News Profession NEWS UPDATES FROM THE ACTUARIAL PROFESSION
Upfront Opinion CEO’s comment
Help shape our website
Derek Cribb reports on the work undertaken on the international stage
After listening to members’ opinions, we are now redeveloping the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) website with Precedent, a leading digital agency. There will be opportunities for members to get involved in research and testing sessions throughout the year. If you are interested please contact emma.pegg@actuaries.org.uk. A huge thank you to members who offered views and comments about the website in the focus groups and telephone interviews held throughout March and April. Those who have taken part are welcome to get involved in further research.
Leaders’ tour of duty Derek Cribb is the chief executive of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
membership: indeed our international strategy points to China and South East Asia, India and Africa as priority areas owing to the growth in demand for actuaries in these areas. But how are we ensuring that our members are being appropriately served by their professional body? There is nothing quite like meeting members face to face to get an understanding of their priorities and concerns. As you read this, I will be travelling around China and south-east Asia with David Hare, president-elect and Trevor Watkins, director of education, to meet our members and representatives from local actuarial associations and universities. We will be introducing our contacts to Wen Li, a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, who we have appointed as our lead representative in Asia. This exciting development will help to ensure our members in the region are fully supported and feel part of our global community. In April, Trevor and I also visited India. This productive trip highlighted the significant demand from students and employees in the region who could benefit from our proposed certified actuarial analyst membership category. Local employers in India and the Institute of Actuaries of India are keen to find a way to professionalise many of the actuarial support roles, and also help those professionals that work alongside actuaries but do not wish to take the path to fellowship. Research we have undertaken indicates that introducing the certified actuarial analyst membership category and associated qualification will meet this demand, not just in India but globally. It will also help us achieve the objectives in our royal charter by ‘promoting matters relevant to actuarial science’ and is in the public interest by bringing such people into a sound regulatory framework. These changes will help to protect the future of your membership body by ensuring that we remain relevant to the developing needs of the users of actuarial services globally. a
DEREK CRIBB
10
I’ve spoken before about the global nature of our
ACCESS THE PROFESSION’S ANNUAL REPORT
Are your contact details correct? The IFoA issues regular communications to keep members informed of news, views and general updates. To ensure that you receive all correspondence, please take five minutes to check that your contact details are up to date. Log into the members’ section at www. actuaries.org.uk, or contact our membership team by phone on +44 (0)131 240 1313 or email membership@actuaries.org.uk
R E SE AR C H E VEN TS The research team is putting the final touches to two forthcoming events at Staple Inn Hall, London:
21 May (17.00-19.00) MSc presentations: students from Imperial College London will present their dissertations on general insurance. See bit.ly/103z5j7 for details and to book.
17 June (17.00-19.00) Mortality Research Seminar Series: Exploring The Future, Defining The Questions will deliver the findings of three research projects funded by the Profession: ● Bayesian modelling of mortality projection uncertainty (University of Southampton and Barnett Waddingham LLP) ● Mortality models for multiple populations using covariates (Heriot-Watt University) ● Genetic risk profiling for common diseases (King’s College London) Online booking will be available shortly at www.actuaries.org.uk/events
THE ACTUARY • May 2013 www.theactuary.com
p10_13_may_prof_news_FINAL•CT.indd 10
22/04/2013 14:46
