This is the first guide for catastrophe risk practitioners. It is targeted at the growing number of catastrophe model users and regulators in (re)insurance and strategic planning for risk (e.g. World Bank, governments, NGOs, local authorities and global disaster management agencies). By combining the state-of-the-art knowledge from leading academics, commercial modelling companies and practitioners, the content is comprehensive, authoritative, and concise. The authors have tried to create the book that they wished had been available when they started their careers. Perhaps an alternative title could have been "The high level guide to everything you need to know about catastrophe modelling". It introduces key facts, terms and concepts and provides access to references where these are available. The book has been designed for undergraduate and postgraduate readers as well as the practitioners themselves, whether catastrophe modelling analysts, catastrophe model developers, actuaries, underwriters, or those in compliance or regulation functions related to catastrophe risk. It is also relevant to scientists or engineers in disciplines who would like insight into natural catastrophe risk management, or the potential application of their work in catastrophe models. Readers of the book will better understand the construction and use of catastrophe models, gain knowledge of models' strengths and weaknesses, as well as appreciate associated uncertainties. Readers will learn about the interpretation, effective validation and justification of catastrophe models. This book arrives during a period of significant development in natural catastrophe risk modelling: fundamental methodological and computational change, increased regulatory demand and an upsurge in user awareness and sophistication. The book aims to promote informed model usage and provide practitioners with the knowledge to be effective catastrophe risk modellers and managers.

Kirsten Mitchell-Wallace, PhD is EMEA Regional Head of Catastrophe Management at SCOR, Zürich, Switzerland Matthew Jones, PhD is Director at Cat Risk Intelligence, UK John Hillier, PhD is Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK Matthew Foote is Group Head of Exposure Management at Argo Group International Holdings, London, UK