Gallagher Re hub to boost global research collaboration

19 September 2022

Gallagher Re has established a hub to drive collaboration with academic, research and other institutions around the world to support innovation in risk management for natural and man-made perils.

The Gallagher Research Centre (GRC), to be led by Global Head of Research Tina Thomson, will develop and deliver cutting-edge research and innovation and provide access to independent peer-reviewed academic work.

Dr Thomson says while natural catastrophe and climate change research remains a priority, the GRC will look across the full spectrum of reinsurance and insurance risks.

“The evolving complexity of risk over the past two years has clearly demonstrated why it is essential the GRC has a wider remit to more accurately capture and quantify the risks posed by unmodelled, emerging and man-made perils. All of which are becoming more self-evident,” she said.

Gallagher Re says Iain Willis has been appointed Research Director, joining from JBA Risk Management, where he was MD of the Singapore subsidiary. In that role he was responsible for Asia Pacific business development, including data licensing and consultancy opportunities for probabilistic models, hazard maps, event sets and disaster scenarios.

“We’re aiming to build closer ties between the insurance sector and academia at a much-needed time,” Dr Willis said.

“By collaborating with global experts in their respective fields, we’re able to help share the latest research findings, challenge existing views and develop new risk solutions for our clients.”

The GRC will be housed within Gallagher Re’s Global Analytics and Advisory centre of excellence, the company says.