Joe Becker Senior Vice President Guy Carpenter
Ralph Bloemers Dir. of Fire Safe Communities Green Oregon Alliance
Ross Bowie CEO Private Client Select
Tabitha Amoroso Managing Director The Conservation Center
Tabitha Amoroso is the Managing Director and Head of Client Services at The Conservation Center. With over a decade of experience in the fine art world, she applies her extensive expertise in advising clients on conservation services and collection care. Her background includes appraisal management, gallery operations, condition reporting, and client relations. She earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been with The Conservation Center for over five years.
Joseph Becker is a Senior Vice President at Guy Carpenter, specializing in reinsurance broking within the Public Sector Practice. His current responsibilities include helping clients navigate reinsurance solutions through risk quantification and risk transfer strategies. Previously, he worked within the catastrophe analytics team focused on developing innovative strategies for flood solutions. Prior to joining Guy Carpenter, Joseph worked at Verisk Analytics developing the first CONUS wide inland flood catastrophe model for the United States. Joseph earned a BS in Physics from Le Moyne College in New York and an MS in Water Resources Engineering from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
For over two decades, Ralph has worked with scientists, tribes, conservation groups, government agencies and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest on the conservation of natural landscapes and community preparedness. As the Director of Fire Safe Communities, he works at the state and federal level on fire challenges and solutions focused on retrofitting homes and adapting entire communities. He is Executive Producer of the award winning feature film Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (elementalfilm.com) and he has engaged thousands of people in dialogue about living with fire. He is the creative producer of the new PBS documentary the Real Story of the LA Fires. He has made dozens of shorter films on insurance risk, prescribed fire, fire recovery, firefighting, and community risk reduction. He is currently filming a series on living with fire entitled Fire Safe People and in production on a film about NASA’s FireSense program and the Dept. of Defense’s prescribed fire program. Earlier in his career he practiced Corporate, Securities & Venture Finance law and did stints for the Munich Reinsurance Corporation in Germany, a reinsurance broker at Loyd’s of London, and the investment bank Cazenove & Co.
Ross Bowie is the Chief Executive Officer of Private Client Select, where he is leading the firm’s transformation into a Managing General Underwriter (MGU) built to redefine how the high-net-worth market is served. With more than 15 years of insurance leadership experience, he has built and revitalized underwriting organizations, structured capacity partnerships, and driven profitable growth across U.S. markets. Prior to PCS, Ross held senior roles at Orchid Underwriters, Bankers Insurance Group, Progressive, and American Strategic Insurance (ASI), where he launched new products, expanded into key markets, and developed high-performing teams. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Saint Thomas.
For over two decades, Ralph has worked with scientists, tribes, conservation groups, government agencies and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest on the conservation of natural landscapes and community preparedness. As the Director of Fire Safe Communities, he works at the state and federal level on fire challenges and solutions focused on retrofitting homes and adapting entire communities. He is Executive Producer of the award winning feature film Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (elementalfilm.com) and he has engaged thousands of people in dialogue about living with fire. He is the creative producer of the new PBS documentary the Real Story of the LA Fires.
"Insert quote or additional information here" (Minimum 20px) Colleague Name
Jason Brewer Chief Meterologist Marsh McLennan Agency
Ken Calligar CEO RSG 3-D
Kenneth Cukier Deputy Executive Editor The Economist
Dustin Bramell Co-Founder Case Study: Adapt
Dustin Bramell is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Case Study: Adapt (CSA), a nonprofit working to refine and popularize resilient building practices through iconic architecture. After losing his home in the 2025 Palisades Fire, Dustin and co-founder Leo Siegal brought together ten of Los Angeles’s top architects to revive the renowned mid-century Case Study House Program, which has been widely credited with bringing modernism into the mainstream. CSA continues the tradition of experimentation with materials and design, but updates its focus for the realities of more volatile climate. Before turning his attention to physical-world innovation, Dustin spent a decade at Meta (formerly Facebook), where he led the company’s expansion into video and the creator economy, helping transform Facebook and Instagram from social apps into global media networks. His work has been profiled in Architectural Digest, The Washington Post, and The New York Times for helping shift the narrative around rebuilding—from reactive replacement to thoughtful reinvention.
Jason is a veteran meteorologist with decades of experience analyzing and communicating natural hazard and climate data in an understandable way that helps us protect from destructive weather and plan for future impacts. He’s covered storms across the country and is dedicated to providing information that helps us adapt and build resiliency, make informed decisions, and manage risk. He’s earned the designation of Certified Broadcast Meteorologist from the American Meteorological Society.
Ken is a recognized leader in multi-disaster resilient and sustainable building. RSG 3-D manufactures a proprietary Resilient Panel Building System that has created a large portfolio of homes and buildings across 20 countries. No RSG 3-D home or building has ever suffered damage from wildfire, hurricane, earthquake, or flood. Clients include luxury resorts, multifamily developments, LEED buildings, retail and commercial centers and homes of all sizes and budgets. Build for What's Next!
Kenneth Cukier is the Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist, and host of its weekly podcast on technology. He is also an associate fellow at Said Business School at Oxford, researching artificial intelligence. His most recent book is “Framers: Make Better Decisions In The Age of Big Data”. In this book, he shines a light on what more ‘data’ can’t accomplish: the unique ability humans have to frame new questions, create original new mental models and so get better results than anyone could have previously imagined. Kenn is the co-author of “Big Data: A Revolution That Transforms How We Live, Work, and Think”. It was a NYT bestseller translated in over 20 languages, and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. It won the National Library of China’s Wenjin Book Award and was a finalist for the FT Business Book of the Year. Kenn co-authored a follow-on book, “Learning with Big Data: The Future of Education”. Previously, Kenn was a foreign correspondent for two decades in Europe, Asia and America. Kenn has given keynote talks at Google, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft among others. He has given several TED talks and has spoken at the World Economic Forum.
Jason Brewer Chief Meteorologist Marsh McLennan Agency
Natalie Enclade Executive Director BuildStrong America
Keegan Gibbs Co-Founder Community Brigade
Matthew Gonser Climate Resilience Officer - Chief Sustainability Office County of Los Angeles
Laurence Darmiento Staff Writer Los Angeles Times
Laurence Darmiento covers insurance, finance, aerospace and dealmakers in Southern California as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He has closely covered California's insurance crisis and the fallout from the Jan. 7 firestorms that swept Los Angeles County, including the insolvency of the state's insurer of last resort. He joined the paper in 2015 as an assistant business editor and has overseen finance, real estate and Washington business coverage. Previously he had been the managing editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal and was a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News. A New York native, he is an alumnus of Cornell.
