Speaker information: Construction Risk Management

Company	Job Title	Name	Speaker Bio	Speaking At
Turner & Townsend UK	Director and Testifying Expert	Chris Hillier	Chris is part of the Turner & Townsend Expert Team based in the London HQ Office. He has over forty years of experience as a Chartered Engineer as part of the project management teams in many energy related major and mega projects worldwide, with over twenty of those years specialising in dispute resolution and expert witness work. He has acted as an expert in over 75 cases and has been cross examined 30 times in the Technology and Construction Court, Commercial Court and both domestic and international arbitrations on many continents of the world as both expert or witness of fact, along with representation in mediation, as a Dispute Board Member, being the Adjudicator, and as an Expert Determiner.	Panel discussion: Claims – how to navigate megatrends Workshop: Avoiding conflicts & disputes on construction projects
Laing O'Rourke	Project Director	Gareth Jacques	Gareth Jacques, Project Director for Laing O’Rourke, has a long history of successfully delivering major infrastructure and building projects across the UK, most recently the new 52,000-seater Everton Stadium in Merseyside. With more than 30 years’ experience in construction he knows how to bring a motivated team together to plan complex logistics, manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders and deliver large-scale developments across various sectors. In addition to his recent stadium experience, his portfolio includes the redevelopment of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, delivery of Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon Triangle facility in Warwickshire, the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, and Laing O’Rourke’s own Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction in Worksop.	Fireside discussion: Managing sports stadia construction – Everton Football Club
Descartes Underwriting	Commercial Director, UK & Ireland	Matthew James	Matthew is the Commercial Director at Descartes Underwriting, a climate-focused MGA in the UK and Ireland, where he leads business development and works with brokers and clients to offer parametric insurance solutions against natural catastrophes and secondary perils. Previously, he spent ten years at WTW in Alternative Risk Transfer, specializing in parametric solutions for weather risk. He then served as Head of Business Development at OTT Risk, a parametric insurtech, driving new business and product structuring. Matthew has extensive experience in (re)insurance, with a focus on innovation in climate, agriculture, and micro-insurance. He holds an Investment Management Certificate, an Advanced Certificate from the Chartered Insurance Institute, and a B.A. in Politics from Durham University.	Panel discussion: When parametric solutions work
SCOR	Chief Transaction Officer	Harmender Kalirai	Harmender Singh Kalirai qualified as a solicitor in 2008 at Pinsent Masons into the Corporate department where he undertook Private Equity and M&A deals, prior to moving to the Corporate department at DLA Piper and subsequently to the in-house legal team of SCOR SE in 2012. Harmender worked in the SCOR legal team for 9 years attaining the position of Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for SCOR’s Property and Casualty Business Unit and Head of Legal for London with responsibility for developing and implementing globally an operating framework for the legal support function, as well as managing and advising on cross border legal matters. In 2021, Harmender moved into the business and is currently the Chief Transaction Officer for SCOR’s Property and Casualty Business Unit and heads up the Transactions Team whose objective is to be is a business enabler for the SCOR P&C Business Unit which delivers enhanced execution capabilities for P&C’s strategic transactions.	Workshop: De-risking ecological restoration projects
Aon	Managing Director	Peter Kapler	Peter heads up Aon’s Canadian Performance Security practice group and manages the Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI) product in Canada. Building on a decade of Surety underwriting, Peter’s responsibilities include Surety and SDI account management, customisation of risk transfer solutions, broking, development of risk mitigation programs, consultations on prequalification program implementation, as well as risk control, operational best practices and loss avoidance.	Presentation & panel discussion: Supply chain risk – identify, measure, manage and mitigate
K&L Gates	Partner	Clare Kempkens	Clare Kempkens is a partner based in K&L Gates’ London office and is the Practice Group Co-Ordinator for the firm’s global Maritime and Offshore Energy Group. Clare advises a wide range of contractor clients on both contentious and non-contentious issues connected with offshore construction contracts and insurance around the world. On a day-to-day basis she advises on shipbuilding, EPC contracts and associated insurance cover with a particular focus on WELCAR and WINDCAR. Clare specialises in offshore energy disputes with a heavy technical content including claims concerning the design, engineering, construction and insurance of a variety of offshore projects.	Panel discussion: Delays on construction projects – managing and mitigating the risks
Swiss Re	Director, UK & Ireland Public Sector Lead, Public Sector Solutions	Aidan Kerr	Aidan leads on Swiss Re's engagement with Government and the public sector in the UK and Ireland. He has over 20 years' experience in banking, consulting, Government, and insurance. Before joining Swiss Re, Aidan was COO at Flood Re, which enables affordable home insurance to be available for people at risk of flooding in the UK. He led the design, build and operation of Flood Re which has, to date, helped over 500,000 homes access affordable flood cover. Prior to Flood Re, Aidan was the Head of Investment and Funding for Flood Risk Management at the Environment Agency.	Panel discussion: Climate change and extreme weather – who bears the risk?
