LONDON, May 14, 2024 - WTW (NASDAQ:WTW), a leading global broking solutions company, has announced the launch of a new collaboration between its WTW Research Network (WRN) and two academic researchers: Cullen Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics (PIIE) and senior research fellow at the Center for Climate & Security; and Ida Rudolfsen, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and Doctoral Researcher at Uppsala University’s Department of Peace and Conflict Research.
This partnership is designed to support WTW’s advisory services on key security aspects of climate change, which are often overlooked, and rarely quantified. This includes the geopolitical implications of climate-related migration, resource conflict and nationalization, and water and food insecurity – and what effects these stressors will have on the international business environment.
Cullen Hendrix’s works can be found in over 30 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals such as Nature, the Journal of Peace Research and the British Journal of Political Science as well as news publications such as the Washington Post and New York Times. He also publishes or consults for organizations as diverse as the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the US National Intelligence Council, the World Food Programme, USAID, and was a contributing author to the 2022 IPCC report.
Cullen Hendrix said, “Meeting humanity’s needs for food, water, and energy are not the defining challenges of our times – they’re the defining challenges of all times. They’re the challenges that must be met day after day, over and over, before any other goals can be achieved. And that challenge is growing increasingly difficult as climate change harms global food systems and requires a shift away from fossil fuels, creating incredible opportunities but also large downside risks. With all of this playing out in an era of rising geopolitical tensions, I’m proud to partner with WTW, a global leader in insurance markets and risk modeling. Together, we’ll help clients understand and navigate this landscape so they – and the world at large – can be ready.”
Ida Rudolfsen’s research at PRIO focuses on the causes and links between food price and insecurity, social disorder and violence, and state repression and instability. She has written for news outlets such as the Washington Post and Morgenbladet and for prestigious academic journals such as the Journal of Peace Research, Research & Politics, and Terrorism and Political Violence.
Ida Rudolfsen said “I look forward to collaborating with WTW, where I will provide insights on the connections between food insecurity and conflict. This collaboration underscores WTW´s commitment to address global challenges through data-driven analysis and innovative solutions. This partnership represents an opportunity to leverage cutting-edge research and analysis to inform decision-making processes. I am happy to contribute with my expertise to their efforts and look forward to advancing our understanding of these complex issues in the current political landscape.” Graham Knight, Global Head of Natural Resources, WTW welcomed
the new partnerships. “As we support clients for in their risk management strategy, the availability of natural resources such as water and critical minerals, and the ensuing strategic competition around green technologies are key considerations. Being able to lean on authoritative research is essential to support our advisory and placement services, and we look forward to leveraging these partnerships for the benefit of our clients.”
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