Paul Kovacs

Executive Director, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
President, Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation
Adjunct Research Professor, Economics, The University of Western Ontario

Paul's training is in economics, and work experience includes 26 years of public policy formation. In 1977, he was an economic policy advisor to the Premier of Saskatchewan. In 1978, he joined the Economic Council of Canada, where he authored a number of publications identifying actions to reduce unemployment in Eastern Canada . In 1981, Paul joined the Canadian Manufacturers' Association where he was one of the leading spokesmen for the manufacturing community on issues like free trade and tax reform.

In 1986, Paul joined Burns Fry, Canada 's top rated economic research group, and was responsible for forecasting developments in Canada and the other major industrial nations. And for three years Paul worked with the Ontario government in the Ministry Finance and the Ministry of Community and Social Services providing advice on means to strengthen the linkages between economic and social policy.

In 1992, Paul joined the Insurance Bureau of Canada in the newly formed position of vice president, policy development and chief economist. In 1999, he was promoted to the position of senior vice president. He was responsible for co-ordinating the insurance industry's work on national public policy issues, including health care, effective regulation, earthquake preparedness and bank powers in insurance.

In 1997, Paul founded the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction and was named Executive Director. The Institute provides a forum for insurers and other interested allies to work together to reduce the loss of life and property caused by severe weather and earthquakes. Working with the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organisation, Paul was a lead author of the 2001 IPCC report on climate change. In 2002, he was appointed to the economics department at the University of Western Ontario as adjunct research professor. Paul was appointed President and CEO of the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation in 2004.

For more than twenty-five years Paul has been a popular commentator on policy issues. Paul serves on a number of Boards including the Canadian Council for Social Development and the Meteorological Service of Canada. Residing in Toronto , Paul is the proud father of two, and he sports an impressive collection of bow ties.