Allianz Commercial	Global Head of Construction Claims	Christian Kolbe	After working in the automobile industry developing diesel engine components, Christian joined Insurance in 2008 working as an Independent Loss Adjuster for Onshore Energy, Property, Engineering and Construction losses in different countries of Latin America, before leading a loss adjusting office in Brazil. He joined Allianz Commercial in 2018 and has been Claims Manager and Field Adjuster for Engineering and Property in Germany before joining Global Claims Key Case Management, recently also dealing with on/offshore wind/solar and IDI losses. In his current position, Christian is Global Head of Construction Claims, responsible for the Global Construction Claims book within AGCS.	Panel discussion: Claims – how to navigate megatrends
Aon Credit Solutions	CEO	Stuart Lawson	As the CEO for Aon’s Credit Solutions global business, Stuart’s responsibilities include developing and executing Aon’s strategy in respect of Trade Credit Insurance, Structured Credit, Political Risk and related financing solutions. Stuart has over 30 years industry experience, gaining valuable experience in leading market leading teams, client management and sales with specialist expertise in global trade credit programmes and receivable trade finance.	Panel discussion: Implications of US tariffs for the construction industry
Fathom	Head of Engineering	Gavin Lewis	Gavin is a civil engineer with a strong commercial background in spatial data and technology, specialising in sectors such as infrastructure, transportation, insurance and the public sector. As Head of Engineering at Fathom, he supports clients globally by providing advanced solutions for identifying and mitigating physical risks, particularly in the areas of flooding and climate change. Gavin is dedicated to helping engineers, climate specialists and asset owners access credible, consistent and broad-scale flood and climate risk data at all stages of the infrastructure lifecycle. Through Fathom's global flood and climate data, he empowers organisations to make more informed, data-driven decisions and enhance long-term climate resilience. With a focus on embedding meaningful risk governance in engineering practices, Gavin is committed to advancing climate resilience and supporting the successful delivery of infrastructure projects worldwide.	Presentation: Flood risk – the journey from knowledge to protection
VINCI	Insurance Managing Director	Xavier Luscan	-	Panel discussion: Europe's changing captives landscape
Aon	Global Specialty Industry Leader Construction & Infrastructure	James MacNeal	James has 32 years of construction insurance experience, of which 18 have been with the Aon Group. He has travelled extensively and placed a large variety of major construction projects in most parts of the world for owners, contractors and infrastructure funds. He is currently Aon’s Global Head of Construction and Infrastructure team which includes over 1000 specialist colleagues in 48 countries.	Panel discussion: Major risks and insurance market outlook
Sacyr	Group Chief Risk Officer	Cristina Martinez Garcia	Cristina is a globally recognised non-executive director and Chief Risk Officer in SACYR with over 20 years of business leadership experience in complex multinational environments. Her executive experience spans industries including aviation and consumer products. She is an awarded pioneer in leveraging risk governance and technology for growth and turnaround, known for helping CEOs and Boards align corporate strategy with the advanced governance of risk-taking and integrate comprehensive risk & insurance management frameworks and solutions. Currently serving on the boards of the insurtech IMeureka and the Institute of Actuaries in Spain, and member of the advisory panel of experts to the EU Commission involved in the drafting of new legislation on risk, insurance, pension funds, sustainability, digitalisation and corporate governance. Previously, Vice President and Board Member at FERMA in Belgium and a Stakeholder Supervisory Board Member at The Institute of Directors and CROs in the US. Chartered Actuary and Economist with a Ph.D. in Risk and Insurance, Qualified Risk Director®, Certificate in Risk Governance®, Executive Leadership Programme at ESADE, and “2024 Women to Watch” by Business Insurance.	Case study presentation: Rethinking risk – a catalyst for transforming infrastructure
