governments, businesses and communities in making more resilient choices. Climate change presents increasing challenges, but through rigorous risk understanding and collective action, we can improve outcomes for society and help build a more sustainable future.”

Council members

Claudine Blamey

Chief Sustainability Officer, Aviva

"I am honoured to join the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council, where I look forward to collaborating with industry leaders to drive meaningful climate action. At Aviva, we are committed to becoming a Net Zero company by 2040, and we have been carbon-neutral since 2006. Our focus on decarbonising our business, investing in energy transition, and supporting climate adaptation aligns perfectly with ClimateWise's mission. Together, we can create a sustainable future for our communities and the planet"

Stephen Catlin

Chairman and CEO, Convex

“I hope my other roles as Chairman-elect of the International Insurance Society (IIS) and Chairman of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) benefit the work of the Council as I can co-ordinate and align all organisations. I believe there is an urgent need to address the current misalignment between the need for sustainable investment activities, on the one hand, and a limiting regulatory environment on the other.”

Dominic Christian

Global Chairman Reinsurance Solutions, Aon

“ClimateWise's long-standing collaboration between industry and academia continues to stimulate inventive thought, activate intelligent analysis and facilitate confident responses in a space long on conversation, shorter on actions.” 

Mandy Dennison

Vice President, Global Social Impact & ESG, Intact Financial Corporation

“RSA and Intact have been on the frontlines of climate change with our customers, helping them to recover from the impacts of extreme weather. We’re committed to using our strengths, expertise, and scale to help build resilient communities and support our partners and customers transition towards a sustainable future.”

Jon Dye 

CEO Hiscox plc

“Having been part of the development of ClimateWise in a previous role I am very pleased to rejoin the Insurance Advisory Council to support ongoing development and research into the ways the insurance industry can come together to realise the zero carbon, climate-resilient transition. Hiscox’s sustainability ambition is to be here for the long term, for our customers, colleagues and communities, operating in a sustainable way for the future. To reach this ambition we need industries to move in the same direction and ClimateWise is a great example of this in action, I look forward to seeing what we can achieve collectively. Hiscox underwrites physical exposures susceptible to natural perils, which means it is crucial we understand as much as possible about climate risks and integrate that knowledge into our business activities. Aligning the industry thinking will support reducing climate impacts for all in the future and result in better outcomes for our customers, colleagues and communities.”

Colm Holmes

CEO, Allianz UK

“Our purpose, 'we secure your future' means that sustainability is a priority for Allianz and we’re shaping change by working with others to find solutions for a sustainable future. We’re committed to limiting the impact of our business operations as well as providing products and services which will enable a transition to a low-carbon future for our employees and customers.”

Ben Kinder

Chief Underwriting Officer – Marine, Energy and Renewables, Tokio Marine HCC International

“Globally, we are transitioning to a more decarbonised society. This process won’t happen overnight, and the investment required will be significant. It will be another industrial revolution, with green initiatives at its heart. Insurance is critical in ensuring the safety and prosperity of current and future generations by facilitating the growth of the green marketplace.  At Tokio Marine, we are committed to providing clients, whether they be renewable energy producers, banks, or industry, with tailored risk transfer solutions to support them in their decarbonisation efforts, no matter what stage they are at in their journey.

I am delighted to be joining the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council, unlocking new green opportunities and facilitating the green transition can only be achieved through proactive collaboration and knowledge sharing”

Andew MacFarlane

Head of Climate, AXA XL

“The AXA Future Risks Report consistently highlights climate change as a leading global risk. Insurance has a critical role in providing the protection needed to allow businesses to continue to thrive, as they face the challenges of moving to a low-carbon economy in an era of increased physical risk. The ClimateWise Advisory Council allows our industry to collaborate, to create a more resilient future for everyone.”

Dawn Miller

Chief Commercial Officer and CEO of Lloyd’s Americas

“Collaboration is crucial to driving sustainable, evolving change across our industry. The insights we gain from CISL’s benchmarking and research as a founding member of ClimateWise continue to sharpen our focus, helping us navigate varying expectations with clarity and confidence.” 

David Otudeko

Director of Regulation, Association of British Insurers

"I am excited and pleased to join the ClimateWise Insurance Advisory Council. The UK insurance and long term savings industry sits at the heart of making society more resilient to climate change.  As regulators and firms navigate climate risk and disclosure, our role is to not only manage risk but to enable capital to flow towards sustainable solutions. ClimateWise provides an important platform for the collective leadership needed to turn these systemic challenges into measurable, real world impact"

ClimateWise Managing Committee Representatives

Rachel Delhaise, Chair of the Managing Committee

Chief Sustainability Officer, Convex Insurance Group

"ClimateWise has played a pivotal role in shaping the insurance industry's approach to climate related risks and opportunities since it was established in 2007. I look forward enormously to helping shape this next chapter as we continue to work closely with the University of Cambridge, leveraging its leading research capacity to support the insurance industry's crucial role in the global transition to a low carbon economy."

Jonathan Kassian, Deputy Chair of the Managing Committee

Head of Research, Flood Re 

"ClimateWise brings the insurance industry together to keep improving how we manage and mitigate risk in a changing climate. It plays a valuable thought leadership and benchmarking role, and I’m pleased to take on the role of Deputy Chair of the Managing Committee. Flood Re exists to fill a gap expected to widen due to climate impacts, so we’re grateful for the forum that ClimateWise gives us to advance climate resilience best practice."