I have been a member, close friend and collaborator for many years, and highly value MCII as an effective and friendly organization, widely trusted and respected across sectors. I am delighted to help shape its future direction of travel and support it during its next phase with strategic advice and guidance as a Board member and am and I am honored to lead it as the new Chair.

I am passionate about ex-ante action in the face of climate risk and see this as a key feature of sustainable development. Insurance can play an important part in this, but often remains misunderstood, undervalued, or ill-designed. I have worked in this space throughout my career, through direct involvement in designing, implementing, and evaluating risk management and finance mechanisms across developed and developing countries. My work is driven by a vision of a truly integrated approach to climate risk management, where risk financing plays an important role to support transformation and adaptation of those most vulnerable in the face of current and future risks.

MCII’s unique set of members and its track record puts it into a strong position to develop and test innovative solutions and make that expertise available for wider communities. Talking about climate resilience has become fashionable – but what does this mean in practice? MCII’s expertise and knowledge can be of use to many decision makers, helping to shape the quality and effectiveness of solutions. I look forward to bringing my wider climate adaptation perspective to MCII: Risks are changing, inherently complex and multi-dimensional. MCII will need to demonstrate how insurance can deliver benefits that can reach beyond today’s risk and that offer sustainable strategies rather than short-term solutions.

I would like to thank the members of MCII for their confidence and trust – I am very excited and humbled. Obviously Peter leaves very big shoes to fill – a big thank you for all that he has done for MCII!

Lastly, I’d like to send a very warm welcome to the new and continuing board members. This is a great team and it is wonderful to see the diversity and different perspectives represented at the table. I am particularly grateful that Christoph and Armin have agreed to stay in their posts.

— Swenja Surminski, MCII Chair