Natalie Enclade, Ph.D., is Executive Director of BuildStrong America, the leading coalition uniting stakeholders to reduce disaster costs and strengthen national resilience. She previously served as Director of Individual and Community Preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where she led programs linking government, the private sector, and community organizations to advance preparedness and disaster resilience. Her career includes senior roles in emergency management and national security, such as Chief Policy Advisor and Senior Program Analyst at DHS, Policy Analyst for the Mississippi Legislature, and subject matter expert for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. There, she advised on FEMA, the Stafford Act, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA), which created FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and modernized disaster recovery policy. Natalie serves on the Board of Directors for the NIBS Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council, the Executive Committee for the NIBS Lifeline Advisory Panel, and the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate. She also chairs the Resilience Policy Council for the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
Keegan Gibbs is a wildfire resilience advocate, Emmy‑award‑winning filmmaker, and community organizer who emerged as a leading force in Southern California’s response to wildfire crises. Deeply impacted by the destruction of his own home during the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Gibbs pivoted from loss to leadership. He helped found the Community Brigade—a neighborhood-based volunteer wildfire response program operating in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation. As Director of Operations, Gibbs leads the development of the program, including training, community resilience through mitigation, and deployment efforts of brigade volunteers across multiple high‑risk fire events—including the Broad, Franklin, and Palisades fires of 2024–25—coordinating tactical patrols, hotspot suppression, damage assessments, and neighborhood recovery support. His strategy emphasizes empowering residents to defend their homes, conduct pre‑evacuation prep, harden structures against ember intrusion, and perform vital logistical tasks when professional firefighters are stretched thin. In addition to his operations role, Gibbs is producing and co‑directing a documentary series titled “Fire Safe People” which explores humanity’s changing relationship with wildfire—reflecting both ecological history and growing opportunities for proactive community adaptation.
Matthew Gonser serves as the County of Los Angeles Climate Resilience Officer. He joined the County and Chief Sustainability Office in Fall 2024. Prior to joining LA County, Matthew served as the City and County of Honolulu Chief Resiliency Officer and Executive Director for the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (CCSR). He first joined Honolulu’s CCSR as the Coastal and Water Program Manager. With CCSR he helped develop and implement the City’s Resilience Strategy, Climate Action Plan, and Climate Adaptation Strategy. Before joining the City, Matthew served as the Community Planning and Design Extension Agent with the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant). His planning career started with the Town of Smithtown, NY, Planning and Community Development Department and through tremendous internships with the Nashville Civic Design Center, Cornell University Rust2Green Initiative, and Hawai‘i Sea Grant. Matthew holds a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University and holds Masters in both Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture, respectively, also from Cornell.
Keegan Gibbs is a wildfire resilience advocate, Emmy‑award‑winning filmmaker, surfboard shaper, and community organizer who emerged as a leading force in Southern California’s response to wildfire crises. Deeply impacted by the destruction of his own home during the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Gibbs pivoted from loss to leadership. He helped found the Community Brigade—a neighborhood-based volunteer wildfire response program operating in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation.
Natalie Enclade, Ph.D., is Executive Director of BuildStrong America, the leading coalition uniting stakeholders to reduce disaster costs and strengthen national resilience. She previously served as Director of Individual and Community Preparedness at the FEMA, where she led programs linking government, the private sector, and community organizations to advance preparedness and disaster resilience. Her career includes senior roles in emergency management and national security, such as Chief Policy Advisor and Senior Program Analyst at DHS, Policy Analyst for the Mississippi Legislature, and subject matter expert for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. There, she advised on FEMA, the Stafford Act, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA), which created FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and modernized disaster recovery policy. Natalie also chairs the Resilience Policy Council for the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
Keegan Gibbs is a wildfire resilience advocate, Emmy‑award‑winning filmmaker, and community organizer who emerged as a leading force in Southern California’s response to wildfire crises. Deeply impacted by the destruction of his own home during the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Gibbs pivoted from loss to leadership. He helped found the Community Brigade—a neighborhood-based volunteer wildfire response program operating in partnership with the LA County Fire Department and the LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation. As Director of Operations, Gibbs leads the development of the program, including training, community resilience through mitigation, and deployment efforts of brigade volunteers across multiple high‑risk fire events—including the Broad, Franklin, and Palisades fires of 2024–25—coordinating tactical patrols, hotspot suppression, damage assessments, and neighborhood recovery support. His strategy emphasizes empowering residents to defend their homes, conduct pre‑evacuation prep, harden structures against ember intrusion, and perform vital logistical tasks when professional firefighters are stretched thin.
Chris Jacobs Host and T.V. Personality
Daniel Kaniewski U.S. Public Sector Leader Marsh McLennan
Sean Knierim Founder and Partner SidePorch
Thomas Hoban President & CIO Kitson & Partners
Tom is President and Chief Investment Officer of Kitson & Partners and has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, which includes a broad understanding of the capital markets. He helps set the strategic direction for K&P, with a primary focus on its investment strategy and financial performance. He is also responsible for developing strategic budgetary plans, aligning financial goals, budgets, and forecasts, as well as identifying and mitigating financial risks. Prior to joining the K&P team in 2003, Tom spent eight years in New York City as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, where he served as Vice President of U.S. Acquisitions for the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. During his career on Wall Street, he worked in both the agency and principal businesses, where he executed on over $8Bn of real estate transactions.Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He is an Advisory Board member for the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at the University of Notre Dame and also serves as a board member on (i) the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, (ii) Florida TaxWatch (Executive Committee) and (iii) Loxahatchee River Historical Society. He is a long-time volunteer for the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association, where he serves in a leadership capacity in the TOPSoccer program (focusing on children with special needs). He is also an active member in the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Chris Jacobs is a host and television personality best known for his long-running automotive makeover show Overhaulin’ which premiered in 2004, and the hit TLC series Long Lost Family which debuted in 2016. He also serves as host for Mecum Auctions and as co-host of SEMA Live, both of which are seen on Motor Trend Network, as well as hosting Dream Collections, a show of his own creation which airs on MavTV. Jacobs was born and raised in the north suburbs of Chicago. After passing the 1995 California Bar Exam on his first try, his education was complete. It was then that he decided to pursue his dream of making it in the entertainment industry. In 2003 when he received his first big break, landing the hosting job on Overhaulin’ which quickly became the most popular show in the automotive world. The success of the show was largely due to the talents of design legend Chip Foose and the easy going chemistry between Chip and Chris. Chris proved that he could host a variety of shows, including a 4 year run in the entertainment news world, where he served as a host and correspondent for The Insider and Entertainment Tonight from 2009-2012. Because of his popularity and familiarity on the network, Chris has become Discovery Channel’s go-to host for special live events.
In Daniel's role he leads enterprise-wide initiatives that deliver breakthrough perspectives and innovative solutions for public sector challenges. Prior to joining Marsh McLennan, Dr. Kaniewski was the second-ranking official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As the agency’s first Deputy Administrator for Resilience, he launched and led the disaster resilience programs that are now a cornerstone of FEMA’s mission. In addition to his FEMA role, he was Chair of the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) High-Level Risk Forum, comprised of risk managers from the 36 OECD member nations. Prior to FEMA, he launched the global resilience practice at a leading catastrophe risk modeling firm, directed resilience programs at a DHS research center, and co-founded a homeland security think tank. Dr. Kaniewski was Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy in the George W. Bush Administration, where he managed over 200 Presidential disaster declarations at the White House. He's also held positions at FEMA, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, and on Capitol Hill. Dan began his career in homeland security as a firefighter and paramedic. Dr. Kaniewski has previously served as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a member of the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and on the adjunct faculty of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Sean is Founder and Partner at SidePorch, a management consulting group that develops strategy and partnerships to scale measurable impact, partnering with leaders taking on humanity’s biggest challenges and opportunities. Founding SidePorch continues a career of working to create environments where amazing people can do extraordinary things. Previously, was a founding partner at Liminal Collective, a human performance company launched by Logitech. Sean also served as CEO & Portfolio Manager for Estabrook Investors, a global, multi-strategy fund of funds focused on absolute return. He held executive positions at the Jeff Skoll Group, and at the MacArthur Foundation. Sean taught for over a decade at the university and secondary levels, holding leadership positions and carrying out research focused on economic and urban development. Sean holds a PhD in Comparative Literature (UNC-Chapel Hill) and master’s degrees in International Development Policy (Duke University) and Interdisciplinary Education (Santa Clara University).
