Episode #7: Pooling for Protection: Advancing Disaster Risk Insurance in Southeast Asia (featuring Ellen Yong, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, SEADRIF)

Ellen Yong (Chief Operating and Financial Officer of Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) Insurance Company), joins us to discuss how SEADRIF is reshaping financial preparedness in the region. Since 2000, disasters have affected more than 100 million people across ASEAN member states, causing average annual damages of US$4.4 billion. Insurance markets in these economies often face limited technical expertise, financial capacity, and reinsurance access—making it difficult to cover complex catastrophe risks. Ellen shares how SEADRIF is addressing these gaps by enabling timely post-shock financing, supporting investments in risk reduction, and fostering the growth of local insurance markets. With 17 years of experience in actuarial science, reinsurance, and financial management, she offers insights into how risk pools can drive resilience in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable economies.