Guest ResearcherProf. Anne Kleffner Visiting the Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance

16 May 2025, by Gunda Stichbury

Photo: UHH/Longe

Prof. Dr. Anne Kleffner

Since April 19, 2025, we have had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Anne Kleffner from the Haskayne School of Business (University of Calgary) as a visiting scholar at the Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance, led by Prof. Petra Steinorth.

Prof. Kleffner is an internationally renowned expert in the field of risk management and insurance, with a special focus on enterprise risk management (ERM) and insurance for natural disasters.

She shares a long-standing academic collaboration with Prof. Steinorth – including joint roles on the editorial board of the Journal of Insurance Issues and the Board of Directors of the American Risk and Insurance Association (ARIA) – as well as close alignment in research interests, particularly regarding the role of insurance in healthcare and risk prevention.

Prof. Kleffner will be conducting research in Hamburg through June 30 and is looking forward to continued academic exchange and experiencing life in northern Germany.

Interview:

What were your first impressions of Hamburg?

I was impressed with all of the green spaces and the numbers of people walking, running, biking, and sailing. My first day in Hamburg I discovered Planten un Blomen and enjoyed seeing the beautiful gardens and watching all the activity. In addition, coming from a country and a city that is so young, I love being in a historic city and having the opportunity to explore the old city, historic churches, and other landmarks in Hamburg.

What similarities do you see between research in Canada and Germany in the field of risk management?

Two areas where I see similarities are in the socialized healthcare systems, although in Canada we don’t have a comparable private insurance system; and in the lack of government programs for natural disaster insurance. Both Canada and Germany face significant flood risk, and this presents challenges to the private insurance market.

What do you particularly value about your collaboration with Prof. Petra Steinorth?

I value her broad knowledge of different research areas in insurance and risk management. She is helpful in offering insights that provide a new perspective. I also value her sense of humor and her collegial approach to everything she does.

Are there specific topics you’d like to explore more deeply during your stay?

A current area of focus for me is the impact of natural disasters on the uninsured and underinsured, and how this is contributing to the vulnerability of certain marginalized populations. I’m interested in how this issue differs from, and is similar to, Germany and other European countries.

What will you take away from your time at the University of Hamburg?

I appreciate the collegial atmosphere of Prof. Steinorth’s group in Risk Management and Insurance. I’m enjoying the conversations with staff, PhD students, and student assistants, learning about different areas of research and also about Hamburg.