Mr. Rodney Lester
Head of World Bank Insurance Practice, FSOPD
World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433

Rodney Lester serves as Head of the Insurance Practice Group of the Financial Sector Operations and Policy Department of the World Bank. He leads the Insurance and Contractual Savings Advisory Team and provides transaction and advisory capacity to the International Finance Corporation (IFC). His World Bank operational activities have included contractual savings and insurance industry supervisory reform and resolution work, development of savings mechanisms and a strong emphasis on natural disasters funding and privatization. One natural disasters project won the President’s Award for Excellence. Bank client countries where he has done substantive work include: Bolivia, China, Albania, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Jamaica, Turkey, Morocco, Mexico, UAE, Serbia, Slovenia and South Korea.

Previously, Mr. Lester served as Managing Director for AMP General Insurance Ltd and Division Head (General Insurance) worldwide for the AMP Society (1993–1997). Prior to that, he served as Managing Director, Australian Eagle Insurance Co Ltd, a Life/ General/Investment composite and a subsidiary of BAT through Eagle Star (1991–1993). He was also Managing Director of Lumley Corporation, a holding company investing in insurance underwriting and broking operations and retail investment businesses throughout Australasia (1988–1991).

Mr. Lester also served as President of the Insurance Council of Australia (1995–96); President, Harvard Club of Australia (1991); and Member of the Council, Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Mr. Lester is a Fellow at the Institute of Actuaries (UK); as well as at the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. He holds an MBA from Harvard University.