Ben Harper Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

New York, Ny, Us

Zurich, Zurich, Ch

Responsible for coalescing people and capabilities to create innovative solutions that advance the company's sustainability priorities and climate resilience. Works closely with business units, functions, customers, government organizations, NGOs, industry groups and trading partners to influence, deliver, connect and prioritize the company's sustainability activities. Direct environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives through due diligence, product development, actuarial modeling, green investment advising and internal evaluations. Part of the organization capturing the #1 ranking in the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

Zurich, Zurich, Ch

Responsible for providing technical, policy, strategy and underwriting guidance in support of Zurich’s environmental coverages including Site Environmental, Environmental Contractors, Energy, Railroad, and other specialty products. Develop manuscript endorsements and bespoke policy requests. Set and adjust guidelines in support of underwriting, as well as develop strategy and guiding principles. Provide strategy development for the Site Environmental unit in both the US and foreign operations.Provide thought leadership on the topics of climate change and sustainability. Developed several market programs which considers sustainability when rating infrastructure redevelopment projects. Participate in speaking engagements at numerous sustainable infrastructure events and committees including American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) , Harvard Business School (HBS) and others.

Zurich, Zurich, Ch

Focus on developing and implementing the company’s global climate change and sustainability strategy. This initiative included five focus areas: 1.) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); 2.) Internal Risk Management; 3.) Product Development; 4.) Client Services, and; 5.) Brand recognition and Promotion.Internal Risk Management activities: Incorporated best practices into core business activities such as underwriting with a goal of reducing exposure and ultimately claims. Developed mathematical cost models utilizing statistical simulation to integrate climate change data into pricing risks. Performed book of business audits and developed claims predictions based on exposure to emerging climate, sustainability and resilience risks.Product Development activities: Developed multiple risk transfer products to address emerging climate and sustainability risks. Products are varied and include policies to cover risks associated with CO2 emissions liability, supply-chain protection from extreme weather events, financial assurance mechanisms for natural resource extraction, index based agricultural insurance in emerging markets, deforestation risks, and alternative energy delivery.Brand Recognition and Promotion: Participate in speaking engagements at numerous climate and sustainability events. Guest speaker and panelist at the United Nation’s World Meteorological Organization conference on Climate Change and Extreme Weather, and contributing expert to the International Energy. Appointed to several governmental agency committees including the Department of Energy’s National Risk Assessment Partnership and the EU Zero Emissions Platform. Work with multiple NGOs on climate/sustainability efforts including WWF, ACCO, SHARP, EDF, CERES, ADB and the IFC (World Bank).

Zurich, Zurich, Ch

Managed a group of engineers and geologists responsible for all aspects of environmental risk management in support of all lines of business written by the Environmental profit center – including standard casualty (GL, etc) and property coverages. Provided risk management and underwriting support for environmental insurance products including stop-loss (cost overrun), finite risk, environmental impairment and property liability transfer policies. Group duties include preparing detailed exposure estimates for environmental policies, preparing cash flow projections, conducting specialty research, defining political and regulatory uncertainty, and developing predictive cost models. Technical specialties include developing computer cost models using decision sciences, database development, and delivering technical presentations.

Responsible for the management and administration of all assessment and compliance projects in the southeastern U.S. including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Health & Safety audits, RCRA Compliance Audits, Wetland Permitting, Emergency Response and Preparedness, UST Compliance Audits, and SPCC Planning. Other technical duties include remediation planning and design, monitor well installation, UST system installation and design, and technical review/feasibility studies. Responsible for a technical staff of about fifty (50).Additionally, served as the southeast region designated emergency response coordinator and acted as project manager on several large environmental disaster projects, including the largest chemical spill ever recorded in the eastern United States. Emergency response duties include coordination with government agencies (EPA, OSHA, U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA), contractor selection, response plan design and implementation, preparing cost analysis for insurance purposes, litigation support, and designing emergency disaster prevention and contingency plans. Managerial duties include marketing and proposal preparation, client promotion, determination of cost effectiveness of projects, supervision and management of technical personnel to complete projects, and accounting evaluations.

Arlington Heights, Il, Us

Responsibilities included: performing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Audits; sick building syndrome investigations; industrial hygiene surveys; workplace safety inspections; underground storage tank integrity testing and management; preparing soil and groundwater contamination assessment plans and the development and implementation of corrective action plans and remediation procedures; radon gas testing and consultation; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) management and remediation efforts; and lead in drinking water sampling and consultation.