Distinguished Fellows

The IAIS created the Distinguished Fellows programme in 2004 to honour former Member representatives for their substantial involvement in IAIS activities and outstanding service. Honourees are nominated and approved by their peers. It is a special way of paying tribute to those who have selflessly contributed their time and expertise to advance the IAIS mission. To each Distinguished Fellow, thank you for your outstanding service to the IAIS!

Victoria (Vicky) Saporta

Vicky was Chair of the IAIS Executive Committee (ExCo) for 8 years, and the chair of the Insurance Capital Standard and Comparability Task Force since its inception until 2023. She also served on a number of parent committees of the IAIS since 2014.

Gary Anderson

Gary joined the IAIS Executive Committee (ExCo) in 2019 and became a Vice Chair of the ExCo from 2023 to 2024. He chaired the Policy Development Committee from 2020 to 2020 and also participated as a member in the Insurance Capital Standard and Comparability Task Force, and the Macroprudential Committee.

David Altmaier (USA, Florida)

David was a member of the IAIS Executive Committee and the Policy Development Committee between 2019-2023, a member of the Insurance Capital Standard and Comparability Task Force and chaired the Performance and Compensation Committee. As Vice Chair, David supported the IAIS’ engagement with stakeholders and took an active role in the governance of the IAIS.

Mike Consedine (USA, NAIC)

Mike was a member of the IAIS Executive Committee from 2018-2023 and served on a number of groups, including the Insurance Capital Standard and Comparability Task Force and was Chair of the Small Group on International Governance. Mike served as CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners from 2017-2023 supporting US members in their engagement with the IAIS.

Helen Rowell (Australia, APRA)

As the IAIS’ inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion from 2021-2023, Helen drove forward IAIS work to increase inclusion across the IAIS’ policy initiatives and spearheaded work to increase diversity across Association. Helen served as a member of the IAIS Executive Committee from 2021-2023 and as a member of the Strategic Plan and Financial Outlook Task Force from 2022-2023. Helen was previously involved with the IAIS’ work between 2015-2016.

Thomas Schmitz-Lippert (Germany, BaFIN)

Long-serving member of various IAIS committees, including the Executive Committee, the Policy Development Committee and the Macroprudential Committee (as well as their predecessor committees). Was involved in IAIS work from 2005-2022. Through his strong relationships, active participation and acute understanding of underlying issues, he significantly contributed to key IAIS projects including the development of ComFrame and the ICS.

Eric Cioppa (USA, Maine)

Served as a member of the Financial Stability & Technical Committee (FSTC) beginning in 2017. Subsequently and substantially participated on both of the FSTC’s successors committees — the Macroprudential Committee and the Policy Development Committee, thereby playing a significant role in the adoption of ComFrame and the Holistic Framework and the development of the reference ICS. Was a highly sought after panellist and moderator at numerous IAIS Annual Conferences and other events.

Gabriel Bernardino (EIOPA) 

Long serving member of the Executive Committee, having served from 2010-2021.  In his position, Gabriel was a committed supporter of the IAIS and its activities, particularly supporting the strengthening of the role of the IAIS as a credible and globally recognised standard settler.  Played a pivotal role in the achievement of key compromises on crucial areas such as the ICPs, ComFrame, the ICS and the Holistic Framework.  Helped to shape the future strategic direction and activities of the IAIS via his active participation on ExCo as well as being a member in the SPFOTF.

Hern Shin Ho (Singapore, MAS) 

Served as a member of ExCo from June 2017 to May 2021. Over these nearly four years, she made substantial contributions to the work of the IAIS in a number of positions, including as a member of the ARC, the ICSTF, the Selection Committee and the SPFOTF.  Also served as the inaugural Fintech ExCo Champion. Was a highly sought after panellist and moderator at numerous IAIS Annual Conferences and other events. 

Elise Liebers (USA, NAIC) 

Chaired the Policy Development Committee from its formation in 2018 until her departure from the NAIC in March 2020. Member of the Executive Committee, Macroprudential Committee, Selection Committee and Coordination Group. Active participant on the ICS TF and contributed to the development of the IAIS 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. Previously served as Acting Chair of the Financial Stability and Technical Committee and Vice Chair of the Financial Stability Committee. Was active in the development of the IAIS G-SII methodology and policy measures work, and subsequently served on the G- SII Methodology Task Force.    

Hiroshi Ota (Japan, FSA)

Served as former Vice Chair of the Executive Committee from 2016 to 2019. Served as a member of the Coordination Group, Budget Committee, Audit and Risk Committee, Selection Committee, Performance and Compensation Committee, and Strategic Review Task Force. An active member of the Financial Stability and Technical Committee and its successor Policy Development Committee, as well as the Macroprudential Committee. Also served on several Executive Committee Working Groups including the ICS Task Force.

