Brigitte M. Balthasar

CGeog, LAss
Independent Consultant

 

About

 

International risk manager exhibiting some 13 years of professional experience in insurance and financial services with a particular focus on disaster risk management and climate change. Coming with strong capacities in risk analytics and modelling, project management, as well as training and knowledge transfer, I have gained comprehensive experience in managing internal and client relations, liaising with partner organizations in the public and private sectors. While self-motivated, independent, and self-reliant, I am a strong team player and exhibit a track record of managing interdisciplinary and international teams. Being well-humoured, dedicated, and energetic, I subscribe to a goal-driven approach aimed at making lasting contributions to the teams I work with.

 

Work Experience

 

Balthasar Risk Consulting, Kronberg i. Ts., Germany (2019-present)
Independent Consultant

  • Developing innovative finance and insurance solutions for disaster risk finance;
  • Providing risk analysis as well as risk driver assessments, and cost-benefit analyses;
  • Designing workshops and trainings on insurance analytics and risk management;
  • Analysing public-private solutions, the role of (re)insurance in protecting the most vulnerable from socio-economic, climate and health-related disasters.
  • Clients: KfW Development Bank, ADG International (GIZ funded)


Helvetia Specialty Lines CH & International, Basel, Switzerland (2017-2019)
Head Risk & Accumulation

  • Leading the catastrophe risk and accumulation strategy for Specialty Lines;
  • Managing accumulation control and model evaluation, portfolio steering as well as capacity monitoring, natural hazard risk assessment and scenario testing;
  • Facilitating supervisory reporting and reinsurance design.

Willis Towers Watson, London/Paris/Munich, UK/France/Germany (2009-2017)
Head of Catastrophe Analytics, D/A/CH

  • Managing a catastrophe modelling team with regional responsibility for DE, AT, and CH, as well as supporting Central Eastern Europe;
  • Leading on risk assessments, model interpretation and validation, as well as loss curve blendingusing all commercial as well as Willis’ proprietary catastrophe models, model interpretation and validation, stress testing;
  • Guiding event response reporting, regulatory support and reinsurance design.

UNDRR, GAR and Global Platform Unit, Geneva, Switzerland (2011) 
Consultant

  • Co-authoring the Global Assessment Report (GAR) of Disaster Risk Reduction;
  • Organizing private sector participation in the Global Platform (GP) and the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) to the UNDRR.

National Society of Earthquake Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal (2007)
Disaster Risk Analyst & Project Manager

  • Drafting multi-hazard risk assessment report including risk maps;
  • Designing earthquake emergency response plans in cooperation with UNICEF, NGOs and local stakeholders;
  • Organizing local events to enhance public awareness of earthquake risks in the Himalaya region and conducting training sessions.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, CRO, Munich/Chicago, Germany/USA (2007)
Catastrophe Risk Analyst

  • Carrying through catastrophe modelling using RMS RiskLink, accumulation control and risk monitoring for underwriting purposes;
  • Conducting a study on seismic hazards for the region of New Madrid, USA.

Prior to my professional career in catastrophe modelling I used to work as a high school teacher at the Friedrich-Schiller Gymnasium, Marbach (Germany). During the course of one and a half years I taught mathematics and geography in German and English.

Top of page