ILS Bermuda continues to add to an impressive list of climate scientists for next month’s annual Convergence conference at the Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club.

Kerry Emanuel, the meteorologist and climate scientist, will be the Science Keynote Speaker at the three-day event beginning on October 7.

Convergence is an exclusive networking event designed for the global insurance-linked securities industry.

It attracts leaders, investors and other experts from around the world, and provides them a platform for sharing knowledge, a discussion on emerging trends and an exploration of new opportunities.

Professor Emanuel’s keynote address will foster dialogue on critical issues that shape the future of the ILS market and the broader financial landscape.

Professor Emanuel is the Cecil and Ida Green professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has been a faculty member since 1981.

ILS Bermuda said that as a distinguished scholar in the field of atmospheric science, Professor Emanuel specialises in tropical meteorology and climate science, with a particular focus on hurricane physics and climate change.

The organisation said: “His groundbreaking research on the effects of long-term climate change on hurricane activity has significantly influenced our understanding of natural disaster risk in the context of a changing climate — an area of immense relevance to the ILS community.

“Over the course of his illustrious career, Professor Emanuel has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers and three highly regarded books, including Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes and What We Know About Climate Change, which is now in its third edition.

“His work has not only shaped academic discourse but also raised public awareness about the impacts of climate change and the increasing risks associated with extreme weather events.

“In addition to his academic and research achievements, Professor Emanuel is the cofounder of the MIT Lorenz Centre, a climate think-tank devoted to basic, curiosity-driven climate research. His contributions to the field have been widely recognised, making him a sought-after speaker on issues related to climate science, weather prediction and disaster risk management.”

Professor Emanuel joins a distinguished line-up of leading scientists who will also be sharing their expertise and perspectives at Convergence 2024.

Among them are Adam Sobel, a renowned expert in weather and climate from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, and Kelsey Malloy, a research scientist specialising in severe convective storms at Columbia University. Together with others, they bring a wealth of knowledge on topics ranging from climate dynamics and extreme weather events to innovative approaches in risk modelling and prediction.

Richard Lowther, managing partner at Integral ILS and member of the ILS Bermuda Steering Committee, said of Professor Emanuel: “His deep expertise in climate science and his insights into the evolving dynamics of natural disaster risk are invaluable to the ILS industry, especially as we navigate the growing impacts of extreme weather events on our global environment. On behalf of Integral ILS Ltd, we are deeply grateful to Kerry for serving as our science adviser since the firm’s inception.”