Marking the Insurance Development Forum’s 10-year anniversary, we speak with Pamela Thomson-Hall, CEO of International at WTW and IDF Steering Committee member, about what drew her to the Forum and what has defined its impact over the past decade. WTW is a founding member of the IDF.
Pamela reflects on the Forum’s unique ability to bring together insurers, governments and development partners to move beyond dialogue and deliver practical, measurable solutions. From public–private partnerships and risk modelling to sovereign and humanitarian insurance solutions, her reflections highlight how the IDF has helped translate shared purpose into real-world resilience for vulnerable communities.
What motivated you to join the IDF Steering Committee, and what stood out to you about the Forum’s mission when you first became involved?
WTW and Willis have always been purpose-led, so we were proud to be a founder member of the IDF. When our CEO, Carl Hess, asked me to be our representative on the IDF Steering Committee, I was honoured. I strongly believe in the power and necessity of collaboration amongst insurance market players to tackle systemic risks. The Forum has a unique ability to bring together the insurance industry and a diverse range of stakeholders, including public sector officials, to achieve this.
What impressed me most when I first became involved was the Forum’s commitment to practical, actionable solutions. It’s not just a talk shop, it moves beyond discussion to deliver measurable outputs.
Strategic milestones:
From your perspective, what have been the most significant moments or initiatives over the past decade that have shaped the IDF’s global influence?
In ten years the IDF has championed several initiatives that have truly defined its global influence. From the development of public–private partnerships that bring together governments, insurers, and international organizations to close protection gaps, to the work on risk modelling and data sharing. All of this work has been transformative, ensuring previously unprotected communities are better prepared for disaster recovery and giving a voice to worldwide resilience planning.
WTW’s support for [the IDF Working Group] Sovereign & Humanitarian Solutions has perhaps been our most impactful contribution, playing into our company’s sense of purpose, to “transform tomorrows”. A stand-out is our role in leading the project to enhance Colombian Cities’ Urban Resilience by putting in place Insurance Protections for Climate Risks and Natural Disasters. It was a great example of what Willis can do when partnering with trusted insurers, and it was expertly coordinated by Global Communities – an inspiring NGO that works with communities to ensure long-term sustainable futures through financial inclusion, humanitarian aid and development.
Impact and progress:
Given your experience leading international operations and engaging with diverse markets, where do you feel the IDF has made the greatest progress in advancing climate resilience, financial protection, and support for vulnerable communities?
My main observation is this: the IDF is not just a technical exchange of ideas – it is an important support to vulnerable communities and enables safe-space dialogue. The IDF fosters an understanding of how beneficiaries of aid and support think and what they need. It showcases the priorities of insurance regulators and supervisors and why this matters.
Public–private collaboration:
As someone who has led large-scale, cross-regional teams, what do you see as the key strengths of the IDF’s public-private partnership model? Where have the biggest challenges or learning moments emerged?
The greatest strength of the IDF’s partnership model is its ability to unite diverse expertise and resources around a shared purpose. By bringing together the insurance community, governments, and multilateral organizations, the IDF creates a platform where technical knowledge meets policy and implementation – something no single stakeholder could achieve alone.
Of course, with such diversity comes complexity. One of the biggest challenges has been aligning priorities and timelines across sectors, especially when balancing urgent humanitarian needs with long-term sustainability goals. These moments have been valuable learning opportunities, reinforcing the importance of transparency, trust, and continuous dialogue.
Leadership reflection:
What aspects of your involvement with the IDF have been most meaningful or rewarding for you personally?
Seeing the tangible impact of our work, knowing that the initiatives we champion through the IDF are helping communities become more resilient in the face of climate and disaster risks and contributing to efforts that close protection gaps and create financial security for vulnerable populations has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also valued the opportunity to collaborate with such a diverse group of inspiring leaders and experts; those partnerships have driven progress and shown what’s possible when we work collectively toward a shared mission.
The decade ahead:
As the IDF looks forward to its next decade, what priorities or shifts would you like to see the Forum and its partners pursue to maximise global impact?
As the IDF enters its next decade, the priority should be scaling impact – moving from successful pilots to systemic solutions that reach more countries and communities. I’d like to see a stronger focus on integrating climate resilience into broader development agendas, so that financial protection becomes a cornerstone of sustainable growth.