Natalie Enclade, Ph.D., is Executive Director of BuildStrong America, the leading coalition uniting stakeholders to reduce disaster costs and strengthen national resilience. She previously served as Director of Individual and Community Preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where she led programs linking government, the private sector, and community organizations to advance preparedness and disaster resilience. Her career includes senior roles in emergency management and national security, such as Chief Policy Advisor and Senior Program Analyst at DHS, Policy Analyst for the MS Legislature, and subject matter expert for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. There, she advised on FEMA, the Stafford Act, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and the DRRA, which created FEMA’s BRIC program and modernized disaster recovery policy.
Chris Jacobs is a host and television personality best known for his long-running automotive makeover show Overhaulin’ which premiered in 2004, and the hit TLC series Long Lost Family which debuted in 2016. He also serves as host for Mecum Auctions and as co-host of SEMA Live, both of which are seen on Motor Trend Network, as well as hosting Dream Collections, a show of his own creation which airs on MavTV. In 2003 when he received his first big break, landing the hosting job on Overhaulin’. Over the next 10 plus years and more than 100 episodes, Overhaulin’ has become one of the most venerable shows in the genre. Chris proved that he could host a variety of shows, including a 4 year run in the entertainment news world, where he served as a host and correspondent for The Insider and Entertainment Tonight from 2009-2012.
Prior to joining Marsh McLennan in February 2020, Dr. Kaniewski was the second-ranking official at the FEMA. As the agency’s first Deputy Administrator for Resilience, he launched and led the disaster resilience programs that are now a cornerstone of FEMA’s mission. He was Chair of the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) High-Level Risk Forum, comprised of risk managers from the 36 OECD member nations. He also launched the global resilience practice at a leading catastrophe risk modeling firm, directed resilience programs at a DHS research center, and co-founded a homeland security think tank. Dr. Kaniewski was Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy in the George W. Bush Admin.
Matthew Gonser serves as the County of Los Angeles Climate Resilience Officer. He joined the County and Chief Sustainability Office in Fall 2024. Prior to joining LA County, Matthew served as the City and County of Honolulu Chief Resiliency Officer and Executive Director for the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (CCSR). He first joined Honolulu’s CCSR as the Coastal and Water Program Manager. With CCSR he helped develop and implement the City’s Resilience Strategy, Climate Action Plan, and Climate Adaptation Strategy. Before joining the City, Matthew served as the Community Planning and Design Extension Agent with the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant). His planning career started with the Town of Smithtown, NY, Planning and Community Development Department and through tremendous internships with the Nashville Civic Design Center, Cornell University Rust2Green Initiative, and Hawai‘i Sea Grant.
Tom has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, which includes a broad understanding of the capital markets. He helps set the strategic direction for K&P, with a primary focus on its investment strategy and financial performance. He is also responsible for developing strategic budgetary plans, aligning financial goals, budgets, and forecasts, as well as identifying and mitigating financial risks. Prior to joining the K&P team in 2003, Tom spent eight years in New York City as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, where he served as V.P. of U.S. Acquisitions for the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. During his career on Wall Street, he worked in both the agency and principal businesses, where he executed on over $8Bn of real estate transactions.Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Admin in Finance. He is an Advisory Board member for the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at the University of Notre Dame and also serves as a board member on (i) the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, (ii) Florida TaxWatch (Executive Committee) and (iii) Loxahatchee River Historical Society.
Thomas Hoban President and CEO Kitson & Partners
In his role he leads enterprise-wide initiatives that deliver breakthrough perspectives and innovative solutions for public sector challenges. Prior to joining Marsh McLennan, Dr. Kaniewski was the second-ranking official at the FEMA. As the agency’s first Deputy Administrator for Resilience, he launched and led the disaster resilience programs that are now a cornerstone of FEMA’s mission. Prior to FEMA, he launched the global resilience practice at a leading catastrophe risk modeling firm, directed resilience programs at a DHS research center, and co-founded a homeland security think tank. Dr. Kaniewski was Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy in the George W. Bush Administration, where he managed over 200 Presidential disaster declarations at the White House. Dr. Kaniewski has previously served as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a member of the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and on the adjunct faculty of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Martin Leitch CEO PURE Insurance
Tom Little President and CEO Floodproofing.com
Hunter Maats CEO Resilience Investments
Todd Lando Battalion Chief Central Marin Fire Deptartment Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Todd Lando has served 34 years in the fire service, with a career spanning frontline firefighting, wildfire operations, and community risk reduction. He is a Battalion Chief with Central Marin Fire Department and serves with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority as a Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist.Todd is the current President of Fire Safe Marin and has cumulatively served more than 20 years as executive director of both Fire Safe Marin and Fire Safe San Mateo County, the nation’s first two Fire Safe Councils. Under his leadership, Fire Safe Marin became one of the most trusted and effective wildfire adaptation organizations in the country. He helped drive the fastest growth in Firewise USA® history, increasing participation tenfold and making Marin County the nation’s leading county for Firewise sites and community engagement. His work established a nationally recognized model for defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation readiness.He studied Forestry and Wildfire Management at the University of Montana and earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Urban Planning from Sonoma State University, with a focus on natural resource conservation and fire ecology. A Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist through NFPA, Todd brings decades of field experience and policy leadership to the urgent challenge of preparing communities for the next generation of wildfire disasters.
Martin is the Chief Executive Officer of PURE Insurance. He joined PURE in 2022 as Chief Underwriting Officer with executive oversight of underwriting and product before being named Chief Executive Officer in July of 2023. His career spans more than 20 years, largely in the reinsurance industry focused on treaty and facultative reinsurance. Prior to joining PURE, he was with Gen Re where he served in a variety of leadership roles in North America, Europe and Africa. Martin grew up in Glasgow, Scotland and now lives with his wife and their twins, a boy and a girl, in Westport, CT.
Tom Little is the President and CEO of Floodproofing.com, where he leads a team of 65+ professionals dedicated to advancing flood mitigation and creating more disaster resilient communities. Since 2004, Tom has specialized in both wet and dry floodproofing strategies with their industry leading, US manufactured brands Smart Vent and Flood Panel, focusing on protecting structures from flood damage costs. Floodproofing.com is recognized for its industry leading services in flood protection, offering turnkey solutions from design through installation. He is a Certified Floodplain Manager and Licensed Insurance Broker.In addition to his leadership role, Tom is a passionate educator and industry advocate. He regularly teaches classes on flood mitigation, building code compliance, and flood resilient design.
