Dr. Yoshihiro Kawai is appointed as the SEADRIF Initiative Director and Secretary General of the ASEAN＋3* DRF Initiative

The Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) Council of Members endorsed Dr. Yoshihiro Kawai’s appointment as the SEADRIF Initiative Director in late March. SEADRIF is pleased to announce that all necessary governance procedures have been completed, and Dr. Kawai officially assumes the role in early August 2024.

In this newly-created function of the Initiative Director, Dr. Kawai will build up a strong management function to strengthen governance, capacity building, and stakeholder relationships within the SEADRIF Initiative, enhancing its beneficial impact for ASEAN + 3* countries.

As the Board Chair of the SEADRIF Insurance Company, Dr. Kawai will continue to lead the company in positioning itself for future growth.

Additionally, Dr. Kawai will serve as Secretary General of the ASEAN＋3 DRF Initiative, which was launched by the ASEAN+3 Finance Process. The role will be crucial in leading the implementation of the Initiative’s strategic vision aimed at fostering a more financially resilient ASEAN+3 region against disaster and climate shocks.

SEADRIF looks forward to aligning with the broader regional DRF agenda and implementing the ASEAN+3 DRF Initiative under Dr. Kawai’s leadership.

Information about Dr. Yoshihiro Kawai

Dr. Kawai is recognized globally and within the region as an influential leader in DRF, with notable roles such as Chair of the OECD Insurance and Private Pension Committee, Chair of the Global Asia Insurance Partnership (GAIP), Advisor to the Commissioner of Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA), and Member of the International Advisory Council, China National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA). He is also a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, Tokyo University.

Dr. Kawai has led the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) for 20 years as Deputy Secretary General (1998-2003) and Secretary General (2003-2017). He was instrumental to the dynamic growth of the Association and has contributed to keeping the world’s financial systems in order.  During this period, Dr. Kawai was also a member of the Financial Stability Board (formerly Financial Stability Forum).

Dr. Kawai’s professional career began with Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Co. and the Ministry of Labour, Japan. He later served on the Secretariat for the OECD Insurance Committee in Paris. From 1995 until 1998, he acted as Advisor to the Minister of Finance and the President of the Insurance Supervisory Authority Poland in Warsaw.

He earned his PhD in insurance in 2000 from City University, London. His PhD was preceded by a BA in Education and Sociology from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from INSEAD, France.