2026

Storm-proof Your State: Disaster Policy, Planning and Preparedness. National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit. July 28, 2026.

Kaniewski addressed state legislators on the future of disaster response, recovery, and resilience, including practical ways states can strengthen preparedness and hazard mitigation.

Building Resilience Before the Next Disaster: Lessons from Policy and Practice. International Conference on Natural Hazards and Infrastructure. July 1, 2026.

In the keynote address at ICONHIC 2026, Kaniewski argued that resilience must be financed proactively, shared fairly, and aligned across the stakeholders who depend on infrastructure to perform under stress.

Building Innovation 2026. National Institute of Building Sciences. May 20, 2026.

Kaniewski challenged the audience to shift from reacting after disasters to investing before them and to rethink how resilience is funded, measured, and rewarded.

Disaster Resilience in a Changing Risk Landscape. Insurance Innovators 2026. May 11, 2026.

In the keynote address, Kaniewski highlighted how to close the gap between emergency management and the property and casualty insurance industry and move from reactive recovery to proactive investment.

Building Resilience Conference 2026. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. May 6, 2026.

Kaniewski shared a vision for FEMA to evolve from a reactive payer to a proactive risk adviser and called for action to close the insurance protection gap.

Shaping the Future of Disaster Resilience. ClimateTech Connect 2026. April 8, 2026.

Kaniewski moderated a main-stage discussion with former FEMA leaders on resilient building standards, incentives, and ways to align policy with market investment before disasters.

Emergency Management and Insurance Public Policy Priorities. Nareit REITwise Law, Accounting and Finance Conference. March 24, 2026.

Kaniewski briefed the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts on insurance and emergency management policy priorities affecting the real estate sector.

The Future of Emergency Management and Insurance in a Changing Risk Landscape. California Insurance Emergency Response Association Annual Meeting. March 10, 2026.

As the opening speaker, Kaniewski discussed lessons from national disasters, changing risk patterns, preparedness, and the need for deeper coordination between emergency management and insurance.

2025

The Disasters That Define Us. International Association of Emergency Managers Annual Conference. November 18, 2025.

In the keynote address, Kaniewski drew lessons from his firsthand experiences with 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Maria, and the pandemic for leaders preparing for future catastrophic events.

Marsh Global Real Estate and Hospitality Conference. Marsh. November 6, 2025.

Kaniewski shared public-policy and operational perspectives on disaster resilience with real estate and hospitality risk leaders.

The Role of Insurance. Resilience Finance Day. September 25, 2025.

Kaniewski joined a panel on the role of insurance in financing resilience and the ways insurers, brokers, and public institutions can encourage risk reduction.

Financing Shared Risk: Making the Case for Resilience. Resiliency Company Forum, Climate Week NYC. September 22, 2025.

Kaniewski highlighted the value of hazard mitigation and the role of risk transfer at the community level.

Risk and Resiliency Symposium. Marsh McLennan Agency. September 9, 2025.

Kaniewski described successful hazard-mitigation programs that reduce disaster risk, including wildfire losses, and connected those programs to insurance and emergency management priorities.

Break the Cycle: Control Your Natural Catastrophe Risks. Swiss Re. September 2025.

Kaniewski joined a panel on severe convective storms, catastrophe data and modeling, and the transition from reactive recovery to proactive resilience.

National Public Entity and Education Leadership Summit. Marsh McLennan Agency. August 20, 2025.

Kaniewski explained how brokers can help public-sector clients understand FEMA, insurance, mitigation, and building codes while reducing disaster risk.

Dollars and Cents (Sense) of Natural Disaster Reduction. ASCE–NOAA Annual Workshop. June 24, 2025.

Kaniewski discussed the return on investment from disaster-risk reduction and the financial, insurance, and infrastructure incentives that can make mitigation more attractive.

Business Delivers Innovation Summit. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. June 18, 2025.

In closing remarks, Kaniewski focused on proactive resilience efforts by the property and casualty insurance industry and federal, state, and local emergency managers.

Retrofit for Resilience and Functional Recovery. Building Innovation 2025. May 20, 2025.

Kaniewski joined a panel on retrofitting buildings and infrastructure to protect lives, limit economic disruption, and support functional recovery after disasters.

ClimateTech Connect 2025. ClimateTech Connect. April 15, 2025.

Kaniewski appeared on the main stage at the inaugural conference to discuss disaster resilience and the policy and market changes needed to accelerate investment before losses occur.

Insurance 2.0: What Can Companies Do That Governments Won’t Do? Milken Institute Finance Forum. March 5, 2025.

Kaniewski joined a discussion of private-sector approaches to insurance availability, resilience, and risk where government action or public policy responses lag.

Future of FEMA: Perspectives from the Emergency Management Community. U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology. March 4, 2025.

Kaniewski testified on FEMA reform, burden sharing, proactive resilience, building codes, mitigation grants, and insurance as Congress considered the agency’s future.

