Session VII: Insurance and Resilience
As has been experienced across the past few years, the climate crisis has been disproportionately impacting the Himalayan region and its surrounding areas. Even within the region, certain pockets are affected more than others. However, despite the multiple catastrophic events faced in the region and warnings provided by international agencies, there is minimal adoption of climate insurance. Hence, this session will probe the reasons for limited adoption as well as the importance of climate insurance in the region through dialogues between practicing experts.
INTRODUCTION
Mahendra K. Shrestha
Chair
Himalayan Everest Insurance Co. Ltd
Mahendra Krishna Shrestha is the Chairman of Himalayan Everest Insurance and has over two decades of experience in the Nepali financial sector. He has also been involved in hydropower, telecommunications, health and media. His unique background enables him to draw varied inferences and holistic perspectives into economic development dialogue and discussion.
SPEAKERS
Gaurav Chaudhary
Executive Director & Chief Business Officer
Salasar Services Pvt Ltd
Gaurav Chaudhary is involved in various projects in the subcontinent and has useful experience of dealing with risk management, bringing in diverse exposure in risk review and mitigation, and complex risk sharing arrangements. He actively advises and structures risk and insurance solutions, with an interest in developing solutions to mitigate an increasing threat posed by climate change and environmental shift in the fragile Himalayan region.
Omkar Pandey
Head Insurance Business
eSewa Private Limited
Omkar Pandey, with a decade of experience in digital insurance and microinsurance in Nepal and Bangladesh, specializes in product development and distribution to enhance insurance accessibility. As part of the UKAID Sakchyam Access to Finance Programme, he formed strategic partnerships to expand insurance coverage, introducing the first weather index insurance in Nepal. Currently leading the insurance domain at eSewa, he focuses on digitizing insurance processes for user convenience, promoting insurance literacy, and developing easily understandable insurance products.
Ramesh Bhushal
Nepal Editor
The Third Pole
Ramesh Bhushal, an award-winning environment journalist based in Nepal, previously served as principal environment correspondent for The Himalayan Times, and has contributed to BBC's Nepali Service on Science and Environment. He currently serves as the Nepali editor for Third Pole, a South Asian environmental news site and manages Internews' Earth Journalism Network's activities in Nepal and South Asia. He was also the general secretary of Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists.
Sanjeevani Yonzon Shrestha
Director
Wildlife Conservation Nepal
Sanjeevani Yonzon is a seasoned Environmentalist, Biologist, and Educator, renowned for her work in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and environmental education in Nepal and globally. With expertise in policy design and grassroots initiatives, she has led projects addressing illegal wildlife trade, climate adaptation, and community forest management. Sanjeevani has authored over 25 books on conservation and climate change, advocating for circular economy principles and innovative community-based solutions.
MODERATOR
Mahima Shrestha
Communications Consultant for Collaborating with Insurance Sector for Climate Action in Asia
Mahima Shrestha excels in bringing bright people together to tackle complex problems through her extensive background in media and crisis communications. She specializes in crisis communications with experience in handling PR, media relations, and corporate communications for government, multilateral, private and non-profit organizations across various sectors like aviation, hydropower, finance, and healthcare. Currently, Mahima serves as a Communications Consultant for Collaborating with the Insurance Sector for Climate Action in Asia.