Hunter Maats is co-founder of Resilience, a climate-forward real estate investment platform helping families navigate a rapidly shifting risk landscape. With U.S. home insurance premiums rising—and coverage increasingly restricted in coastal and wildfire-prone markets—entire asset classes are being repriced. Resilience acquires homes in markets delivering insurance premium stability like the Midwest, delivering superior returns today and positioning them from future growth. By electrifying those homes and making them more energy efficient, Resilience drives better returns for investors, superior growth potential and tackles the root cause of the insurability crisis within the world's largest asset class.
Tom has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, which includes a broad understanding of the capital markets. He helps set the strategic direction for K&P, with a primary focus on its investment strategy and financial performance. He is also responsible for developing strategic budgetary plans, aligning financial goals, budgets, and forecasts, as well as identifying and mitigating financial risks. Prior to joining the K&P team in 2003, Tom spent eight years in New York City as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, where he served as Vice President of U.S. Acquisitions for the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. During his career on Wall Street, he worked in both the agency and principal businesses, where he executed on over $8Bn of real estate transactions. Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He is an Advisory Board member for the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at the University of Notre Dame and also serves as a board member on (i) the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, (ii) Florida TaxWatch (Executive Committee) and (iii) Loxahatchee River Historical Society. He is a long-time volunteer for the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association, where he serves in a leadership capacity in the TOPSoccer program (focusing on children with special needs).
odd Lando has served 34 years in the fire service, with a career spanning frontline firefighting, wildfire operations, and community risk reduction. Todd is the current President of Fire Safe Marin and has cumulatively served more than 20 years as executive director of both Fire Safe Marin and Fire Safe San Mateo County, the nation’s first two Fire Safe Councils. Under his leadership, Fire Safe Marin became one of the most trusted and effective wildfire adaptation organizations in the country. He helped drive the fastest growth in Firewise USA® history, increasing participation tenfold and making Marin County the nation’s leading county for Firewise sites and community engagement. His work established a nationally recognized model for defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation readiness. A Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist through NFPA, Todd brings decades of field experience and policy leadership to the urgent challenge of preparing communities for the next generation of wildfire disasters.
Todd Lando Battalion Chief Central Marin Fire Dept, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Allan Marks Senior Advisor SidePorch
Nathan McMinn Founder and CTO Conserv Solutions, Inc.
Alexander Meeks Director Milken Institute Finance
Iván Markman Investor, Advisor, and Board Member
Iván Markman is a c-suite operator, investor and advisor with over 20 years of experience in Technology businesses, driving meaningful growth in diverse situations. He has a proven track record of transforming businesses and divisions into high-performance global organizations through a mission-driven, customer-centric approach. He has worked extensively with private and non-profit and boards where his contributions have included supporting growth strategies, mergers & acquisitions, fundraising and strategic partnership development. He has served on Audit, Nomination and Compensation committees. Iván is currently an investor, advisor and board member with a focus on Business to Business, Data and AI-driven SaaS businesses in Climate, Marketing, and Education technology spaces. He was previously a Strategic Advisor at Yahoo, following four years as Chief Business Officer where he led the businesses representing most of its global revenue and importantly, turned it around and successfully exited it to Apollo Global for $5 billion. Immediately before Yahoo, Iván was a special advisor to the CEO & Board of Directors of comscore, where he led a significant turnaround rekindling innovation, operational scale and growth. Previously, Iván was GM of Neustar’s Marketing Services business, after its $450M acquisition of MarketShare where he was COO. At MarketShare he grew the business and built the technology globally, increasing its valuation 15x leading to two exits. Prior to that, Iván held various senior strategic and operational roles in his first run at Yahoo after joining it via its acquisition of Overture.
Allan serves as a strategic advisor to large corporations, financial institutions, and other organizations internationally. He is a Senior Advisor at SidePorch and a Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a center of the Climate School at Columbia University. He also teaches law and finance at both the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA, where he is Affiliated Faculty at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment. Allan is a lawyer and retired partner at Milbank LLP, where he handled over $100 billion of energy and infrastructure transactions around the world for more than 30 years as a member of Milbank’s Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance Group and the firm’s Private Equity, Renewable Energy, Latin America, and Global Risk & National Security practices. His experience encompasses project finance and development, private equity, international and cross-border transactions, mergers & acquisitions, acquisition finance, capital markets, private placements, public-private partnerships, joint ventures, restructurings, derivatives, banking and regulatory matters. Allan is a Contributor to Forbes and writes and speaks frequently with insights on the energy transition and how public policy, geopolitics, market shifts, and innovative technologies impact investment, infrastructure, and the environment.
Nathan is a co-founder and currently serves as the CTO of Conserv Solutions, Inc, the leading provider of preservation focused environmental monitoring and analytics technologies. Over his twenty-five year career, he has helped companies ranging from microgrid developers to medical device manufacturers manage risk through better data and controls. Nathan currently resides in central New Jersey with his family, where he also serves on the board of a handful of nonprofit community organizations.
Alexander Meeks is a director at Milken Institute Finance. Meeks focuses on helping communities accelerate resilient disaster recovery and adaptation to extreme weather events. In doing so, he leverages the Institute’s Community Infrastructure Center, a platform connecting over 1,500 organizations to data, resources, and capital to advance critical infrastructure projects across the country. Prior to his work at the Milken Institute, Meeks served as a Principal at HR&A Advisors, a consulting firm that specializes in economic development, real estate, and urban planning and policy advisory services. At HR&A, he advised on environmentally sustainable economic and community development planning, and he also analyzed hazard mitigation costs, benefits, and funding strategies in cities across the United States and internationally. Prior to HR&A, Meeks managed federally funded housing, small business, and infrastructure recovery and resilience projects in New York State after Superstorm Sandy. Meeks holds a master’s in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a sustainability certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
Todd Lando has served 34 years in the fire service, with a career spanning frontline firefighting, wildfire operations, and community risk reduction. He is a Battalion Chief with Central Marin Fire Department and serves with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority as a Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist. Todd is the current President of Fire Safe Marin and has cumulatively served more than 20 years as executive director of both Fire Safe Marin and Fire Safe San Mateo County, the nation’s first two Fire Safe Councils. Under his leadership, Fire Safe Marin became one of the most trusted and effective wildfire adaptation orgs in the country. He helped drive the fastest growth in Firewise USA® history, increasing participation tenfold and making Marin County the nation’s leading county for Firewise sites and community engagement. His work established a nationally recognized model for defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation readiness. He studied Forestry and Wildfire Management at the University of Montana and earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Urban Planning from Sonoma State U, with a focus on natural resource conservation and fire ecology. A Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist through NFPA, Todd brings decades of field experience and policy leadership to the urgent challenge of preparing communities for the next generation of wildfire disasters.