Julie Mix-McPeak (USA, Tennessee) 

Member of the Executive Committee from 2015 and was a Vice Chair from 2016 until her departure from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in 2019.  Chaired the Performance and Compensation Committee.  Supported the IAIS through membership in: the Strategic Plan and Financial Outlook Task Force; the Insurance Capital Standard Task Force; and the Stakeholder Engagement Task Force.  A sought after panelist and moderator at numerous IAIS Annual Conferences and other events.

Norma- Alicia Rosas Rodriguez (Mexico, CNSF) 

Actively involved in the work of different working groups and committees of the IAIS since 2002, culminating in her election Norma as a member of the IAIS Executive Committee in 2015.  In addition to her IAIS roles, Norma was a Member and recent President of the Association of Insurance Supervisors of Latin America (ASSAL), actively organising conferences on insurance regulation/supervision, in conjunction with the IAIS, focusing on the implementation of the ICPs in the Latin American region.

Edward (Ed) Forshaw (UK, PRA)

Involved in the IAIS since the late 1990s. Chaired the Technical Committee’s Exchange of Information Subcommittee that developed the IAIS Supervisory Standard on the Exchange of Information.  Under his leadership, the Subcommittee prepared a Model Memorandum of Understanding, Principles Applicable to the Supervision of International Insurers and Insurance Groups and their Cross-Border Business Operations and a Supervisory Standard on the Exchange of Information. Also heavily involved in developing an earlier version of the IAIS Insurance Core Principles and more recently, an active participant in the Implementation and Budget Committees and the Stakeholder Engagement Task Force. 

Urs Halbeisen (FINMA)

Served as active member of numerous IAIS committees and subcommittees, including the Insurance Groups and Cross-sectoral Issues Subcommittee (Vice Chair, 2010-14); Resolution Working Group (Chair, 2014-17); Technical Committee (Vice Chair, 2014)/Financial Stability and Technical Committee (Vice Chair, 2015-17); Coordination Group  and Policy Development Committee; ICS Task Force; and G-SII Analysts Working Group. In these roles, Urs contributed to and provided leadership on several high-profile IAIS workstreams including ComFrame and the development of the ICS; the G-SII assessment methodology and supervisory material related to recovery and resolution. 

Yoshihiro (Yoshi) Kawai (Secretary General).

Served in the IAIS Secretariat for nearly 20 years, leading the IAIS through a period of enormous growth through his last 13 years of service through 2017 – the number of Secretariat staff nearly tripled; the budget increased almost ten-fold and the membership nearly doubled. Also led the IAIS through the adoption of comprehensive Insurance Core Principles, identification of global systemically important insurers (G-SIIs) and development of G-SII policy measures, and development of the first-ever global insurance capital standard—the Basic Capital requirement (BCR)

Keith Chapman (Australia, APRA)

Active member of the IAIS Technical Committee and its successor, the Financial Stability and Technical Committee, having served from 2010 to 2017. Served on the Executive Committee from 2015 to 2017, the Stakeholder Engagement Task Force during 2016 and 2017, and the Audit and Risk Committee until 2017. Instrumental in the rollout of the risk management framework.

Takashi Hamano (Japan, FSA)

Served as former Vice Chair of the Executive Committee from 2014 to 2016. Served as a member of the Coordination Group, Selection Committee, Performance and Compensation Committee, and Secretary General Selection Panel. Served on several Executive Committee Working Groups including the G-SII Assessment Methodology Task Force and the NTNI Task Force, while also serving on the Activity-based Assessment Drafting Group. An active member of the Technical Committee and its successor Financial Stability and Technical Committee as well as the Supervisory Forum. Chair of the Stakeholder Engagement Task Force through the development of the draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan and launch of the request for public feedback on the draft plan.

Michael McRaith (United States, FIO) 

Served the IAIS in many different capacities. Served on the Executive Committee and chaired the Technical Committee from 2012 to 2015 and its successor committee—the Financial Stability and Technical Committee—from 2016 to 2017. Chaired the G-SII Methodology Task Force during 2015 and 2016.  Provided oversight and leadership on signature IAIS projects such as the ICS and G-SII assessment methodology as they matured past their conceptual stage through the course of numerous consultation papers, technical specification releases, and stakeholder events.  Served on the IAIS Strategy Task Force responsible for proposing the 2015-19 IAIS Strategic Plan.