Chubb	Property and Energy European Technical Claims Lead	Andy McAvan	Andy has 35 years’ experience in claims the majority relating to first party Property Energy Construction and Terrorism. He was part of the team that previously won the Major loss award at the British Insurance Awards and has handled many losses in excess of £100 million. He has also been involved in operation projects to create new claims systems and open new Chubb claims offices.	Panel discussion: Claims – how to navigate megatrends
Zurich Resilience Solutions UK	Construction Risk Engineer	Sam Mclachlan	Sam is a Construction Risk Engineer at Zurich Resilience Solutions UK. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 12 years of experience, specialising in risk mitigation, protective design, and blast analysis. He has a range of site and consultancy experience within sectors including offshore, oil and gas, renewables, nuclear, commercial, and critical infrastructure.	Panel discussion: The importance of collaborative sharing
FERMA & Group Insurance and Insurable Risk Director, Johnson Matthey Plc	Vice President	Xavier Mutzig	Xavier is an expert in insurance for large and complex commercial risks with 30 years of experience in the industry, including 17 years as a risk manager for multinational businesses. He has worked for major brokers in France and as Head of Underwriting for a global insurer in the London market. Xavier was a Director on the board of Airmic for nine years (2014 - 2023). In 2017, he was elected as a Director, representing AIRMIC, on the board of FERMA (Federation of European Risk Management Associations) and in 2023, he was appointed FERMA's Vice-President. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at industry events (AIRMIC Conferences, FERMA seminars and Forums…). Born and educated in France, Xavier holds a “Maîtrise de droit” and a Postgraduate Degree in Environmental Law from University La Sorbonne in Paris and an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Kent at Canterbury.	Quick fire presentation: Risk managers on the march – FERMA survey
Wint	Country Manager	Pratik Patel	-	Workshop: Leaks, losses and liability: the AI revolution in water risk prevention
Zagope - Construções e Engenharia S.A.	Insurance and Bonds Manager	Margarida Pedroso	Margarida Pedroso has been responsible for the Insurance & Guarantees area at Zagope & Inzag since October 2022. With 22 years of professional experience in the insurance and reinsurance brokerage sector, she has extensive experience in designing insurance programs for infrastructure construction projects and public works and coordinates the definition of risk policies in the various geographies in which Zagope and Inzag operate. She has a degree in Social and Cultural Communication from the Catholic University of Portugal, and a postgraduate degree from AESE Business School, where she completed the 16th PGL – Management and Leadership Program.	Panel discussion: Climate change and extreme weather – who bears the risk?
Fenchurch Law	Senior Partner	David Pryce	David was a founding partner of Fenchurch Law, which was the first law firm in the UK to specialise exclusively in representing policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. Ranked as a leading individual by both Legal 500 and Chambers, David leads Fenchurch Law’s Reinsurance & International Risk practice group and has a particular focus on insurance disputes arising out of large construction projects both in the UK and abroad.	Presentation: LEG3 reform and Sky v Riverstone court ruling – market moving legal developments
DAC Beachcroft	Partner	Mark Roach	Mark specialises in construction litigation and has experience of all forms of domestic and international dispute resolution. Currently Mark is involved in a number of Building Safety Act matters (Grey v Edgewater) representing different types of policy holders. Also, Mark has wide experience of a variety of insurance matters, advising on all aspects of professional indemnity and contractors all risks insurance.	Panel discussion: Design & Construct coverage issues