Iván Markman is a c-suite operator, investor and advisor with over 20 years of experience in Technology businesses, driving meaningful growth in diverse situations. He has a proven track record of transforming businesses and divisions into high-performance global organizations through a mission-driven, customer-centric approach. He has worked extensively with private and non-profit and boards where his contributions have included supporting growth strategies, mergers & acquisitions, fundraising and strategic partnership development. He was previously a Strategic Advisor at Yahoo, following four years as Chief Business Officer where he led the businesses representing most of its global revenue and importantly, turned it around and successfully exited it to Apollo Global for $5 billion. Previously, Iván was GM of Neustar’s Marketing Services business, after its $450M acquisition of MarketShare where he was COO. At MarketShare he grew the business and built the technology globally, increasing its valuation 15x leading to two exits.
Allan Marks serves as a strategic advisor to large corporations, financial institutions, and other organizations internationally. He is a Senior Advisor at SidePorch and a Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a center of the Climate School at Columbia University. He also teaches law and finance at both the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA, where he is Affiliated Faculty at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment. Allan is a lawyer and retired partner at Milbank LLP, where he handled over $100 billion of energy and infrastructure transactions around the world for more than 30 years as a member of Milbank’s Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance Group and the firm’s Private Equity, Renewable Energy, Latin America, and Global Risk & National Security practices.
Iván Markman is a c-suite operator, investor and advisor with over 20 years of experience in Technology businesses, driving meaningful growth in diverse situations. He has a proven track record of transforming businesses and divisions into high-performance global organizations through a mission-driven, customer-centric approach. He has worked extensively with private and non-profit and boards where his contributions have included supporting growth strategies, mergers & acquisitions, fundraising and strategic partnership development. He has served on Audit, Nomination and Compensation committees. Iván is currently an investor, advisor and board member with a focus on Business to Business, Data and AI-driven SaaS businesses in Climate, Marketing, and Education technology spaces. He was previously a Strategic Advisor at Yahoo, following four years as Chief Business Officer where he led the businesses representing most of its global revenue and importantly, turned it around and successfully exited it to Apollo Global for $5 billion.
Allan Marks serves as a strategic advisor to large corporations, financial institutions, and other organizations internationally. He is a Senior Advisor at SidePorch and a Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a center of the Climate School at Columbia University. He also teaches law and finance at both the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA, where he is Affiliated Faculty at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment. Allan is a lawyer and retired partner at Milbank LLP, where he handled over $100 billion of energy and infrastructure transactions around the world for more than 30 years as a member of Milbank’s Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance Group and the firm’s Private Equity, Renewable Energy, Latin America, and Global Risk & National Security practices. His experience encompasses project finance and development, private equity, international and cross-border transactions, mergers & acquisitions, acquisition finance, capital markets, private placements, public-private partnerships, joint ventures, restructurings, derivatives, banking and regulatory matters.
Nathan McMinn Founder and CEO Conserv Solutions, Inc.
Cindy Paladines Head of Engagement The TCW Group
Jonathan Porter SVP - Chief Meteorologist AccuWeather
Anne Rappa Fine Art Practice Leader Marsh McLennan Agency
Shana Nys Dambrot Art Critic 13ThingsLA
Shana Nys Dambrot is an art critic, curator, and author based in Downtown LA. She is the writer and co-founder of 13ThingsLA—a weekly Substack of curated exhibition reviews and recommendations in Los Angeles. Formerly the Arts Editor at the L.A. Weekly, her work appears in the Village Voice, Flaunt, WhiteHot, Alta Journal, Palm Springs Life, and other culture publications. She is the recipient of the Rabkin Prize for Art Writing, and the LA Press Club Critic of the Year award.
Jonathan Porter is Senior Vice President, Weather Content & Forecast Operations, and Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather. In this role, he leads AccuWeather’s team of over 100 expert meteorologists, integrating the world’s best collection of weather data to provide the proven most accurate forecasts and warnings to people and businesses globally. As AccuWeather’s chief spokesperson, Porter is often quoted in major media and is known and trusted for analyzing impactful weather events and presenting them in clear language, so they are readily understood before, during and after the storm. Porter joined AccuWeather in 2004 as a software engineer helping to build its weather‑processing infrastructure. He quickly advanced through leadership roles including Technical Account Manager, Director of Innovation and Development (2012), and VP of Innovation and Development (2015), before leading the AccuWeather For Business, which serves more than half of the Fortune 500 and thousands of other companies and government agencies globally, and successfully growing it into a vital, trusted source of enterprise-grade weather risk solutions. A long‑time member of the American Meteorological Society, he has served on key AMS committees and frequently presents at conferences about weather data integration and warning dissemination.
Anne Rappa has an impressive 30 years of experience in the fine art specialty insurance industry. As the Fine Art Insurance and Management Practice Leader, Anne’s primary focus is to provide insurance consultation and advice to help clients reduce their financial risk exposure. She takes a consultative approach to client intake, identifying and discussing issues related to risk management. Anne is known for her ability to compile detailed and thorough information, which is highly valued by her insurance company relationships. This enables her to procure broad and competitive insurance programs for her clients. Anne serves a wide range of clients in the fine art community, including private collectors, foundations, museums, universities, art-related businesses, and corporations. Her expertise and experience have allowed her to manage and represent some of the largest and most complex fine art risks in the market. She has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and providing excellent customer service, which has earned her a reputation as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the industry. Anne’s multiyear Risk and Insurance Magazine’s PowerBroker awards highlight her expertise and dedication to providing exceptional service to her clients.
Jonathan Porter is Senior Vice President, Weather Content & Forecast Operations, and Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather. As AccuWeather’s chief spokesperson, Porter is often quoted in major media and is known and trusted for analyzing impactful weather events and presenting them in clear language, so they are readily understood before, during and after the storm. He quickly advanced through leadership roles including Technical Account Manager, Director of Innovation and Development (2012), and VP of Innovation and Development (2015), before leading the AccuWeather For Business, which serves more than half of the Fortune 500 and thousands of other companies and government agencies globally, and successfully growing it into a vital, trusted source of enterprise-grade weather risk solutions.
Jonathan Porter is Senior Vice President, Weather Content & Forecast Operations, and Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather. In this role, he leads AccuWeather’s team of over 100 expert meteorologists, integrating the world’s best collection of weather data to provide the proven most accurate forecasts and warnings to people and businesses globally. As AccuWeather’s chief spokesperson, Porter is often quoted in major media and is known and trusted for analyzing impactful weather events and presenting them in clear language, so they are readily understood before, during and after the storm. Porter joined AccuWeather in 2004 as a software engineer helping to build its weather‑processing infrastructure. He quickly advanced through leadership roles including Technical Account Manager, Director of Innovation and Development (2012), and VP of Innovation and Development (2015), before leading the AccuWeather For Business, which serves more than half of the Fortune 500 and thousands of other companies and government agencies globally, and successfully growing it into a vital, trusted source of enterprise-grade weather risk solutions.
Jonathan Porter SVP - Chief Meteorologist Accu Weather
Brad Sawyer SVP - Risk Advisory Leader Marsh McLennan Agency
Barney Schauble Principal Greenthread
Melissa Scheffler Division President, North America Personal Risk Services Chubb
Abby Ross CEO The Resiliency Company
Abby Ross is a serial entrepreneur who loves to tackle seemingly impossible problems. Abby founded The Resiliency Company to help humanity adapt to the challenges of climate risk. Abby developed the thesis for The Resiliency Company while serving as the CEO of For Good, the Donor Advised Fund that has sent over $5B to nonprofits, where she recognized the opportunities to rethink how communities recover from disasters. Previously, spent over a decade as an edtech entrepreneur, working towards scalable educational outcomes.
