David Middleton ONZM

David joined Kestrel Group in 2010 after stepping down from 17 years as Chief Executive of the Earthquake Commission (EQC). This role followed a twenty year involvement with the New Zealand Insurance Industry.

His areas of specialisation are insurance and reinsurance, disaster recovery planning and the financial aspects of disaster recovery, public policy and research administration.

During his time at EQC, David and his staff developed comprehensive catastrophe response planning and negotiated one of the market’s largest property catastrophe reinsurance programmes.

David is currently involved with the development of the new Natural Hazards Research Platform, and chairs the platform's strategic advisory group. He also represents New Zealand on the Global Earthquake Model governing board.

David is the chair of the steering committee for the University of Canterbury-led Resilient Organisations research programme.