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Risk in Context Podcast: Protecting people, business, and infrastructure from extreme heat impacts

In this episode our hosts explore direct and indirect challenges associated with extreme heat, as well as risk adaptation and management strategies that organisations should consider to better protect their people, assets, and operations.

04/09/2025 · 2 minute read

Extreme heat, characterised by sustained periods of unusually high temperatures, poses significant health, economic, and social challenges globally. This pervasive and escalating risk, that is chronic in nature, is more frequently impacting people, infrastructure, and businesses worldwide.

To effectively mitigate the risks associated with extreme heat, organisations must be proactive in how they prepare for, adapt to, and manage current and future heat-related challenges. This includes prioritising the identification of their specific vulnerabilities and implementing targeted strategies to address risks.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Jack Watt, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy Team, speaks with Swenja Surminski, Managing Director, Climate and Sustainability at Marsh McLennan, Tracy Watts, Senior Partner, National Health Leader for US Health Policy at Mercer, and Rachael Barza, Associate Director, Lead Climate Adaptation and Nature Finance at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. They explore direct and indirect challenges associated with extreme heat, as well as risk adaptation and management strategies that organisations should consider to better protect their people, assets, and operations.

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Key takeaways

Prioritise people-centric approaches

The multifaceted effects of extreme heat on employee health — including physical, mental, and financial — should be addressed through proactive workforce management, including heat stress mitigation and support systems to improve well-being and productivity.

Foster cross-sector collaboration

Addressing extreme heat risks requires collaboration and proactive planning. Innovative investments — ranging from infrastructure and engineering upgrades to cutting-edge supply chain tools that can identify heat exposure hotspots — help build more resilient, sustainable systems.

Build resilience to systemic impacts

Addressing the pervasive and chronic nature of extreme heat requires comprehensive strategies that take into consideration a wide range of risks, including impacts on physical assets, supply chains, and natural resources.

About our speakers

Jack Watts

Jack Watt

Senior Vice President, Climate and Sustainability Strategy Team, Marsh

  • United Kingdom

Jack is Senior Vice President at Marsh, working in a global team focused on innovating areas of climate risk, adaptation, and supply chain resilience for clients. He started his career in 2017 with Marsh’s risk consulting division. He holds an undergraduate degree in physical geography and remote sensing, and a Master’s degree in environmental hazards and risk, from Durham University. 

Tracy Watts

Tracy Watts

National Health Leader for US Health Policy, Mercer

  • United States

Tracy Watts is a Senior Partner and US Leader for Healthcare Policy at Mercer.  A consultant with Mercer for over 35 years, she’s widely quoted as a spokesperson for Mercer's survey of employer-sponsored health benefit plans and is a lead contributor on Mercer’s US Health News blog.  She leads Mercer’s involvement with the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health and Business Action to End HIV.  She frequently represents employer interests to policymakers in Washington, DC and has testified before Congress on several occasions. In 2018, she was named a “Top 25 Consultant” for excellence in healthcare by Consulting® Magazine.  

Swenja Surminski

Swenja Surminski

Managing Director of Climate and Sustainability, Marsh McLennan

  • United Kingdom

Swenja Surminski is managing director of climate and sustainability at Marsh McLennan and chairs the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative. She is a Professor at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics and has been appointed by the UK government to the UK Climate Change Committee, an independent statutory body that advises the UK government on emissions targets and on adapting to the impacts of climate change. She was a contributing author to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and has written several books and articles on climate risk management.

Rachael Barza

Rachael Barza

Associate Director, Lead Climate Adaptation and Nature Finance, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

  • United Kingdom

Dr. Rachael Barza is an economist specialising in systemic resilience and leads the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Climate Adaptation and Nature Finance team, which supports all of the bank’s investments in ensuring alignment with the Paris Agreement for adaptation. Her team develops new investment opportunities for nature finance and climate resilience and provides policy dialogue and investment strategies on those topics across all of the bank’s sectors and geographies. She has a PhD in economics from Harvard University and a BA in economics and mathematics from Barnard College.