Savitha Sura
Naperville,IL
Summary
Catastrophe modeling professional with 8+ years of experience and a foundation in earthquake engineering. Skilled in RMS RiskLink, Intelligent Risk Platform (IRP), Touchstone, and GEM, with a deep understanding of hazard, vulnerability, and financial modeling. I support underwriters, actuaries, and reinsurance brokers by delivering risk insights that inform reinsurance placements, parametric pricing, and portfolio decisions. Experienced in working directly with clients to tailor risk assessments using claims data and exposure-specific insights, driving more accurate and actionable views of risk.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Catastrophe Research Analyst
Gallagher Re
07.2023 - 01.2025
- Supported underwriting and broking teams by delivering catastrophe risk insights across multiple business units and global property portfolios using RiskLink, Risk Modeler on Intelligent Risk Platform, Touchstone, and GEM.
- Conducted in-depth validation of vendor models, critically assessing hazard, vulnerability, and financial loss methodologies; cross-verified findings against academic literature and historical event data to support model credibility.
- Advised catastrophe modeling teams, actuaries, and brokers on model selection or adjustments, shaping the risk views used in property treaty placements and portfolio-level decisions.
- Collaborated directly with clients to assess their portfolios, customizing risk views and refining catastrophe model adjustments based on claims data and exposure uniqueness.
- Responded to regulatory data calls and rating agency requests by preparing and validating catastrophe modeling outputs and supporting documentation.
- Contributed to internal process improvements by reviewing modeling workflows and suggesting enhancements to tools and reporting practices.
- Participated in ad-hoc analytics projects alongside risk management and cat analytics teams, sharing modeling input for business planning and portfolio optimization.
Catastrophe Research Analyst
Gallagher Re
05.2021 - 07.2023
- Supported the development of portfolio-specific risk perspectives by analyzing key model components and comparing outputs with real-world loss data and published studies
- Analyzed regional hazard patterns and exposure characteristics to adjust model parameters, improving the accuracy of loss projections at the portfolio level
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to simplify modeling workflows and identify process improvements that reduced turnaround time and improved consistency
Modeler - Model Certification
RMS
12.2020 - 05.2021
- Managed model certification processes, ensuring timely and accurate validation of catastrophe models on RiskLink and Risk Modeler platforms.
- Conducted internal training on HD model methodology, improving team expertise, and consistency in evaluation processes.
Senior Modelling Analyst
RMS
10.2017 - 12.2020
- Led in-house model certification, ensuring catastrophe models were bug-free, scientifically sound, and functionally robust before release
- Conducted rigorous hazard, vulnerability, and exposure module validation, verifying that models aligned with real-world data and scientific research
- Designed and implemented automated testing scripts in Python, R, SQL, and Bash to detect inconsistencies, improving model accuracy and efficiency
- Developed end-to-end peril engine prototypes, to validate HD model hazard maps, ground motion amplification, flood defenses, and vulnerability functions to ensure reliable loss estimates
- Analyzed post-event loss amplification (PLA) factors and their impact on catastrophe models, refining model performance under extreme conditions.
- Created R Shiny dashboards to streamline model certification tracking, and interactive risk visualization.
- Evaluated AAL, PMLs, and loss cost maps, identifying key drivers of loss deviations and recommending model refinements
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless model functionality and improve transparency
Analyst
RMS
06.2016 - 10.2017
- Conducted comprehensive model testing and debugging, validating outputs of RiskLink across different perils and regions before release
- Managed catastrophe model workflows, creating accounts and portfolios with varying sub-perils, resolutions, and building characteristics to test model performance
- Performed exposure data validation and scenario-based risk assessments, identifying anomalies and ensuring loss outputs aligned with expected trends
- Reported all deviations found in the model with internal stakeholders and actively followed the resolutions
Education
Master's degree - Computer Aided Structural Engineering
IIIT Hyderabad
Telangana, India04-2016
Bachelor in Technology - Civil Engineering
JNTU
Telangana, India07-2014
Skills
- Catastrophe modeling
- Statistical modeling
- Process Automation
- Data Analysis and Visualization
- R and Python programming
- Microsoft Excel
- SQL querying
Accomplishments
- Extra Miler Award - Gallagher Re
Awarded for exceptional initiative in driving multiple projects to completion,
exceeding expectations and delivering impactful results. - Spot Award - Gallagher Re
Recognized for implementing a Climate Change framework. - RMS Star Performer Award - RMS
Recognized for optimizing internal processes in Model Certification. - Dean’s Academic Award - Masters of Science in Structural Engineering
Ranked among the top 3 in my batch. - Academic Excellence Award - Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Recipient of the Gold Medal for achieving the highest academic percentage.
Timeline
Senior Catastrophe Research Analyst
Gallagher Re
07.2023 - 01.2025
Catastrophe Research Analyst
Gallagher Re
05.2021 - 07.2023
Modeler - Model Certification
RMS
12.2020 - 05.2021
Senior Modelling Analyst
RMS
10.2017 - 12.2020
Analyst
RMS
06.2016 - 10.2017
Master's degree - Computer Aided Structural Engineering
IIIT Hyderabad
Bachelor in Technology - Civil Engineering
JNTU
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