Manuel Aguilera-Verduzco (Mexico, CNSF)

Served on IAIS Executive Committee from 1998 to 2015 and chaired it from 2001 to 2004. Also chaired the Implementation Committee in 2007. Throughout his career as insurance supervisor, Manuel held the positions of Vice Chair of the Technical Committee and coordinated the Working Group on Observership and Membership Issues, the Dialogue Group, the Task Force on Revisions to the Insurance Core Principles and Working Group for the Future and Financing of the IAIS.

Kevin McCarty (USA, NAIC)

Served the IAIS in a wide range of capacities from 2008 until his departure as Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in July 2016: as a member of the IAIS Executive Committee beginning in 2008 and Co-Vice Chair from 2012; member of the Audit and Risk Committee, including serving as Vice Chair, member of the Coordination Group, member of the Performance and Compensation Committee and Co-Chair of the Stakeholder Engagement Task Force. Also integrally involved in strategic planning for the Association as a member of the Strategy Task Force (2014) and member of the Internal Review Task Force (2011). Also served as a Member of the Technical Committee (and its successor Financial Stability and Technical Committee) beginning in 2010, a Member of the Financial Stability Committee from 2010-11, and a panelist and/or moderator at numerous IAIS Annual Conferences and other events.

Ian Laughlin (Australia, APRA)

Member of the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) from July 2010 and appointed as its Deputy Chairman until he left APRA to re-join the financial industry in June 2015. Served as an IAIS Executive Committee member from October 2010 until June 2015 and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee until his departure from APRA and, consequently, the IAIS.
Also chaired the IAIS Venue Selection committee.

Rob Esson (USA, NAIC)

Served IAIS from its inception in 1994 until his departure from the NAIC in late 2014. Chair of the Insurance Contracts Subcommittee (2005-2011); Vice Chair of the Accounting and Auditing Issues Subcommittee (and later Accounting and Auditing Working Group) (2011-2014). He also served as a Member or active contributor to a number of other working parties, including the Enhanced Disclosure Subcommittee, Solvency Subcommittee, Insurance Groups Working Group, ComFrame Task Force and Field Testing Task Force.

Walid Genadry (Lebanon, Insurance Control Commission)

Member of the Executive Committee (2011-2015); Chair of the Arab Forum of Insurance Regulatory Commissions; and Vice Chair of the Implementation Committee (2013-2015); Chair of the Supervisory Development Working Group (former Education Subcommittee) (2011-2015); and Vice Chair of the Regional Coordination Subcommittee (2009-2011). He was a driving force for promoting education and training for insurance supervisors on a worldwide basis and led the development of the IAIS Education Strategy.

Michael Oliver (Gibraltar, FSC)

Member of the Executive Committee (2011-2014); Audit and Risk Committee, Selection Committee, Venue Selection Subgroup. Also served as Chair of the IAIS Regional Coordination Subcommittee (2009-2011) after being Vice Chair (2007-2009).

Victor Rod (Luxembourg, LIC)

IAIS delegate since its inception; served as a Member of Executive Committee (2002 -2004), Vice Chair of the Budget Committee and Chair of the Financial Outlook Task Force for the financing of IAIS activities (2008-2012). Appointed Budget Committee Chair in 2008 and, as such, an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. He also served on the Distinguished Fellows Task Force.

Paul Sharma (United Kingdom, PRA)

Chair of the Financial Stability Committee specialist group from 25 September 2012 and in January 2013 appointed as Chair of the Financial Stability Committee before leaving the Prudential Regulations Authority in September 2013.  Contributed to the IAIS over a number of years but, in particular, played a considerable role in developing an international framework for global systemically important insurers at a critical juncture in the organisation’s history in his capacity as Chair of the Financial Stability Committee.

J Hari Narayan (India, IRDA) 

Chair of the Implementation Committee, member of the Executive Committee, of the Technical Committee and various other working groups and task forces. A strong promoter of implementation work by the Association and a voice for the needs of the developing countries amongst the IAIS Members.   

Karel van Hulle (Europe, European Commission)

Member of various committees including Technical Committee, Insurance Groups, Reinsurance and Financial Conglomerates.  A major contributor to the mission of the Association to promote globally consistent insurance regulation and supervision. 

David Oakden (Canada, OSFI)

Member of the Executive Committee, Vice Chair of the Technical Committee, Vice Chair of the Budget Committee.  Dedicated to promoting the work of the Association and generously sharing his knowledge and wisdom to further the objectives of the Association. 

Terri Vaughan (USA, NAIC)

Member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Joint Forum. By voicing critical and constructive opinions she enriched the quality of the debates in the Association.

Al Gross (USA, Virginia) (in memoriam)

Member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Technical Committee. Long-standing member of IAIS working parties and able chair of Technical Committee who oversaw the launch of the ComFrame project.

