Webinar: Flood Risk in South Africa - A Changing Perspective

Duration: 30 minutes

Flood events in South Africa in recent years have prompted an increased awareness of the challenges that this pervasive peril can bring – from infrastructure damage to interruption of livelihoods and even loss of life. The South Africa insurance sector has started to recognise flood risk as a priority for both residential and commercial lines of business. Our webinar explores the current status of flooding in South Africa and how the insurance industry is taking action to manage and mitigate flood risk for their clients.

JBA’s Nikki Pilgrim and Haydn Marchant join expert guests from South Africa’s academia and re/insurance sector to discuss the flood risk challenges facing the country and the industry. Learn more about recent flood events and potential future risks and how insurance leaders are taking action to create opportunity and build resilience. 

You will learn:

  • What flood risk means for South Africa 
  • How the industry is approaching the challenge 
  • About the tools available for greater understanding 

Who should attend? 

  • Underwriters 
  • Risk managers from the insurance and financial sectors 
  • Property investors 
  • Brokers 

 

Watch now

Take the opportunity to hear firsthand from flood risk and re/insurance experts as they discuss the current status of flooding in South Africa and the steps taken by the insurance industry to build resilience.

Click here

Meet the speakers

Nikki Pilgrim's photoOur host, Nikki Pilgrim, Director and Head of Client Development, JBA Risk Management

Nikki Pilgrim is a Director with 16 years’ experience in modelling and managing natural hazards and catastrophe risks, with a focus on floods. Having joined JBA Risk Management in 2016, she currently leads Client Development and oversees JBA's product development strategy.

Nikki has overseen the development of over 105 major insurance catastrophe models to date, including perils such as river flood, sea surge, windstorm, and earthquakes.

She started her career with Brit Insurance, working as a Catastrophe Risk Analyst. Later, she headed up the Asian Model Suite at Risk Management Solutions, driving engagement within the DRR community for the use of catastrophe models.

Roland Schulze's photoRoland Schulze, Professor Emeritus of Hydrology, Centre for Water Resources Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Roland Schulze (PhD, University of KwaZulu-Natal) is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.  Retired as Professor of Hydrology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he is now a Senior Research Associate at that University and a mentor/consultant to government and the South African and international water and agricultural industries.

Originally a hydrological model developer, his main focus currently is on climate change issues (vulnerability, impacts, adaptation as well as policy) in the agriculture and water sectors.  In the climate change field, he has led numerous multi-institutional research projects with national and international funding.

Author of over 650 scientific publications, he also has wide international lecturing and collaborative research experience. In years gone by Prof Schulze was a member of the Board of Umgeni Water and served on the Minister’s National Water Advisory Council.

Althaf Rajab's photoAlthaf Rajab, Head: KwaZulu-Natal Operations, New National Assurance Company

Althaf Rajab is the Head of Operations – KwaZulu-Natal, at New National Assurance Company (NNAC) and has 26 years’ experience in all aspects of South African insurance, having spent much of his working life in this sector. Specializing in underwriting, Althaf applies his long experience and practical approach to lead the team and manage the NNAC’s KZN portfolio.

Supported by the solid foundation of NNAC, he especially enjoys working to find new and innovative insurance solutions for clients and appreciates the dynamic leadership of NNAC that facilitates forward-thinking development within the industry.

Haydn Marchant's photoHaydn Marchant, Reinsurance Specialist, JBA Risk Management

Haydn joined JBA in 2022 and while he works with several UK-based re/insurers, at JBA Risk Management, his main focus is to develop and support businesses from Africa, especially South Africa, and the Middle East.

With over 30 years in the re/insurance industry, Haydn started at Mercantile & General Re (now Swiss Re). From facultative and treaty reinsurance underwriting to direct marketing and management, his roles included all aspects of re/insurance. Later, he became Managing Director of Pinnafrica Insurance, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Insurance PLC in South Africa, taking the start-up to a R100 million income company.

Having moved to the UK in 2008, he worked with Hollard, Aon, Gallaghers and Qdos in various development roles before joining JBA.