RISK MANAGEMENT & QA TRACK: Storm Surge - Insurance Gaps & Mortgage Risk
As natural disasters grow more frequent, severe, and widespread—and affordable property insurance becomes increasingly elusive—mortgage lenders face mounting exposure. This session examines the evolving financial risks tied to climate events and insurance gaps and explores strategies lenders can use to protect portfolios and strengthen resilience.
Speakers
Moderator
Holly Li is the Net Zero Finance Program Director at the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. In this role, she leads the Accelerator’s work on federal and state regulatory engagement, bank partnerships, and thought leadership to address climate change as both a systemic financial risk and an emerging opportunity in the U.S. market. One of her current focus areas is the intersection of banking, insurance, and housing finance, helping stakeholders understand and manage weather-driven financial risks while advancing their development objectives. Prior to joining Ceres, Holly spent over 15 years at the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). While at IFC, she supported the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), helping central banks, financial regulators, and industry associations in over 70 emerging markets develop sustainable finance policies, promote climate-smart investment, and integrate climate risk and transition finance into financial systems. Holly is a licensed attorney in New York State and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Speakers
Johnson is an attorney in Holland and Knight's Dallas office and a member of the firm's Public Policy and Regulation Group. Mr. Johnson advises clients nationwide on insurance regulatory, government relations and procurement, and legislative matters. Johnson's clients – based in the U.S. and abroad – include national and international insurance and reinsurance companies, underwriters and agencies, as well as international manufacturers of automobiles and heavy equipment. In his insurance regulatory practice, Johnson represents insurance entities regarding licensing, market conduct, solvency and reinsurance matters. He also represents insurance producers in licensing and market conduct matters. In his government procurement practice, Johnson negotiates contracts and agreements with governmental agencies on behalf of clients. He also counsels clients in responding to requests for proposals issued by governmental agencies, conducts bid protests and pursues appeals to the district court. Mr. Johnson also represents clients' interests in legislative matters involving government agencies across the country. Prior to joining Holland and Knight, Johnson was an attorney at a national law firm in its Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offices. Previously, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Office of Property and Casualty, for Louisiana. He also represented Louisiana's Commissioner of Insurance as chair of the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission, in addition to serving as liaison to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA) and the Louisiana Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.
Holly Li is the Net Zero Finance Program Director at the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. In this role, she leads the Accelerator’s work on federal and state regulatory engagement, bank partnerships, and thought leadership to address climate change as both a systemic financial risk and an emerging opportunity in the U.S. market. One of her current focus areas is the intersection of banking, insurance, and housing finance, helping stakeholders understand and manage weather-driven financial risks while advancing their development objectives. Prior to joining Ceres, Holly spent over 15 years at the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). While at IFC, she supported the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), helping central banks, financial regulators, and industry associations in over 70 emerging markets develop sustainable finance policies, promote climate-smart investment, and integrate climate risk and transition finance into financial systems. Holly is a licensed attorney in New York State and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Dr. Jeremy R. Porter is a Quantitative Research Scientist who leads First Street's groundbreaking work on the connection of climate risk to financial risk—including effects on property valuation, climate migration, macroeconomic indicators and risk transfer mechanisms. An internationally recognized expert on climate exposure and its downstream consequences, Dr. Porter has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed publications on climate risk, spatial analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling. His insights are regularly featured in top media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Dr. Porter is a member of the team that founded First Street and prior to joining enjoyed a distinguished academic career, founding CUNY’s Master’s program in Quantitative Modeling and launching influential scientific journals like Spatial Demography.
Suzanne Shuck serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Risk Officer for Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest and fastest-growing independent mortgage companies in the country. Suzanne has presided over the Risk Management Division for almost nineteen years. Ms. Shuck oversees functions involved with Corporate, Operational, and Credit Risk, including but not limited to Quality Control, Special Investigations, Property Risk, and Business Continuity. Ms. Shuck leads specialized teams of 100+ professionals with deep knowledge in mitigating and protecting the company from undue risks while promoting excellence in customer service. Under her guidance, Ms. Shuck ensures the company operates with high quality standards, exceeds stakeholders’ expectations, and excels in its mission to foster homeownership and serve the community