In his current role, Brad is responsible for delivering a suite of risk mitigation and prevention solutions to assist clients in engineering their properties in an increasingly complex environment. With a vast knowledge of critical property protection steps based on engineering and extensive experience in unique and catastrophe-prone areas, Brad will bring creative solutions to clients looking to harden their homes and increase their safety and insurability. Prior to joining Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Brad spent more than 16 years with AIG as a field Risk Management Specialist. For the majority of that time, he focused on providing white glove service and advice to the most complex client programs in the Platinum Accounts division. Throughout his career, he has inspected thousands of properties in more than 35 states, as well as several Caribbean islands, Europe, and Central and South America, including an island home in Honduras and a castle in Ireland dating back to the 1600’s. Brad has seen homes on private islands, extreme fire response properties, and homes built in some of the most remote and most exclusive parts of the country. All of this enables him to bring perspective and expertise to the clients of MMA Private Client Services. He is also a Level I certified thermographer and has taken several training courses on lightning protection.
Barney’s professional career over the past 30 years focused on creating and investing in financial products linked to catastrophe, weather, and other insurance risks. He started as a broker for Marsh (1993) and Guy Carpenter (1994) before joining Goldman, Sachs & Co. in their Risk Markets group in 1996, where he helped to execute the first catastrophe bond. Barney joined Nephila Capital in 2004 in Bermuda as a Managing Partner and moved to San Francisco in 2010 to set up Nephila Advisors. Nephila sold partial stakes to Man Group (2007) and KKR (2012) and was ultimately acquired by Markel (MKL) in 2018, and he left the firm at the end of 2024.Barney served as Chair of the Board of Ceres (a non-profit devoted to sustainable capitalism) from 2017 to 2024, having originally joined as a Director in 2011. He has also served as a director or advisor for companies including The Production Board, Probable Futures, Anthemis, The Climate Corporation, Metromile, Cyence, and Advisen.He also is an active investor in Venezia FC (Serie B) and the principal owner of the Oakland Roots SC (USL).Barney attended Harvard College and received his A.B. in Economics. He wrote his senior thesis to explore the idea of investing in bonds linked to property catastrophe reinsurance risk.
Melissa Scheffler is Division President, North America Personal Risk Services. She has executive operating responsibility for the personal lines property and casualty insurance business that serves affluent and high net worth clients in the U.S. and Canada. Her responsibilities encompass strategy, production, product development and management, and P&L performance. Ms. Scheffler began her career with Chubb more than 30 years ago. Prior to her current position, Ms. Scheffler was Chief Operating Officer for North America Personal Risk Services. She joined Chubb in 1994 and has held a variety of roles in underwriting, sales and management in personal lines. Ms. Scheffler has also served in marketing and branch management roles in the field, including her post as Pittsburgh Branch Manager. Ms. Scheffler was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2018 and was named Mid-Atlantic Regional Executive Officer in 2020. Ms. Scheffler earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish from Colgate University.
In his current role, Brad is responsible for delivering a suite of risk mitigation and prevention solutions to assist clients in engineering their properties in an increasingly complex environment. Prior to joining MMA, Brad spent more than 16 years with AIG as a field Risk Management Specialist. He focused on providing white glove service and advice to the most complex client programs in the Platinum Accounts division. Throughout his career, he has inspected thousands of properties in more than 35 states, as well as several Caribbean islands, Europe, and Central and South America, including an island home in Honduras and a castle in Ireland dating back to the 1600’s. Brad has seen homes on private islands, extreme fire response properties, and homes built in some of the most remote and most exclusive parts of the country. All of this enables him to bring perspective and expertise to the clients of MMA PCS.
Barney’s professional career over the past 30 years focused on creating and investing in financial products linked to catastrophe, weather, and other insurance risks. He started as a broker for Marsh (1993) and Guy Carpenter (1994) before joining Goldman, Sachs & Co. in their Risk Markets group in 1996, where he helped to execute the first catastrophe bond. Barney joined Nephila Capital in 2004 in Bermuda as a Managing Partner and moved to San Francisco in 2010 to set up Nephila Advisors. Nephila sold partial stakes to Man Group (2007) and KKR (2012) and was ultimately acquired by Markel (MKL) in 2018, and he left the firm at the end of 2024. He has also served as a director or advisor for companies including The Production Board, Probable Futures, Anthemis, The Climate Corporation, Metromile, Cyence, and Advisen.
Anne Rappa has an impressive 30 years of experience in the fine art specialty insurance industry. As the Fine Art Insurance and Management Practice Leader, Anne’s primary focus is to provide insurance consultation and advice to help clients reduce their financial risk exposure. Anne is known for her ability to compile detailed and thorough information, which is highly valued by her insurance company relationships. This enables her to procure broad and competitive insurance programs for her clients. Anne serves a wide range of clients in the fine art community, including private collectors, foundations, museums, universities, art-related businesses, and corporations. She has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and providing excellent customer service, which has earned her a reputation as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the industry. Prior to joining MMA, Anne held the position of Senior Vice President, New York, at Aon Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency for 20 years. Anne’s multiyear Risk and Insurance Magazine’s PowerBroker awards highlight her expertise and dedication to providing exceptional service to her clients.
Abby Ross CEO The Resilieny Company
In his capacity, Brad is responsible for delivering a suite of risk mitigation and prevention solutions to assist clients in engineering their properties in an increasingly complex environment. With a vast knowledge of critical property protection steps based on engineering and extensive experience in unique and catastrophe-prone areas, Brad will bring creative solutions to clients looking to harden their homes and increase their safety and insurability. Prior to joining MMA, Brad spent more than 16 years with AIG as a field Risk Management Specialist. For the majority of that time, he focused on providing white glove service and advice to the most complex client programs in the Platinum Accounts division. Throughout his career, he has inspected thousands of properties in more than 35 states, as well as several Caribbean islands, Europe, and Central and South America, including an island home in Honduras and a castle in Ireland dating back to the 1600’s. Brad has seen homes on private islands, extreme fire response properties, and homes built in some of the most remote and most exclusive parts of the country. All of this enables him to bring perspective and expertise to MMA PCS clients.
Barney’s professional career over the past 30 years focused on creating and investing in financial products linked to catastrophe, weather, and other insurance risks. He started as a broker for Marsh (1993) and Guy Carpenter (1994) before joining Goldman, Sachs & Co. in their Risk Markets group in 1996, where he helped to execute the first catastrophe bond. Barney joined Nephila Capital in 2004 in Bermuda as a Managing Partner and moved to San Francisco in 2010 to set up Nephila Advisors. Nephila sold partial stakes to Man Group (2007) and KKR (2012) and was ultimately acquired by Markel (MKL) in 2018, and he left the firm at the end of 2024.Barney served as Chair of the Board of Ceres (a non-profit devoted to sustainable capitalism) from 2017 to 2024, having originally joined as a Director in 2011. He has also served as a director or advisor for companies including The Production Board, Probable Futures, Anthemis, The Climate Corporation, Metromile, Cyence, and Advisen.He also is an active investor in Venezia FC (Serie B) and the principal owner of the Oakland Roots SC (USL).
