Rowan Douglas joined Howden Group as CEO Climate Risk & Resilience in June 2023. Previously he led the Climate and Resilience Hub (CRH) at WTW which he grew to over 130 climate risk professionals across parametrics and wider climate related disciplines. At CRH, Rowan led the creation of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) with the UN, World Bank and Industry Leaders and incubated the award-winning Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment. Previously he served on the board of Willis Re as CEO Analytics and founded the Willis Research Network. Rowan served on the UK Prime Minister’s Council for Science & Technology and the International Insurance Society Executive Committee. He was made CBE in 2016 for Services to the Economy through Risk, Insurance and Sustainable Growth.

Stephanie Betts is the founder of Climate1, a corporate consultancy focused on linking impact and profitability, across large scale projects. Stephanie is also a member of the Development Board of the UK Soil Association. Her mission is to help accelerate our adaptation to a warming world through a greater awareness of water risk, biodiversity loss, and our food systems’ impact – as well as the outsized opportunities that helping to resolve these issues will present to innovating governments, corporates and individuals. Stephanie started her career as a securities regulation lawyer with Wall Street firm Sullivan & Cromwell, embarking on a 15-year career in international finance spanning investment banking, capital markets and broking with Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan and Citigroup. Prior to launching Climate1, Stephanie was Head of Climate Alliances, Coalitions & Reporting for global insurance broker Aon – a pivotal experience which helped her better understand systemic risk and the critical role insurance must play in fostering better decisions.

Moderator:

Nathanial Matthews, is the Chief Executive Officer of PlanetaryX, an end-to-end solution integrating the private and public sectors, scientists, and local communities to protect biodiversity and enhance resilience. Prior to this role, Nate held various leadership positions within multilateral institutions and the private sector, most recently serving as CEO of the Global Resilience Partnership. With over 25 years of experience, he has managed, scaled, and monitored resilience, water, ecosystem, and agricultural programs in collaboration with governments, NGOs, communities, and the private sector across more than 50 countries. Nate’s expertise is widely recognized, having contributed to global networks as a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an Obama Foundation Mentor, a judge for the Munich Re Risk Award, and roles on various investment committees. He holds numerous board and advisory roles, including with the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation and the Ocean, Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. He has a PhD in Geography, is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, and a Fellow of the Explorer’s Club. Additionally, he has published two books and over 80 scientific papers and reports.