Western University recruits climate risk expert Seth Guikema

The global insurance industry is facing increasing challenges due to the rising frequency and severity of climate-related events such as floods, wildfires, and storms. Traditional insurance models based on historical data are becoming less effective, forcing insurers to adopt advanced catastrophe models, climate analytics, and forward-looking data to ensure sustainable underwriting and pricing.

To address these evolving risks, Western University has recruited Seth Guikema, an expert in risk and disaster analytics, as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canadian Climate Risk and Resilience Analytics. Supported by $8 million in federal funding, Guikema will focus on developing tools to measure the impacts of natural hazards and improve global preparedness. This initiative is part of a broader research program designed to recruit world-leading experts to Canadian institutions to tackle critical challenges in climate resilience and digital technology.