Mott Smith CEO and Co-Owner Amped Kitchens
Swenja Surminski Managing Director, Climate and Sustainability Marsh McLennan
Will Van Den Heuvel Executive VP - Specialty and Personal Insurance Cincinnati Insurance Co.
Alison Smart Executive Director Probable Futures
As Executive Director of Probable Futures, Alison bridges climate science and public understanding, helping translate climate science for a diverse set of audiences, so that everyone can incorporate its insights into the decisions they make every day. She convenes leaders across science, design, technology, business, and culture to develop climate tools and resources that are both useful and beautiful. Since entering climate work in 2015, Alison has recognized how her arts experience provides a distinctive ability to make climate data accessible and meaningful. Her previous roles include Vice President for Strategy and Advancement at Woodwell Climate Research Center and Vice President for Development and Marketing at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. In 2023, Alison was named one of the Grist 50 Fixers. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow for Communications at Woodwell Climate Research Center, Vice Chair of the Zeiterion Theater, and is an active member of the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leaders Network.
Mott Smith is an urban problem-solver with a passion for creating spaces that nourish communities — literally and figuratively. As co-founder and CEO of Amped Kitchens, he helped pioneer the first large-scale multitenant kitchen facilities in the U.S., clearing the path for food entrepreneurs to grow without prohibitive costs or red tape. He's also principal of Civic Enterprise, a development firm that builds urban infill projects, turns underused buildings into vital spaces, and helps craft policies that make cities more livable, layered, and alive — not through top-down grand schemes, but by getting the basics right and cultivating organic growth. An adjunct professor in USC's Master of Real Estate Development Program and longtime instructor in the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate, Mott also serves as Vice Chair of the L.A. City Small Business Commission and sits on the advisory boards of the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and Restore Neighborhoods LA, an affordable housing developer. Earlier in his career, he was editor of The Planning Report, served as president of the Westside Urban Forum, and played bass in All Day Sucker, an Interscope Records band from L.A.'s Viper Room era.
Melissa Scheffler is Division President, North America Personal Risk Services. She has executive operating responsibility for the personal lines property and casualty insurance business that serves affluent and high net worth clients in the U.S. and Canada. Her responsibilities encompass strategy, production, product development and management, and P&L performance. Ms. Scheffler began her career with Chubb more than 30 years ago. Prior to her current position, Ms. Scheffler was Chief Operating Officer for North America Personal Risk Services. She joined Chubb in 1994 and has held a variety of roles in underwriting, sales and management in personal lines. Ms. Scheffler has also served in marketing and branch management roles in the field, including her post as Pittsburgh Branch Manager. Ms. Scheffler was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2018 and was named Mid-Atlantic Regional Executive Officer in 2020.
Melissa Scheffler Division President - North America Personal Risk Services Chubb
Will serves as executive vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, one of the country’s top 25 property casualty insurer groups based on net written premium. His responsibilities include oversight and management of Cincinnati’s personal lines division and specialty lines. Cincinnati’s specialty lines include Cincinnati Re, Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters and Cincinnati Global Underwriting Agency Ltd. Will brings over 30 years of experience supporting independent agents in the personal and commercial marketplace. Prior to joining Cincinnati in 2014, Will was chief operating officer and Executive Vice President for AIG’s U.S./Canada personal lines businesses including Private Client Group and Premier Client Solutions and Lexington personal insurance. Will also spent 13 years at Chubb Insurance where he held a variety of underwriting and marketing leadership roles. Will earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College.
Will Van Den Heuvel Executive VP - Specialty and Personal Insurance Cincinnati Insurance Company
Swenja is a leading international expert on climate risk management, adaptation and sustainability, with expertise spanning across research, practice and policy. She is the Managing Director Climate and Sustainability at Marsh McLennan (MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the area of risk, people and strategy, where she is working on climate solutions across sectors, industries and geographies. As Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute at the LSE she currently leads a project on assessing physical climate risks and adaptation for the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, and oversees the EU’s Naturance project. She has developed the Triple Resilience Dividend concept with the World Bank and ran several projects on corporate climate risk management. In 2022 Swenja was appointed by the UK Government to the UK Committee on Climate Change - serving on the adaptation committee and since 2024 on both mitigation and adaptation committees. She is also the elected chair of the not for profit Munich Climate Insurance Initiative. Swenja has published widely on these topics, and is a contributing author to the IPCC and the EU Science for Disaster Risk Management Report, and lead author of the UK's Climate Change Risk Assessment II and III.
Will serves as executive vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, one of the country’s top 25 property casualty insurer groups based on net written premium. His responsibilities include oversight and management of Cincinnati’s personal lines division and specialty lines. Cincinnati’s specialty lines include Cincinnati Re, Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters and Cincinnati Global Underwriting Agency Ltd. Prior to joining Cincinnati in 2014, Will was chief operating officer and Executive Vice President for AIG’s U.S./Canada personal lines businesses including Private Client Group and Premier Client Solutions and Lexington personal insurance. Will also spent 13 years at Chubb Insurance where he held a variety of underwriting and marketing leadership roles.
Swenja is a leading international expert on climate risk management, adaptation and sustainability, with expertise spanning across research, practice and policy. She is the Managing Director Climate and Sustainability at Marsh McLennan, the world’s leading professional services firm in the area of risk, people and strategy, where she is working on climate solutions across sectors, industries and geographies. As Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute at the LSE she currently leads a project on assessing physical climate risks and adaptation for the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, and oversees the EU’s Naturance project. She has developed the Triple Resilience Dividend concept with the World Bank and ran several projects on corporate climate risk management.
Will serves as executive vice president of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, one of the country’s top 25 property casualty insurer groups based on net written premium. His responsibilities include oversight and management of Cincinnati’s personal lines division and specialty lines. Cincinnati’s specialty lines include Cincinnati Re, Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters and Cincinnati Global Underwriting Agency Ltd. Will brings over 30 years of experience supporting independent agents in the personal and commercial marketplace. Prior to joining Cincinnati in 2014, Will was chief operating officer and Executive Vice President for AIG’s U.S./Canada personal lines businesses including Private Client Group and Premier Client Solutions and Lexington personal insurance. Will also spent 13 years at Chubb Insurance where he held a variety of underwriting and marketing leadership roles.
Will Van Den Heuvel Executive Vice President - Specialty and Personal Insurnce Cincinnati Insurance Company
Swenja is a leading international expert on climate risk management, adaptation and sustainability, with expertise spanning across research, practice and policy. She is the Managing Director Climate and Sustainability at Marsh McLennan, the world’s leading professional services firm in the area of risk, people and strategy, where she is working on climate solutions across sectors, industries and geographies. As Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute at the LSE she currently leads a project on assessing physical climate risks and adaptation for the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, and oversees the EU’s Naturance project. She has developed the Triple Resilience Dividend concept with the World Bank and ran several projects on corporate climate risk management. In 2022 Swenja was appointed by the UK Government to the UK Committee on Climate Change - serving on the adaptation committee and since 2024 on both mitigation and adaptation committees. She is also the elected chair of the not for profit Munich Climate Insurance Initiative.
