Steve Bowen

Managing Director, Head of Catastrophe Insight at Aon

Steve has had a lifelong fascination with the weather. With a scientific background in meteorology and after starting his professional career in television, he shifted into the insurance industry when joining Aon in 2007. His current title is Managing Director and the Global Head of Catastrophe Insight. He is based in the Impact Forecasting division. His role is focused on helping to communicate the growing risks of natural perils and climate change around the world.

A key motivation of his work features the emerging and evolving trends associated with increasing weather volatility, climate change, population and exposure patterns, and natural hazard-related financial losses. His team utilizes data analytics to help clearly communicate evolving hazard risks and associated loss trends to clients across the insurance industry and beyond. Tying together his background in weather, climate, and business analytics, an increasingly important part of his work includes providing expertise to new strategies focused on combating the growing hazard, physical, societal, and financial challenges posed by climate change. He also leads post-event damage surveys that seek to help identify ways to better mitigate risk ahead of future events.

He is a frequent collaborator with governmental agencies, academia, and industry groups, and has co-authored several published peer-reviewed journals. He was previously invited to participate in a White House initiative that sought to better prepare various sectors for emerging risks associated with climate change and extreme weather. His work has been cited in U.S. Congressional Committee Reports, by the United Nations, and in numerous international media outlets.

A few professional speaking highlights include at events for NOAA; the United Nations; National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR); National Safety Council (NSC); at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington D.C.; international industry conferences; and appeared as a featured guest for programs on the BBC, The Weather Channel, PBS, and other multimedia outlets.

Steve earned his Master of Science in Business Analytics degree from the University of Notre Dame, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Florida State University. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the National Weather Association (NWA), Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Illinois. He also sits on the Society of Actuary’s Research Executive Committee and Climate & Catastrophe Steering Committee.

View profile on