The Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) has endorsed Yoshihiro Kawai for the newly created role of SEADRIF Initiative Director, pending regulatory approval, the company said in a statement on LinkedIn.
Kawai has been the Board Chair of SEADRIF Insurance Company since May 2023. In his new role, he will work with ASEAN+3 member countries to boost their financial resilience against climate and disaster shocks through enhanced governance, capacity building, and stakeholder management.
In its announcement, SEADRIF credited Kawai with significantly advancing the company’s internal capacities and strategic partnerships. His experience spans both industry and policy aspects of Disaster Risk Finance (DRF), with notable positions including Chair of the OECD Insurance and Private Pension Committee, Chair of the Global Asia Insurance Partnership (GAIP), and Advisor to the Commissioner of Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA).
In addition to his new role, Kawai will also serve as Secretary General of the ASEAN＋3 DRF Initiative, further aligning SEADRIF’s efforts with the broader regional DRF agenda.
This dual role underscores the strategic importance of his appointment in advancing the goals of enhancing DRF and closing the protection gap in the region.
