About this event
We marked the start of the 2025 hurricane season by exploring what is grabbing the attention of insurers, modellers and the academic community. Seasonal volatility, climate changes, increasingly powerful computing and possible changes in the availability of critical data all impact those responsible for measuring and managing risk.
This event was part of our growing “Exponential Risk” initiative and with the support of Inigo.
This event was for insurers, brokers, MGAs and InsTech members who are making risk assessment decisions and keen to discover practical applications for addressing the current challenges and opportunities in modelling and underwriting. As usual, you were able to learn from others in similar roles, meet established experts and the innovative newcomers.
Across the evening, you heard from established experts and innovative newcomers on topics including:
- How to translate complex model outputs and climate research into actionable underwriting decisions.
- How AI is being used in catastrophe modelling and what the future holds.
- New data challenges as traditional sources change or disappear.
- Innovations from emerging companies building the next generation of risk analytics.
- Preparing for extreme scenarios, are we ready?
Download photos from the event here:
Programme
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Registration & bar
4:30 pm - 4:40 pm
Welcome and seasonal update
Speakers:
- Adam Alvarez, Head of Capital and Climate Strategy, Inigo
- Hosted by Matthew Grant, CEO, InsTech
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm
View from the top: from models to decisions
Models have been widely used for over 30 years, but with sophistication comes the risk of complexity. We will be discussing the best practices in the use of research and data to support commercial models to inform decisions whilst ensuring that those making these decisions are blinded by the science.
Including:
- Exploring how model outputs are interpreted, explained and used in underwriting, regulation, and board-level decisions.
- How are the assumptions and uncertainties quantified and communicated?
- How can we turn research output into actionable intelligence?
Speakers:
- Alice Kaye, Head of Reinsurance, Inigo
- Caroline McMullan, Assistant Vice President, Research and Modelling, Verisk
- Hosted by Dickie Whitaker, CEO, Oasis Loss Modelling Framework
5:00 pm - 5:20 pm
AI in action: data-driven future of catastrophe risk
The world of AI is moving fast. A chance to check in and catch up on the latest developments in where AI is now being used to deliver results for modelling and thoughts about what may come next:
- Explore how traditional catastrophe models are evolving (or being disrupted) by climate-informed data and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning methods.
- What can we learn about the science from these technologies?
- How do you ensure the results are trustworthy for decision-making?
Speakers:
- Cameron Rye, Head of Modelling Research and Innovation, WTW
- Nico Bruneau, Co-founder, Reask
- Florian Arfeuille, Associate Director, Model Development, Moody’s
- Hosted by Barbara Orellana, View of Risk Lead, Global Reinsurance Specialty, Aon
5:20 pm - 5:30 pm
New solutions for new problems
A chance to hear from some of the new arrivals providing data and analytics with two new companies that have proved their “Minimal Viable Proposition” with existing insurance clients.
- Jonas Aas Torland, CCO & Co-founder, 7Analytics
- Laurent Feuilleaubois, CEO & Co-founder, Mitigrate
- Hosted by Matthew Grant, CEO, InsTech
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Networking break & bar
6:00 pm - 6:10pm
Data sets - new options for a changing world?
With the likelihood that some of the data sets being used to build and validate models will no longer be available for free, how does this change the modelling and risk outlook and what alternatives might be available?
Speakers:
- Professor Joanne Muller, Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Hosted by Matthew Grant, CEO, InsTech
6:10 pm - 6:25pm
Bridging the gap - what are we missing?
Even as catastrophe models grow more sophisticated, critical gaps still remain between what science can model and what the real world demands. This session explores overlooked elements in catastrophe modelling — from climate-driven extremes and compounding events to adaptation, resilience, and socio-economic dynamics — and asks whether current frameworks are fit for purpose?
- Are there any key modelling elements missing, e.g. climate change, compound or correlated events?
- How are adaptation and resilience measures incorporated?
- How are socio-economic factors, such as inflation, demand surge, or claims irregularities, captured in loss modelling frameworks, and is it adequate?
Speakers:
- Paul Wilson, Catastrophe and Climate Research, Twelve Securis
- Sandra Hansen, Head of International Peril Advisory, Guy Carpenter
- Hosted by Ludovico Nicotina, Head of Catastrophe Research, Inigo
6:25 pm - 6:45 pm
Hurricanes and climate change: are we ready for a Cat 6?
As global temperatures continue to increase, we expect that there will be an increase in the proportion of the most damaging hurricanes. Eventually, we will experience the strongest hurricane on record. Are we ready if this hits a highly exposed region?
Topics we will be discussing include:
- How likely is an extreme hurricane or multiple major hurricanes within a season?
- Can we proactively prepare for an extreme outlier where there are no historical precedents?
- Are there any systemic risks within insurance that could be exposed?
Speakers:
- Tom Philp, CEO, Maximum Information
- Emma Watkins, Catastrophe Risk Leader
- Chris Weller, Head of Exposure Management, Inigo
- Hosted by Ruth Petrie, Principal Risk Scientist, Inigo
6:45 pm - 6:50 pm
Wrap up
6:50 pm - 7:30 pm
Networking bar & pizza
7:30 pm
Finish
In collaboration with:
Speakers
Ruth Petrie
Principal Risk Scientist
Alice Kaye
Head of Reinsurance
Sandra Hansen
Head of International Peril Advisory
Emma Watkins
Catastrophe Risk Leader
Caroline McMullan
Assistant Vice President, Research and Modelling
Paul Wilson
Catastrophe and Climate Research
Joanne Muller
Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences
Barbara Orellana
View of Risk Lead, Global Reinsurance Specialty
Cameron Rye
Head of Modelling Research and Innovation
Dickie Whitaker
CEO
Nico Bruneau
Co-founder
Tom Philp
CEO
Jonas Aas Torland
CCO & Co-founder
Ludovico Nicotina
Head of Catastrophe Research
Chris Weller
Head of Exposure Management
Florian Arfeuille
Associate Director, Model Development
Adam Alvarez
Head of Capital and Climate Strategy
Laurent Feuilleaubois
CEO & Co-founder
Continuing Professional Development
This InsTech Evening Event is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By attending, you can claim up to 1.5 hours towards your CPD scheme.
If your organisation is a Corporate Member of InsTech and you would like to start receiving a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned through InsTech, then please let us know by emailing [email protected].
The Learning Objectives for this event were:
- Explain how evolving climate data and model outputs can inform practical underwriting decisions
- Identify the potential of AI and emerging technologies to enhance or disrupt catastrophe modelling
- Describe the challenges and opportunities posed by shifting data sources and extreme risk scenarios
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CII CPD accreditation demonstrates the quality of the learning of this InsTech event and confirms it meets CII CPD scheme requirements.
