Can Insurance Help Unlock Investments In Clean Technology?

Jeff McAulay is the founder and CEO of GreenieRE Coalition, an impact-focused reinsurance company dedicated to sustainable and resilient infrastructure in the US. Prior to GreenieRE, Jeff was the CEO at Energetic Capital, a clean energy focused MGA offering structured credit insurance. Jeff is an engineer by training with a career spanning various roles in sustainable energy ranging from fuel cells at Nuvera to early-stage technology validation at Fraunhofer USA and virtual power plants at EnerNOC (now Enel-X). Jeff holds technical degrees from Boston University and MIT.

Maria began her career in 2003 as a Commercial & Technology Underwriting Trainee in the Montreal branch, laying the foundation for her expertise in underwriting. From 2005 to 2008, she advanced to the Vancouver branch as a Senior Underwriter, where she honed her skills across a diverse range of industry practices and business lines. Over the years, Maria has taken on several leadership roles, including positions in the Montreal branch, the Northern Underwriting Center, championing projects and initiatives across Canada and as a Commercial Insurance Manager, consistently driving innovation and excellence in her field.

In her latest role as Senior Vice President, Climate Tech Industry Practice Leader for North America, Maria is spearheading efforts to expand the underwriting portfolio and craft tailored solutions for companies dedicated to sustainable practices, resource efficiency, and technologies that combat climate change. Her work is pivotal in enabling businesses of all sizes to implement innovative strategies and technologies that drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. Maria holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the John Molson School of Business and is a proud CIP Designation holder, reflecting her commitment to professional growth and industry expertise.

George Schulz joined New Energy Risk in 2022 as managing director of program development. George has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services and insurance industries; he is well regarded as a specialist and thoughtful collaborator with emerging technology companies that support the energy transition.

Prior to joining New Energy Risk, he was the market leader in the Americas for the clean energy team at Ariel Re (Lloyd’s of London). George also managed the North America markets for the Special Enterprise Risks team at Munich Re. He has a continuous track record of developing valued risk management solutions.

Previously, George was senior vice president of global structured products at the financial guaranty insurer, Radian Asset Assurance, Inc. He managed the asset-backed securities business and co-founded the infrastructure finance business at Radian. Earlier in his career, George was an analyst at Fitch Ratings’ public and structured finance groups.

Carolyn Kousky is founder of Insurance for Good, Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy at Environmental Defense Fund, author of Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future and an editor of A Blueprint for Coastal Adaptation. She is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance at the U.S. Department of Treasury, a member of the High-Level Advisory Board on the Financial Management of Catastrophic Risks at the OECD, and the vice-chair of the California Climate Insurance Working Group. She has published numerous articles, reports, and book chapters on the economics and policy of climate risk and disaster finance and she is routinely cited in media outlets. She was previously Executive Director at the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Kousky has a BS in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University.