2024

What Resilience Success Looks Like. Triple-I Joint Industry Forum. November 20, 2024.

Kaniewski moderated a panel on real-world resilience investments, the co-beneficiaries of mitigation, and public-private collaboration.

Financial Sector Response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. U.S. Department of the Treasury Roundtable. October 30, 2024.

Kaniewski emphasized linking risk transfer with risk reduction and strengthening collaboration among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors after the hurricanes.

Resilience Townhall: Mitigation, Community Resilience, Lifeline Infrastructure, and Investment. Building Innovation 2024. May 23, 2024.

Kaniewski joined a discussion of federal grants, private-sector solutions, public policy, and strategies to close the resilience investment gap.

Forging Trust to Move Forward. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Building Resilience Conference. May 16, 2024.

Kaniewski participated in a closing panel on practical tools for building trust and advancing cross-sector resilience.

Minnesota North College Commencement Address. Minnesota North College. May 9, 2024.

Kaniewski traced his career from a local firehouse to the White House and FEMA, encouraging graduates to seek mentors, embrace opportunity, and increase their surface area for luck.

2023

Supply Chain and Critical Infrastructure Resilience Investments. Homeland Security Enterprise Forum. October 10, 2023.

Kaniewski joined a plenary panel on geopolitical, technological, and economic risks to critical infrastructure and supply chains and the partnerships needed to manage them.

The Challenge of Flood Resilience in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association Annual Conference. September 2023.

Kaniewski addressed floodplain managers on the challenges of reducing flood risk and improving resilience in Oklahoma communities.

Driving Down the Cost of Disasters: Building a Resilient Future. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Building Resilience Conference. July 27, 2023.

Kaniewski joined a panel on innovative approaches to lower disaster risk and cost and to strengthen community resilience.

2022

Why Is Readiness Important for Building Resilience? U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Building Resilience Conference. July 28, 2022.

Kaniewski joined leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to discuss why readiness and pre-disaster investment are essential to resilience.

2021

Disaster Resilience: Priorities, Programs, and Incentives. Building Innovation 2021. September 27, 2021.

In the keynote address, Kaniewski framed resilience around preparedness, mitigation, and insurance and emphasized building codes and incentives that reward risk reduction.

Emergency Management Leaders Explore Accelerated Recovery. Council of State Governments Virtual Learning Lab. March 10, 2021.

Kaniewski joined emergency management leaders to discuss how state and local officials can accelerate disaster response and recovery.

2020

Building Resilient Businesses and Communities in the Time of COVID-19. Insurance Information Institute Webinar. May 14, 2020.

Kaniewski joined a panel on business continuity, flood insurance, mitigation, and public-private partnership during the pandemic.

2019

National Homeland Security Conference General Session. National Homeland Security Association. June 18, 2019.

As FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator, Kaniewski addressed homeland security and emergency management leaders on national preparedness and resilience priorities.

Disaster Preparedness: DRRA Implementation and FEMA Readiness. U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. May 22, 2019.

Kaniewski testified on implementation of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and FEMA’s readiness for the 2019 hurricane season.

2018

View from the Top: Federal Perspective. Summit on Crisis Management. July 26, 2018.

In the keynote address, Kaniewski discussed FEMA’s strategic plan, a national culture of preparedness, financial planning for disasters, and FEMA integration teams.

Using Innovative Technology and Practices to Enhance the Culture of Preparedness. U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. July 25, 2018.

Kaniewski testified on technology, data, mitigation, and partnerships that can strengthen preparedness across the nation.

Ready and Resilient: A Discussion with FEMA Deputy Administrator for Resilience Daniel Kaniewski. Atlantic Council. July 17, 2018.

Kaniewski discussed the national culture of preparedness, pre-disaster mitigation, insurance, and shared responsibility for resilience.

National Homeland Security Conference Opening General Session. National Homeland Security Association. July 10, 2018.

Kaniewski addressed state and local homeland security and emergency management professionals as FEMA Deputy Administrator for Resilience.

VI Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. June 20–22, 2018.

As head of the U.S. delegation, Kaniewski participated in high-level discussions on implementing the Sendai Framework and strengthening disaster resilience across the Americas.

CINA Conference 2018. Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency, George Mason University. May 30–31, 2018.

Kaniewski spoke as FEMA’s Deputy Administrator for Resilience at a conference convening homeland security researchers, practitioners, and government leaders.

FEMA’s 2018–2022 Strategic Plan and Lessons from Recent Disasters. George Washington University. April 4, 2018.

Kaniewski discussed FEMA’s strategic plan and lessons from the 2017 disaster season in a public conversation and question-and-answer session.

2017

Nomination Hearing for Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA. U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. September 12, 2017.

Kaniewski testified before the Senate on his qualifications and priorities for national preparedness and resilience during his confirmation hearing.

2009

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act Implementation. U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. March 17, 2009.

Kaniewski testified on FEMA reform, preparedness, and implementation of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act.