Swenja Surminski Managing Director, Climate, and Sustainability Marsh McLennan
Roy Wright CEO Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Katja Zigerlig VP - Art, Wine, and Collectibles Advisory Berkley One
Pete Walther PCS - President and CEO Marsh McLennan Agency
Pete Walther, President & CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency Private Client Services (MMA PCS), is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of finance and risk management leadership. Pete began his career in banking where he structured and managed a senior debt portfolio of highly leveraged commercial clients. Recognizing the market opportunity for a leader in pre-M&A risk management advice, Pete joined the team at Marsh in 1995 to help launch its Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (PEMA) practice, a business he ultimately led for North America. In 2004, Pete was tapped to structure and lead Marsh’s Alternative Risk Solutions practice globally. In late 2007, Pete moved to Australia to join Marsh’s PEMA practice, this time as the leader of its Asia-Pacific region. In 2010, Pete was recruited to lead the turnaround of Australia’s largest non-institutionally owned network of financial planners and accountants. With this diverse background, tailored to complex credit and risk, Pete was a natural choice to lead the MMA PCS business when he rejoined the firm in 2016.
Convinced the continuing cycle of human suffering striking families and communities following severe weather can be broken, Roy Wright leads a team of scientists and risk communicators at IBHS who deliver strategies to build safer and stronger homes and businesses. He is a property insurance expert and resiliency leader. For two decades, Roy has served in roles that put him on the ground in the immediate aftermath of weather-driven and climate-related disasters, walking through damaged homes with survivors, and leading the charge for moresurvivable homes and businesses.
Katja consults collectors as well as insurance and financial advisors on the physical and financial protection of passion investments. With more than two decades of experience in the artworld, she has insured private collections, museums, galleries and exhibitions for AIG Private Client Group and AXA Art Insurance. Katja is also a guest lecturer at Christie’s Education Department. Throughout her career, she has presented on art and wine collecting in the context of alternative investments, asset protection, trust and estate planning and has lectured at Christie’s, Sotheby’s Institute, The College Art Association, University for Applied Arts in Vienna, and the UBS Arts Forum in Wolfsburg. Katja has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Worth Magazine, Barron’s, ART news and appeared on CNBC’s Power Lunch. Katja has a B.A and M.A. in Art History. She is a committee member of the Swiss Institute, and a former board member of the Foundation for Advancement In Conservation.
Pete Walther, President & CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency Private Client Services (MMA PCS), is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of finance and risk management leadership. Pete has a passion for transforming businesses, building unique and superior client experiences, and developing talent. Recognizing the market opportunity for a leader in pre-M&A risk management advice, Pete joined the team at Marsh in 1995 to help launch its Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (PEMA) practice, a business he ultimately led for North America. In 2004, Pete was tapped to structure and lead Marsh’s Alternative Risk Solutions practice globally with 750 colleagues working across eight business units. Pete moved to Australia to join Marsh’s PEMA practice once again, this time as the leader of its Asia-Pacific region. In 2010, Pete was recruited to lead the turnaround of Australia’s largest non-institutionally owned network of financial planners and accountants. As CEO of the organization, Pete made the transition to the personal side of finance and risk management working closely with the wealth accumulators, affluent, and high net worth segments.
Geoffrey is the recipient of multiple national awards including the Architectural League Prize, Next Progressives, and a MacDowell Fellowship, his built architectural projects in North America and Asia have been widely published in international architectural publications such as Architect, Architectural Record, Dezeen, Architizer, and the Architect’s Newspaper. In 2025, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was selected as one of ten architecture firms to reimagine the iconic Case Study Program published by Arts & Architecture magazine through Case Study: Adapt and Architectural Digest in response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Von Oeyen’s built work was exhibited in the 2023 Venice Biennale “Time Space Existence”, curated by the European Cultural Centre. In 2019, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was internationally longlisted by Dezeen for “Emerging Architect of the Year”, and was selected by the Dezeen readers as one of the top ten firms in all disciplines of architecture, design, and landscape architecture.
Geoggrey von Oeyen Principal Geoffrey von Oeyen Design + von Oeyen Architects
Pete Walther, President & CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency Private Client Services (MMA PCS), is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of finance and risk management leadership. Pete has a passion for transforming businesses, building unique and superior client experiences, and developing talent. Pete began his career in banking where he spent almost eight years structuring and managing a senior debt portfolio of highly leveraged commercial clients. Recognizing the market opportunity for a leader in pre-M&A risk management advice, Pete joined the team at Marsh in 1995 to help launch its Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (PEMA) practice, a business he ultimately led for North America. Pete moved to Australia to join Marsh’s PEMA practice once again, this time as the leader of its Asia-Pacific region. In 2010, Pete was recruited to lead the turnaround of Australia’s largest non-institutionally owned network of financial planners and accountants. As CEO of the organization, Pete made the transition to the personal side of finance and risk management working closely with the wealth accumulators, affluent, and high net worth segments.
Geoffrey von Oeyen Principal Geoffrey von Oeyen Design + von Oeyen Architects
Geoffrey von Oeyen is a Principal of Geoffrey von Oeyen Design and von Oeyen Architects, based in CA, and is an Associate Professor of Practice at the USC School of Architecture. The recipient of multiple national awards including the Architectural League Prize, Next Progressives, and a MacDowell Fellowship, his built architectural projects in North America and Asia have been widely published in international architectural publications such as Architect, Architectural Record, Dezeen, Architizer, and the Architect’s Newspaper. In 2025, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was selected as one of ten architecture firms to reimagine the iconic Case Study Program published by Arts & Architecture magazine through Case Study: Adapt and Architectural Digest in response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. In 2019, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was internationally longlisted by Dezeen for “Emerging Architect of the Year”, and was selected by the Dezeen readers as one of the top ten firms in all disciplines of architecture, design, and landscape architecture. Geoffrey von Oeyen served as the president of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, an Associate at Gehry Partners LLP, and received an MArch from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and an AB from Stanford University.
Geoffrey von Oeyen is a Principal of Geoffrey von Oeyen Design and von Oeyen Architects, based in Los Angeles, and is an Associate Professor of Practice at the USC School of Architecture. The recipient of multiple national awards including the Architectural League Prize, Next Progressives, and a MacDowell Fellowship, his built architectural projects in North America and Asia have been widely published in international architectural publications such as Architect, Architectural Record, Dezeen, Architizer, and the Architect’s Newspaper. In 2025, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was selected as one of ten architecture firms to reimagine the iconic Case Study Program published by Arts & Architecture magazine through Case Study:Adapt and Architectural Digest in response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Von Oeyen’s built work was exhibited in the 2023 Venice Biennale “Time Space Existence”, curated by the European Cultural Centre. In 2019, Geoffrey von Oeyen Design was internationally longlisted by Dezeen for “Emerging Architect of the Year”, and was selected by the Dezeen readers as one of the top ten firms in all disciplines of architecture, design, and landscape architecture.