Yasuhiro Hayasaki (Japan, FSA)

Vice Chair of the Executive Committee, Chair of Financial Stability Committee Specialists Group, Acting Chair of ComFrame Oversight Task Force. In a relatively short time, became a leader in IAIS financial stability efforts, helping to manage the first-ever insurer data collection on a global level and the initial development of an assessment methodology and policy measures for global systemically important insurers. 

Monica Mächler (Switzerland)

Chair and Vice Chair of the Technical Committee, member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the ComFrame Task Force. A driving force behind the development of ComFrame and very active Chair of the Technical Committee.

Laszló Asztalos (Hungary)

Longstanding member of the Executive Committee. A very active participant in most IAIS activities, including training activities worldwide and specifically in Eastern Europe.  

Rob Curtis (United Kingdom, FSA)

Chair of the Solvency Subcommittee. A major contributor to the work of the Association in the area of Solvency which has been the cornerstone for the standard setting activity of the IAIS.  

Bassel Hindawi (Jordan)

Member of the Executive Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee. Very active contributor to the standard implementation activities of the Association, especially in the MENA region.  

Thomas Steffen (Germany, BaFin) 

Chair of the Budget Committee and member the Executive Committee. Highly appreciated for his budgetary discipline.

Noël Guibert (France, ACAM)

Chair of the Financial Conglomerates Subcommittee, member of the Implementation Committee and several other subcommittees and task forces. Particularly involved in IAIS training activities, participating in seminars sponsored by the Associaiton worldwide.

Walter Bell (USA, NAIC)

Vice Chair of the Executive Committee, and member of the Technical and Budget Committees and the Financial Outlook Task Force. Actively promoted the work of the Association in many international forums, devoting part of his time to make the IAIS known in many jurisdictions.

Peter Neville (Guernsey)

Member of the Executive Committee. Active contributor to the Technical Committee who was deeply involved in developing papers on captive insurers.

C.S. Rao (India)

Member of the Executive, Technical and Implementation Committees and the Working Group on Microinsurance. Took a lead in highlighting the importance of Microinsurance.

Dirk Witteveen (Netherlands) (in memoriam)

Chair of the Joint Forum, member of the Technical and Budget Committees as well as various other working parties. Active contributor to IAIS activities whose strong leadership and commitment resulted in many significant achievements.   

Tom Karp (Australia)

Chair of the Technical Committee, member of the Executive, Technical and Budget Committee as well as a number of other working parties.  

Alessandro Iuppa (USA, Maine)

Chair of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Task Force on the Assessment & Implementation of the Insurance Core Principles, active member of the Executive, Technical and Budget Committees, Reinsurance & Other Forms of Risk Transfer Subcommittee and the Reinsurance Transparency Subgroup.

Florence Lustman (France)

Member of the Executive Committee and the Technical Committee, longstanding and active chair of the Accounting Subcommittee, represented the IAIS as an observer in the IASB insurance steering committee and as a member of the Standard Advisory Committee of the IASB.

Kurt Schneiter (Switzerland)

Participated in the creation of the IAIS, supported the establishment of the Secretariat in Basel and instrumental in the cooperation between IAIS and OECD. Active member of several working parties.

André Swanepoel (South Africa)

Member of the Executive Committee, the Emerging Markets and Education Subcommittee and Chair of the Emerging Markets Committee.

Michael Hafeman (Canada)

Chair of the Solvency Subcommittee, member of the Executive, Technical and Budget Committees, the Medium Term Work Plan Task Force, and the Revision of the ICPs Task Force.

Soo Hoon Hauw (Singapore)

Chair of the Emerging Markets and Education Subcommittee, member of the Executive Committee and the Insurance Core Curriculum Task Force. Played a key role in hosting the IAIS Annual Conference in Singapore in 2003..

Steve Butterworth (Guernsey)

Chair of the Education and Insurance Fraud Subcommittees, member of the Executive Committee.

Mónica Cáceres Ubilla (Chile)

Long-serving member of the Executive Committee.

Hanley Clark (USA)

Chair of the Executive Committee.

Knut Hohlfeld (Germany)

Chair of the Technical Committee and the first IAIS Secretary General.

Giovanni Manghetti (Italy)

Chair of the Task Force on the Revision of the Insurance Core Principles.

Helmut Müller (Germany)

Chair of the Education Subcommittee, member of the Executive Committee.

David Walsh (USA)

First Chair of the Executive Committee.

Piet Badenhorst (South Africa)

Chair of the Executive Committee.

Brian Atchinson (USA)

Member of the Executive Committee.

George Pooley (Australia)

Chair of the Executive Committee.

John Thompson (Canada)

Chair of the Executive Committee.

Jean-Louis Bellando (France)

Chair of the Education Subcommittee.

Arendt Vermaat (Netherlands)

Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee.