We Are Actuaries

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Martin Mulcare asks Andrew Gale to share reflections from his senior leadership experience, including his role as President of the Actuaries Institute in 2005.In this interview, Andrew shares: - Why he gravitated towards the Actuaries Institute and ultimately the Presidency,- How a career defined by stepping outside comfort zones shaped his leadership approach,- What made his Presidential year unexpectedly demanding,- His overriding leadership philosophy, and- His top tip for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles. Andrew Gale BA, FIAA, MBA, FAICD, has over 45 years’ experience in the financial services sector in executive, consulting, and non-executive director (NED) capacities – especially in the wealth management, financial advice, superannuation, insurance, and mortgage broking sectors.Andrew is a Past President of the Actuaries Institute (2005), was a NED and Chairman for the SMSF Association, and was a trustee director (NED) for one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds.Andrew has had strong involvement in the NFP sector over the last 25 years, especially through various Global Access Partners (GAP) initiatives. He is Chair of Top Blokes Foundation, a NFP dedicated to the personal development of well-balanced young males, with positive values.Andrew has had extensive involvement in public policy issues in the above capacities. He has authored many papers and articles, especially relating to superannuation and retirement matters, including co-authoring (with Stephen Huppert) the Actuaries Institute’s Dialogue Paper ‘Retirement Matters’ (Dec ‘23) and chaired the Institute’s ‘Help, Guidance and Advice Working Group’, with its final Discussion Paper ‘Financial Advice Reform and Help, Guidance and Advice’ released October 2025.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Andrew and Martin on LinkedIn.   Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!This interview is part of the “Presidential Perspectives” mini-series with guest host Martin Mulcare. You can also listen to the interview on the We Are Actuaries podcast episode number 84.Martin Mulcare asks David Knox to share some reflections from his senior leadership experience, including his role as the 2000 President of the Actuaries Institute.In this interview, David shares: -          Why he was motivated to serve as President of the Actuaries Institute, -          How a career spanning academia, consulting and public policy shaped his approach to leadership, -          Why integrity and trust are the foundation of everything, -          The importance of the President thinking in decades, not years, and -          His top tip for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles. Dr David Knox AM, was a Senior Partner at Mercer and Senior Actuary for Australia until his retirement in 2024.  He was the National Leader for Research and Policy and was the lead author of the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index for 16 years.Before joining Mercer in 2005, David was at PricewaterhouseCoopers and prior to that was the Foundation Professor of Actuarial Studies at The University of Melbourne.  David was an independent Board member of APRA from 1998 to 2003 and President of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in 2000. In 2023 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the finance industry.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with David on LinkedIn.        Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.    Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!This interview is part of the “Presidential Perspectives” mini-series with guest host Martin Mulcare. Martin Mulcare asks Bozenna Hinton to share some reflections from her senior leadership experience, including her role as the 2010 President of the Actuaries Institute.In this interview, Bozenna shares: -   Why she put her hand up to serve as President of the Actuaries Institute,-   How a career built on volunteering (rather than a conventional corporate ladder) shaped her path to the Presidency,-   What the role of President really requires and why a clear, unifying vision is key,-   Her remarkable pathway to leading the International Actuarial Association, and-   Her top tip for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles.Bozenna Hinton, FIAA, GAICD is the Immediate Past President of the International Actuarial Association, which represents more than 90,000 actuaries across 115 countries and 74 full member associations. She served as President of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in 2010. Her 30-year career in financial services has included senior executive and consulting roles, with leadership positions as General Manager of Product & Pricing at MLC Life and senior roles at EY and TAL.   Her expertise spans product development, pricing, valuation, risk management, and portfolio management across life insurance markets. She has also worked in general insurance, superannuation, reinsurance and non-traditional areas such as energy pricing.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.- Connect with Bozenna on LinkedIn.       - Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.     Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!This interview is part of the “Presidential Perspectives” mini-series with guest host Martin Mulcare. You can also listen to the interview on the We Are Actuaries podcast episode number 82.Martin Mulcare asks Barry Rafe to share some reflections from his senior leadership experience, including his role as the 2011 (and part of 2018) President of the Actuaries Institute.In this interview, Barry shares: -          Why he put his hand up to serve as President of the Actuaries Institute,-          How his winding corporate career — from AMP to Accenture to running his own consulting firm — shaped his approach to leadership,-          What it really means to chair a board,-          The importance of holding firm opinions loosely, and-          His top tip for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles.Barry is a financial services professional with experience as a director, CEO and consultant. Barry is currently a director of a public relations and media business. He presents courses on board governance, strategy and finance for the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Barry is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Barry has published several research papers on board governance. Namely, • The Special Needs of Financial Services Boards, and • CEO's Say One Thing and Do Another: An Insight Provided by a Royal Commission Barry has also collaborated on several other research papers and is a reviewer of the governance notes prepared by the AICD.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Barry and Martin on LinkedIn.   Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!This interview is part of the “Presidential Perspectives” mini-series with guest host Martin Mulcare. Trevor Matthews reflects on leadership, including his role as the 1997 President of the Actuaries Institute.“One of my favourite quotations about leadership comes from Napoleon Bonaparte. He said a leader is a dealer in hope", says Trevor.In this interview, Trevor shares: Why he was asked to join Council and serve as the President of the Actuaries Institute, how his corporate career shaped his leadership style, from running a small team to leading 12,000 people, why he sees leaders as “dealers of hope”, his outlook for the actuarial profession, and his top tip for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles. “I loved Trevor's suggestion that the prime skill for a leader is to be a "dealer in hope". This was particularly relevant for Trevor, President in the Institute's Centenary Year, to ensure that the profession was looking forward with optimism to its next 100 years”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.Trevor qualified as a Fellow in 1975, having attended Macquarie University on a cadetship with Legal & General. He rose rapidly through the ranks to become Managing Director of their Australian business at just 36, and that same year was recognised as the Institute's third ever Actuary of the Year. In 1996, Trevor moved to lead NAB's retail banking and financial services business and served as President of the Institute during that landmark Centenary Year. He then embarked on an impressive fifteen-year international career, leading life and general insurance businesses across Canada, Japan, Scotland and England. Returning to Australia in 2013, Trevor brought that global experience to the boardroom, chairing and serving on the boards of a number of listed and unlisted companies — among them AMP, Bupa, CoverMore, Tokio Marine Asia, CMC Markets, and currently Prudential Malaysia.Trevor is very happily married to a fellow actuary, and both of his sons have recently qualified as Fellows — a proud family legacy. He remains deeply grateful for the opportunities the profession has given him, and his enthusiasm for it is as strong as ever.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Trevor and Martin. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!This interview is part of the “Presidential Perspectives” mini-series with guest host Martin Mulcare. Helen reflects on her senior leadership experience and her role as the 2002 President of the Actuaries Institute.“To add value in whatever role you're undertaking, you need to really be able to listen and understand the perspectives of others, try and join the dots and help navigate, particularly because there are lots of different views on all sorts of issues. A key leadership skill is being able to listen and understand those different views and then kind of build consensus and shared understanding so that you can actually find a way forward to solve whatever problem it is that you're dealing with”, says Helen.In this interview, Helen shares: - Why she decided to run for Council and serve as Actuaries Institute President,- How she built the skills needed to perform the role of President, - The importance of authentic leadership and choosing roles aligned with your values, - Her outlook for the actuarial profession and her advice for actuaries aspiring to leadership roles. “It is fascinating to hear Helen explain the skills she thinks are necessary to lead a profession at any time and then identify two leadership challenges that have only emerged recently”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.Helen was the President of the Actuaries Institute in 2002. She is Chair of Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd, a Director of Mental Health Australia and Deputy Chair of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority NSW. Helen was recently appointed as a member of the newly constituted ASX Advisory Group on Corporate Governance. She previously held senior roles at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for over 20 years, including 10 years as an Executive Board Member and Deputy Chair. Helen played a leading role in APRA’s regulatory and supervision activities, with a particular focus on superannuation and insurance, and has been a key driver of enhancements to APRA’s management approach with oversight of all aspects of APRA’s operations, including strategy, finance, risk, security, audit, people and culture, corporate and regulatory affairs. Helen holds a BA, Actuarial from Macquarie University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Helen and Martin. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary Syed Raza shares his lessons from building an independent consulting business.Syed Raza is an independent actuarial consultant and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in life insurance and annuities. After spending much of his career in traditional actuarial roles, Syed made the leap into independent consulting, where he now advises insurers, consultancies, and startups on complex valuation, modelling, and transformation initiatives.In addition to his consulting work, Syed is the creator of MyActuary Weekly, a widely read newsletter and media platform focused on the business side of actuarial careers, independent consulting, and emerging trends like AI in insurance. Through his writing, speaking, and community-building efforts, Syed helps actuaries think beyond technical work and take greater ownership of their careers.Syed is passionate about empowering actuaries to build flexible, fulfilling careers while creating real-world impact through their actuarial “superpowers.”In this interview, Syed shares: -         Why he left a safe actuarial career path to become an independent consultant, -         The biggest lesson he learned from his experience as an independent consultant, and -         His advice for actuaries considering starting their own consulting business.Connect with Syed on LinkedIn.Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.   Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary of the Year, 2025, Iris Lun shares her reflections on her unconventional actuarial career path.Iris Lun is the 2025 Actuary of the Year and co-founder of 10Life, a Hong Kong insurtech platform bringing fair insurance to over 2.3 million active users annually. With 25 years of international actuarial experience, Iris has held leadership roles across multinational insurance institutions and global consultancies before taking the unconventional path of insurtech entrepreneurship.A passionate advocate for diversity, innovation, and responsible AI for actuaries, Iris is an active volunteer in the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong, the Actuaries Institute and the International Actuarial Association. She was a 2023 finalist for the Advance Global Australian Award in Technology & Entrepreneurship. Iris holds degrees in Actuarial Studies and Japanese from the University of Melbourne.In this interview, Iris shares: -          Her experience leaving home to work and travel globally as a young actuary,-          The pros and cons of switching roles and going for non-traditional actuarial roles, and-          The ups and downs of running a start-up as an (older) actuary.- Connect with Iris on LinkedIn. - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary, senior leader and newly elected Actuaries Institute Councillor Louis Lee shares how he stepped outside his comfort zone to build an interesting and diverse actuarial career across the globe. In this interview, Louis shares: -          How actuaries should not fear failing at any new tasks,-          How actuaries can pivot to any industry, and to any roles, and-          How AI will accelerate actuaries in adapting to new careers.Louis is the Managing Director APAC of CoverGo, where he leads CoverGo’s business development functions in the Asia Pacific region. He is also leading the Generative AI solutions for CoverGo’s clients. Louis has more than 20 years experience in the insurance industry across a number of countries in the whole region including Hong Kong, Singapore, South East Asia, Australia, and Japan, during which time he has held a number of senior roles of multinational insurance companies including Scor, FWD, Allianz, and Suncorp. He has been a Partner at Deloitte. Louis specialises in digital transformation, and has implemented solutions for insurers on digital distribution, customer journey design, core system modernizations, Generative AI development, and product propositions. He has worked across all insurance sectors including Life, Health, and General insurance, and has also owned the P&L for a number of portfolios. In particular, he has extensive experience on individual and group medical portfolios, helping insurers in Asia Pacific in transforming their underwriting & claims operations, systems, and profitability. Louis has been an active speaker and contributor in the insurance community over the years. He has spoken at events on topics such as “Unlocking the Value of Generative AI”; “Next-Gen: AI-Enabled Distribution”; “Launching Digital Product with a Customer Lens”; “Opportunities and Challenges of Cross-Border Health Insurance”; “Data and AI for Insurance Applications” amongst a number of speaking engagements. -          Connect with Louis on LinkedIn.   -          Connect with Julia on LinkedIn. Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary, adviser and GA Senior Leadership Program co-facilitator Martin Mulcare shares how he learned what he didn’t know he needed to learn as he stepped into his first general management role.In this interview, Martin shares: -          The critical leadership skills actuaries need beyond technical expertise, including strategic thinking, leading diverse teams, and influencing, -          How he built these skills through different approaches, including intensive courses, internal mentoring, and executive coaching, -          His tips for actuaries wanting to prepare for leadership roles.Martin is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.   Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!New Fellow Daniel Bartlett shares his path from high school teacher to qualified actuary and his career highlights to date.Daniel is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries Australia, working as a consultant at McGing Advisory & Actuarial. Working across broad financial services Daniel has experience working across traditional actuarial fields such as superannuation and wealth management, life insurance and friendly societies, while also having done a fair share of work in non-traditional actuarial fields. Daniel manages both quantitative technical projects such as modelling, valuations, remediations and unit pricing; while also managing qualitative projects including risk management and compliance reviews, systems and process reviews and migrations, product design advice, governance and board advisory services.Previously, Daniel worked in insurance underwriting and claims management roles, and worked as a high school mathematics and history teacher. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys being active physically and socially, he enjoys playing sports and musical instruments as well as the occasional video game.In this interview, Daniel shares: -         His pathway from high school teacher to actuary,-         Some highlights from his actuarial career to date, and-         His advice for actuaries pursuing Fellowship. - Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn.- Find out more about McGing Advisory & Actuarial. - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary and musician James McAtamney shares what he’s learned from music and growing up in a family business that has helped him build valuable skills that he’s transferred to the workplace.“Just go and get involved in something. Get out of your day-to-day, go do something interesting. Who knows, you might love it!”, says James McAtamney.In this interview, James shares: - How playing in orchestras and ensembles taught him to listen, blend, and balance dynamics rather than always being the loudest voice in the room- How community theatre exposed him to authentic conversations and diverse perspectives that help him navigate workplace interactions with greater empathy, - How musical collaboration showed him when to step back and let others shine, creating space for quieter team members to contribute their insights,- How authentic conversations outside corporate structures provide tools for more genuine workplace interactions, and- How early immersion in family business operations builds resourcefulness and portfolio thinking for managing complex ventures.“Teamwork means different things to different people. James reminds us that sometimes we need to just get out of the way and allow our colleagues to leverage their unique talents.”, says guest host Martin Mulcare. James McAtamney is an actuary and musician working as an independent senior advisor and entrepreneur in Australia and internationally. He is the Founder and Managing Director of McAtamney & Advisors, Principal of Vanguard Overwatch, and Co-Founder of Timbre Collective. James has the rare combination of a creative and analytical mind. From an early age, he participated in theatre, music, and choral programs at school and in the community. He also learned the different jobs in his family’s (now second generation) fishing business that his parents founded and built from the ground up – peeling prawns, learning the bookkeeping, serving customers in the retail shop, right down to scrubbing the bins out! These early experiences instilled a strong work ethic and a community- and business-mindedness that are reflected today in James’ diverse business and creative portfolio and his approach to work.James is an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies and Finance) from the University of New South Wales and an Associate Recital Diploma in Piano from Trinity College London.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.- Connec Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary Bianka Grange shares what she’s learned from volunteering as a Primary Ethics teacher at her children’s school and how those skills have helped her in the workplace.“Give yourself an opportunity to try something new, even if it feels a little bit scary, even if it feels like something that you're not gonna be very good at. You don't have to do it forever, you can just do it for a little bit of time. At the end of it, if you take a moment to reflect on it, you'll find that you've learned something”, says Bianka Grange.In this interview, Bianka shares: -  How practising neutrality as a facilitator creates safe spaces for diverse perspectives,-  How creating space between reaction and response improves workplace communication, and-  How low-stakes presentation practice builds confidence for high-pressure moments.“Not only does Bianka highlight the importance of self-reflection, she also provides some practical guidance on how to more regularly implement it.”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.Bianka Grange is the Executive Manager for VERO SME Packages, where she leads a dynamic team focused on delivering insurance solutions for small and medium enterprises. She is an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries with 20 years’ experience in all things SME Packages – portfolio management, strategic performance, underwriting, product, pricing, and data & analytics. Her strong technical and operational management, coupled with a passion for people, make her an active and engaged leader who consistently leads from the front.Bianka is known for her vibrant personality and her passion for volunteering. She is a Primary Ethics teacher who enjoys exploring both personal and professional ethics. She was the Co-Chair of the Actuaries Institute Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, leading the Associates Edition and contributing to the Associates Advisory Task Force. She firmly believes in being the change you wish to see and making meaningful progress in areas that personally matter.Bianka brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does and if she’s not talking your ear off about SME Insurance, she’s enjoying time with her family and neighbours.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.-          Connect with Bianka on LinkedIn.   -          Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.   Views and opinions expressed by guests on thisRead Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!We Are Actuaries podcast episode number 72.Actuary Dorothy Cheng shares what she’s learned about leadership from founding and facilitating a 500+ member Chinese mums’ support group.“If you have a passion or need, don’t do it alone”, says Dorothy.In this interview, Dorothy shares: -        How empathy builds trust and helps navigate difficult workplace situations,-        How enabling others through honest delegation creates time and empowers teams, and-        How setting clear boundaries and rules creates safe, productive environments.“Dorothy learned a great deal about enabling others in her mothers’ group. Delegation is an important but difficult skill in leadership. Dorothy’s application of her new talent in her workplace provides valuable clues for anyone interested in learning more about delegation.”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.Dorothy Cheng is a qualified actuary (FIAA, CERA) with over 10 years of experience across pricing, product development, valuation, reinsurance, and M&A. She is known for her collaborative style, strong project management, and ability to bring clarity and structure to complex actuarial challenges. A passionate lifelong learner, Dorothy also facilitates a 500+ member Chinese mums’ support group — an experience that continues to shape her perspective and leadership approach.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.-          Connect with Dorothy on LinkedIn.  -          Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.  Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary and netball umpire Crystal Mai shares what she’s learned on the netball court and how this has helped her in business.“Find something that you're passionate about and invest in it. You won't need to look for growth. That growth will come to you and it will flow into other parts of your life”, says Crystal.In this interview, Crystal shares: - How passion and presence transform workplace performance,- How to build confidence and find your voice as a young professional, and - How her diverse volunteering experience helped her build empathy and teamwork.“Some of the lessons from Crystal may be specific to skills she learned in umpiring or the SES, but the real value in this interview lies in the talents that are relevant to everyone in business like teamwork and time management.”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.Crystal Mai is an Actuary (FIAA) and Data Scientist at BCG X. She balances a dynamic career with her strong commitment to sport and community. A nationally badged netball umpire, Crystal has spent the past decade making high pressure decisions on court - often while being shouted at by older (and louder) people. She volunteers with the NSW State Emergency Service where she's out on the field and meeting people from all walks of life. Crystal's endeavours have shaped her into a resilient and grounded Actuary with a sense of perspective that textbooks don't teach. From court-side calls to crisis response, she's still figuring out how blowing a whistle and bush-bashing turned into workplace wisdom. And yet, it did.Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn.Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary, adviser and GA Senior Leadership Program co-facilitator Martin Mulcare shares how to build confidence at work.In this interview, Martin shares: - What confidence is and why it is important in business,- How we can recognise confidence in ourselves, and- His tips for actuaries wanting to build their confidence at work.Martin Mulcare is currently enjoying a portfolio of activities where the common theme is that he loves sharing ideas. This can take the form of a facilitator, a sounding board, a mentor or a company director.His prior experience included work as a consulting actuary, a corporate actuary and a company executive. You may have met him in his role as facilitator of the Actuaries Institute's Professionalism Course from 2009-2019.Martin is involved with a number of social purpose organisations including The Growth Project and Primary Ethics. He is a strong believer in the importance of balance in life.- Connect with Martin on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/martinmulcare   - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/julia-lessing  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary Minh Phan shares how actuaries can get started using LLMs.In this interview, Minh shares: - How he uses LLMs in his personal life,- How he uses LLMs in his professional life, and- His tips for actuaries wanting to get started or improve their skills using LLMs.Minh is the Head of AI Innovation at Finity, focussing on everything from ideation, training, tooling, governance and development.With 14 years of experience in pricing and data science, he has built production data pipelines, ML powered dashboards, and custom AI solutions across a range of cloud platforms.Outside of work, he loves tinkering with technology, overcommitting on learning and building not-so-useful applications, and writing and performing musical parody. And yeah, he’s the guy who wrote the “I’m an Actuary” rap.Shownotes:- Dave Ebbelaar on YouTube.- Animal family post on LinkedIn.- Homerun post on LinkedIn.- Actuaries Institute rap post on LinkedIn.- Savage Actuary. - Connect with Minh on LinkedIn. - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.  Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary Adam Barrow shares how volunteering has helped his actuarial career.In this interview, Adam shares: -          The best point in your career to get involved in volunteering,-          How volunteering has helped him build his professional network, and-          What actuaries should consider when getting involved in volunteering.Adam is the Product Actuary at UniSuper and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA). He specialises in Defined Benefits, Insurance, and Retirement matters relating to Superannuation, and has a passion for member outcomes and improving the retirement experience for all. Adam is an active volunteer for the Actuaries Institute and was awarded the 2025 Young Volunteer Achievement Award. He is currently a member of the Superannuation and Investment Practice Committee (SIPC), the Chair of the Member Services Sub Committee (MSSC), is an SME for Superannuation on the Life Insurance and Retirement Education Faculty (LIREF), and is a part of the Actuaries Institute Ambassador Program. In his spare time, he tries to remain active and find a new quality cup of coffee.-          Connect with Adam on LinkedIn.-         Visit the Actuaries Institute volunteering page. -          Connect with Julia on LinkedIn. Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Actuary and data scientist Lizzie Eason shares her tips on how actuaries can be ethical data scientists.In this interview, Lizzie shares: -          Why ethics is important for actuaries in data science, -          Some of the regulatory considerations affecting data scientists, and -          How she navigates ethics as a data scientist.Lizzie Eason, ACAS is a contagiously curious, enthusiastic, relationship-driven storyteller. With the cadence of a comedian and the toolbox of a data scientist, she serves as both a skilled builder and engaging translator of data-driven models. In her current role on a budding data science team, her work as a data detective reveals insights so intriguing that business partners can’t help but wonder about what more data could reveal!Lizzie graduated top of her class from Grinnell College in 2017 with a degree in Mathematics & Statistics. She obtained her ACAS in 2023 and has worked primarily in predictive modeling for pricing segmentation and a myriad of other business applications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, partner acrobatics, and hiking with her cats. Connect with Lizzie on LinkedIn.   Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.   Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary and senior leader Barry Leung shares tips on how actuaries transfer their skills into different areas.In this interview, Barry shares: -  How he uses his actuarial skills to improve outcomes across different settings,-  What he learned from taking secondments in marketing and recruitment, and-  How he overcomes doubt or fear when considering a role in a new area.Barry is currently the Executive General Manager – Performance at MIPS, a medical indemnity organisation with members across Australia. He has experience working in the healthcare and insurance sectors, holding a number of senior roles across major health insurers including Medibank and Defence Health. Barry is passionate about better health for all. Prior to joining MIPS, he was an Impact Insurance Fellow with the International Labour Organisation, advising the National Health Insurance Authority in Ghana West Africa on the country’s universal health cover scheme. In between his day job and transporting his children to different extra- curricular activities, he is also involved in a local charity and is a Director of Mater Christi College in Belgrave Victoria. -          Connect with Barry on LinkedIn.  -          Connect with Julia on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Analytics leader Kevin Cattaway shares tips on how actuaries can navigate redundancy.In this interview, Kevin shares: - His own experience of redundancy,- How he leveraged his network to find a new role, and- His advice for anyone facing redundancy.Kevin Cattaway is a data, analytics and insights professional with 26 years of experience across private and public sectors, primarily working in general insurance. With experience across diverse business functions including actuarial, customer & marketing, technology, finance, claims, portfolio and risk. And 19 years in leadership roles, having built and led analytics and actuarial teams delivering strategic insights to inform business decisions. - Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.  - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Special interview by Guardian Actuarial Leadership Program graduates Jennifer Ng and Peter Whittigan. In this interview, guest hosts Jennifer and Peter put strategic thinking under the microscope with Alissa Holz, CEO of RGA Australia and New Zealand. Peter and Jennifer asked: 1. What made you want to move from being an actuary to taking on the CEO role? Was that always the plan, or did it just happen over time?2. How do you define “strategic thinking” within the context of a life reinsurance business?3. What frameworks or tools do you rely on when formulating strategy?4. As CEO, you’re bound to make decisions not everyone agrees with—how do you handle those moments when you have to go against the grain or make an unpopular call?5. How do you balance short term targets or objectives with long term strategic goals?Alissa Holz is Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, RGA Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), for RGA Reinsurance Australia. Appointed to the role of CEO in April 2025, she has overall responsibility for the management of RGA’s operations in ANZ, including strategy, client engagement and financial results. With over 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry, Alissa brings a wealth of client experience and depth of market knowledge to her role with a proven track record of leadership within RGA. Alissa received her Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Mathematics from the Queensland University of Technology, is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).Jennifer Ng is a Principal Pricing Actuary at Gen Re with over 18 years of life insurance experience in the Australian and Asia. Jennifer has extensive experience in group and retail pricing and held roles at both local and regional levels in a global reinsurer, where she was responsible for leading pricing tenders, assessing profitability of existing portfolios and providing pricing oversight to local offices. Before joining Gen Re, Jennifer was a Director in Deloitte’s Consulting practice in Australia.Jennifer is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.Peter Whittigan is a qualified actuary with over 15 years’ experience in the general insurance industry. His career spans a diverse range of roles across reserving, capital management, and pricing, in both consulting and corporate environments. Peter brings deep expertise in both short-tail and long-tail insurance, covering personal and commercial lines. Currently at IAG, he is focused on the development and deployment of advanced machine learning models safely into live pricing systems.Find out more about the Guardian Actuarial Leadership Program: https://www.guardianactuarial.com.au/ga-leadership-program Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced actuary and leadership coach Lisa Staker shares how actuaries can build an effective professional network.In this interview, Lisa shares: - Her early struggles to build her professional network as an introvert, - Strategies to authentically build a successful network without feeling awkward, and- How networking has led to job offers and unexpected benefits in her career.Lisa Staker is an actuary, leadership coach, and founder of The Rebellious Coach. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, she built her career from school-leaver to Chief Actuary before shifting her focus to helping actuaries and other technical professionals take the next step in their careers. Known for her rebellious empathy and no-nonsense approach, Lisa blends mentoring and coaching to support those navigating promotions, role changes, and career crossroads. She’s passionate about challenging outdated norms and helping others lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose—without losing who they are in the process.- Find out more about how Lisa can help you: https://therebelliouscoach.co.uk/ - Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lisa-staker - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/julia-lessing Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced pricing actuary, author and founder of Price Writer, Jeremy Keating reflects about how his experience of qualifying as an actuary wasn’t as easy as he expected.In this interview, Jeremy shares: - Why he thinks we need to celebrate getting qualified differently,- How his transition from being a student to a qualified actuary was more difficult than expected, and- Practical strategies to thrive post-qualification.Jeremy Keating is the founder of Price Writer, a learning and development company for insurance pricing professionals. He qualified as an actuary in 2013, a proud milestone, though the shift from student to qualified actuary proved more challenging than expected. Drawing on his experience in pricing, he wrote a book that’s helped many grow their careers and navigate this field. The Price Writer program supports over 190 members, including teams from some of the largest insurance companies. Their vision is to grow this to 1,000 members and make pricing professionals the most respected leaders in insurance-          Contact Jeremy: https://pricewriters.com/-          Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-keating/ -          Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/julia-lessing Read Jeremy's book Price Writer: The Nine-Step Method to Becoming a Highly Successful General Insurance Pricing Leader. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Experienced pricing actuary and structured communication expert Claire Wang shares how actuaries can thrive in the AI era.In this interview, Claire shares: - How actuaries can transition from technical roles to strategic leadership by shifting focus from outputs to outcomes, - Why AI presents an opportunity rather than a threat for actuaries who understand its limitations and can build stakeholder trust, and - Practical strategies for actuaries to thrive in the AI era.Claire Wang is a problem-solving and structured communication expert with 20 years of experience in Pricing, spanning banking, FinTech, telecommunications, and insurance.She specializes in pricing transformation in B2C markets and delivers structured communication workshops for corporate leaders. Claire believes that the biggest pricing challenge isn’t just setting the right price—it’s defining the right problem to solve.Her mission is to help executives cut through complexity, ask better questions, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.When she’s not decoding complex pricing challenges, you’ll find her unplugging completely—either on a yoga mat or deep in the mountains.- Find out how Claire can help you: https://www.claire-wang.com/- Connect with Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-wang/ - Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/julia-lessing  Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!In this interview, Bill Marella (CEO ACTEX Learning) and Julia Lessing (Author of Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager's Toolkit) discuss the power of communication and leadership skills in helping actuaries build great careers. In this interview, Bill asks Julia:What inspired you to write Aspiring Actuarial Leaders?Many actuaries are highly technical. What are the biggest challenges they face when moving into leadership roles?Do you believe actuarial education adequately prepares professionals for management? Why or why not?With AI and automation changing the profession, how do leadership skills help actuaries stay relevant? Can you share any real-world examples of actuaries who successfully transitioned into leadership roles by developing soft skills? Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!After graduating with high honors from the Wharton School of Business, Linley pursued a successful actuarial career.  She quit to raise her 6 children for 19 years in 4 countries.  During this time she worked part-time as a college professor in China and the US, teaching China’s first actuarial college courses, and also earned a master of music degree in viola performance from Ball State University.Linley returned to her profession and in 5 years was promoted to full vice president.  She currently works as an actuary for Unum Group in Voluntary Benefits.  Linley has volunteered with the Society of Actuaries’ Education and Examination Committee since 1990.  She speaks 4 languages and is also an international best-selling author.  In this interview, Linley shares:  Her experience taking a 19 year career break to raise her six children and successfully returning to her actuarial career, How skills she learned raising a family helped her get promoted, and Her suggested steps and advice for those wanting to take a career break. Connect with Linley on LinkedIn.Read Linley’s books:Don’t Be Afraid to Do What You Really Want to Do – Reach All Your Life Dreams.Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming WorldsBetrayed, Not Trashed (coming in 2025) Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Qualified actuary, motor pricing manager and author Catrin Townsend reflects on the importance of being able to explain what you do as an actuary to others, and how she does this. In this interview, Catrin shares: The importance of being able to describe what you do at work,How she describes what she does as an actuary, andA simple process anyone can follow to discover their own mission statement.Connect with Catrin on LinkedIn.Read Catrin’s book, “A Risky Business: An Actuary’s Guide to Quantifying and Managing Risk in Society” Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Ben qualified as an actuary through the Actuaries Institute of Australia and is also certified as an actuary through the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) in the UK. In Australia, he has worked in actuarial consulting across long tail reserving and pricing, perils modelling and government projects. He currently works in the London market for a Lloyds syndicate as a reserving actuary. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys keeping active and travelling.Read more about the Ambassador Program.Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Elaine Collins, BSc(Hons), MEc, FIAA, FAICD, is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She spent 10+ years in Appointed Actuary roles, firstly with KPMG, then as Partner of Deloitte. Subsequently, Elaine has spent 10+ years a Non-Executive Director, ten years on the Board of Zurich Insurance, nine years as a Board Member of the ARPC and currently holds three Boards roles: RACV, ANZLMI and Ivory Insurance. Throughout this time, she chaired Board Committees, including Risk, Audit, Customer and Pricing. Elaine has 25+ years’ insurance industry experience with expertise in capital efficiency, strategic risk and effective governance within organisations. She enhances linkages between the industry and academia in her role as a Professor of Practice in the School of Risk & Actuarial with the UNSW Business School. Elaine has served on several Institute Committees, including the GIPC and the Professional Practice Committee. In this interview, Elaine shares: How she sees actuaries adding value in the boardroom; Current topics organisations are facing and how she sees actuaries adding value; Why collegiality is critical for boards to be effective; Tips for actuaries wanting to contribute in the boardroom; and How she creates balance in her life, while enjoying a diverse and challenging career. Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn.Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Holly Briffa is an experienced consultant and actuary with a passion for transforming data into strategic insights that drive meaningful change. With a background in actuarial science and a career that includes roles at Ernst & Young (EY) and Strategic Project Partners (SPP), Holly specialises in using data analytics to inform decision-making, optimise outcomes, and shape strategies for government, public sector, and corporate clients. Throughout her career, Holly has led a range of high-impact projects, from developing forecasting tools for government departments to enhancing operational models for not-for-profit organisations. Her work blends analytical precision with strategic vision, empowering stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions that deliver results. Recognising the pivotal role strategy consulting played in shaping her career, Holly values how this experience has sharpened her problem-solving abilities and broadened her approach to tackling complex challenges. She is eager to share these insights, believing that strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making can benefit professionals in all industries.In this interview, Holly shares:What she learned from strategy consulting;How she uses data to help government and private sector clients optimise outcomes and shape strategies;Examples of strategy consulting frameworks that can be helpful for actuaries; andWhy she decided to return to study to pursue her Fellowship exams.Read Holly’s article on the Double Diamond framework.Connect with Holly on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Dominic is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Originally from Jamaica with 13 years of experience in property & casualty insurance and software presales, he is now a Senior Solutions Advisor at SAS where he has been for the last 3 years. In addition to his actuarial career, he is one of the most dynamic content creators in the profession, proficient in 16 different content forms. He is also a professional keynote speaker, focused on maximizing impact and value for quantitative professionals on a global scale. Finally, Dominic lives in Los Angeles, California with his girlfriend, two dogs Ziggie and Kent, and enjoys watching European football whenever possible. In this interview, Dominic shares: His personal mission as an actuary and content creator, Common pitfalls actuaries make when creating content or using social media, and Advice for actuaries wanting to build their personal brands using social media. Visit the Maverick Actuary Website: Your Home For Actuarial Science, Risk Management, And Analytics.Listen to Live With The Maverick Podcast.Connect with Dominic on LinkedIn.Find Dominic on Instagram.Watch Dominic’s talk “Beyond Insurance - Actuarial Science TED-style Talk”. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Sidd is a qualified actuary with the Institute of Actuaries in Australia. He has worked across general insurance pricing, actuarial consulting and currently working at the Australian Government Actuary (AGA). He is working on the Priority Investment Approach, which uses actuarial analysis to estimate Australia’s future lifetime welfare costs for the current population. Originally from India, Sidd moved to Australia at the age of 13. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys hiking, trekking, and running. In this interview, Sidd shares:  Why he became an actuary, His experience of qualifying during the transition to the new education program, Useful strategies for maintaining good mental health, How he uses his actuarial superpowers to make a difference in the world, and His advice for actuaries pursuing Fellowship. Read Sidd’s Under the Spotlight article here.Connect with Sidd on LinkedIn.Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Victor Bajanov is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and a seasoned analytics leader with nearly two decades of experience in data science. Currently serving as Executive of Product Analytics and Generative AI Centre of Excellence at Quantium, Victor has a diverse background spanning consulting and product development across industries including financial services, retail, and telecommunications. Victor is a member of the Data Science Practice Committee and has served as an expert witness for the Federal Court of Australia. With his blend of actuarial knowledge and cutting-edge data science skills, Victor brings valuable insights to the intersection of traditional actuarial work and modern analytics. In this interview, Victor shares:  Why analogies are so powerful, Examples of powerful analogies in business, and His process, and tips, for generating powerful analogies. Connect with Victor on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Mike has over 30 years’ experience in life insurance, wealth management, pensions and educating actuaries. Whilst in Europe, he led a team of over 30 actuaries covering product design, reserving, embedded value profit reporting and built up a risk management function for a large, multi-national insurer.  Mike set up the Part II program at Monash university and is now leading all aspects of the Institute’s education activities. In this interview, Mike shares his: - career journey in becoming an actuary and now an educator,- reflections on the ‘new’ Education program in Australia, and- tips for actuaries wanting to future-proof their careers beyond qualification.Connect with Mike on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Maathu Ranjan is an actuary with experience in the disability, health and general insurance sectors. She is also an award-winning researcher and a recognised leader in the Australian Public Service, having been awarded the prestigious Sir Roland Wilson scholarship to conduct doctoral research at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy. Prior to this, Maathu was a Senior Actuary at the National Disability Insurance Agency, leading the Actuarial Strategic Initiatives team to evaluate key priorities in strategic policy and service delivery. Maathu is an advocate for the use of rigorous evidence and the actuarial skillset to inform decisions and policy design. She has a keen interest in social policy, with her doctoral research focusing on the impact of government support systems on autism and younger onset disability relating to neurodevelopmental conditions. In this interview, Maathu shares:  How she built her reputation as a successful actuary and researcher in social policy, What she’s found in her research into childhood autism prevalence in Australia,  The evolving data landscape in Australian social services, and Her tips for actuaries wanting to contribute to social policyConnect with Maathu on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Colin Priest is an actuary/data scientist/marketer/communicator/educator who has held several CEO and general management roles, where he has championed data-driven initiatives in financial services, healthcare, security, oil and gas, government, and marketing. With a passion for how humans and AIs can work together, Colin has contributed to Singapore Government projects on AI ethics, AI governance, and the future of work. Colin strongly supports the science of healthcare and does pro bono work for cancer research.In this interview, Colin shares:  What mistakes actuaries commonly make when communicating results, Why getting to know your audience and what matters to them is key to building trust, and How to use more than just data to build C-Suite trust in AI. Connect with Colin on LinkedInWatch: The Behavioural Science of AI Governance – ICA2023Watch: How to Build C-Suite Trust in AI Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Jeff is the founder of The Actuarial Nexus, an online platform specializing in preliminary SOA exams. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and was employed as a Medicaid pricing actuary from 2012 through 2022.  In March 2022, Jeff left the traditional career path to pursue his passion for technology, coding and education, eventually building The Actuarial Nexus. He has implemented several generative AI features on the platform, with the goal of making generative AI a viable tool for actuarial exam preparation. He routinely uses generative AI for coding, creating course material, and writing practice questions/solutions.  Jeff is also a budding content creator, having started a YouTube channel in 2023. He plans to upload more AI-related content in the future. In this interview, Jeff shares: How his online learning platform uses AI to help students prepare for actuarial exams, How educators can use new approaches in teaching actuarial studies, and How we can work together in an AI world so students can learn to use AI and still uphold academic integrity.  Jeff Yang on YouTube.The Actuarial Nexus.Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Jared is passionate about artificial intelligence and its potential to transform ways of working. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, with a career spanning two decades within the Life Insurance industry. He is currently the Head of Actuarial Systems, Data, and Process Optimization at AIA. His focus is on harnessing AI to boost company-wide productivity and empowering actuaries to be at the forefront of responsible AI implementation. Jared also recently delivered an innovative presentation at the Australian Actuaries Summit titled ‘The Artificial Actuary.’  In this presentation, he showcased how AI models can be transformed into artificial actuaries. Through an insurance repricing example, Jared demonstrated how artificial actuaries can leverage tools like projection models and collaborate to tackle more complex tasks.  In this interview, Jared shares: An illustration of how teams of artificial actuaries can perform actuarial work, The key skills human actuaries need to learn to thrive in an AI world,  How human leaders will need to change as society embraces AI, and Why human actuaries should be at the forefront of AI adoption within our organisations.Connect with Jared on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Win-Li Toh is a principal at actuarial and analytics consultancy Taylor Fry, and Senior Vice President of the Actuaries Institute of Australia. From her childhood in a small mining town in Malaysia to an international career spanning more than 25 years, Win-Li’s diverse experiences have indelibly shaped her approach to life and work.  With a strong focus on collaboration, fresh perspectives in problem solving and advocacy for young people, Win-Li is a guiding force in the insurance industry. She brings deep understanding as a trusted advisor to self-insurers as well as publicly underwritten schemes, Appointed Actuary to several Australian and New Zealand insurers, and mentor to many. Win-Li was named 2023 Insurance Leader of the Year, and is regularly approached for her commentary on critical issues affecting insurers and the community, including customer fairness, affordability and cyber vulnerabilities. She was lead author on the Actuaries Institute cyber green paper, exploring the challenges and opportunities for decision-makers in creating a vibrant, sustainable cyber insurance market. She believes finding common purpose is key, and that actuaries are uniquely placed to bring multiple voices together to give clear insight into the shades of grey in situations towards finding pragmatic, workable solutions. In this interview, Win-Li shares:  Insights from living, studying and working across different cultures, How both culture and curriculum impact maths ability, What speaking several languages has taught her about communication, and Why enjoying the journey, in your actuarial career and in life, is so important. Connect with Win-Li on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Naomi Edwards is a highly experienced chair and non-executive director who is also a proud actuary.  She is passionate about the contribution that people with a STEM background can make to boards, public policy and society.  She currently sits on the boards of TAL, Propel Funeral Partners and Yarra Funds Management.  She is the Chair-elect of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was the 2023 President of the Actuaries Institute.   She was also the Chair of industry super fund Spirit Super for over a decade. As an executive actuary, Naomi focused on life insurance M&A, Prophet and Margin on Services (yes, she is that old!).  She was a director of Trowbridge Consulting and a partner at Deloitte, where she ran the Australian Financial Services Industry Group across all professional disciplines. In her spare time Naomi has been a stand up comedian, an extreme bushwalker and a rock-climber. In this interview, Naomi shares: What she learned from her experience as a stand-up comic, Her highlight serving as the Actuaries Institute President in 2023, How people with a STEM background can make a contribution to boards, public policy and society, How organisations can be more inclusive, particularly for neurodivergent employees, and Her top tips for actuaries wanting to make a difference. Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Ilan Leas is a founder of an actuarial start-up, retender. He has worked in Australia, the UK and South Africa and is a former Chair of the Life Insurance and Wealth Management Practice Committee at the Actuaries Institute. He has a real passion for encouraging others to try the start-up path, at least once, and has written a book about all the things you shouldn’t do if going on this journey.In this interview, Ilan shares: How he found the courage to leave stable employment to build a business;What supports he found helpful on his start-up journey, andHis advice for actuaries considering leaving employment to start a business. Find out more about Ilan and retenderConnect with Ilan on LinkedIn Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Andrew is currently a Director at Taylor Fry and has 14 years’ experience as an actuary in Australia and overseas, advising numerous injury schemes, insurers and government clients in the health and social sectors. He specialises in using advanced analytics to help his clients make better policy, pricing and operational decisions. Andrew has developed social investment simulation models to help governments understand how people interact with their services, and ultimately to help them evaluate and implement better policies for vulnerable people. Andrew has also advised on reserving and pricing for government schemes and private insurers, particularly in workers compensation and builders warranty.  Beyond his day job, Andrew is also a three-time Microsoft Excel World Champion and was the Financial Modelling World Champion in 2019. In this interview, Andrew shares: How he has developed his world-class Excel skills,  How he used data for good in general insurance, and  How he uses advanced analytics to derive insights for governments. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Dr Jananie William (FIAA, PhD) wears many hats: she is an academic at the ANU, a Research Affiliate with the Global Institute of Women's Leadership (ANU) and Advisor to The Social Outcomes Lab. She worked as an actuary in general insurance before transitioning into her current roles. Jananie now spends her time educating new generations of actuaries while researching and consulting on matters relating to public health and public policy, with a focus on issues that adversely affect women’s health and economic security across their lifetime.In this interview Jananie shares: Her actuarial career path to date,Her views on “imposter syndrome” and why people can experience this, Her tips for people building their confidence as presenters, Her tips for people building their confidence speaking in meetings and delegating tasks, and Her advice for actuaries stepping into their first management roles.Connect with Jananie on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Shivani Juneja is an experienced actuary who has worked in life insurance for over 10 years. She has worked across valuations, pricing, actuarial systems, pricing review, supporting appointed actuary CPS 320 advice and is currently working in a project-based role within the reinsurance and capital space. Shivani was born and raised in India, where she started her actuarial studies. She then moved to Australia where she completed her fellowship exams. Shivani is married and is a mum to two beautiful boys.In this interview, Shivani shares:How moving from India to Australia taught her valuable leadership skills,What she learned about leadership from working across a range of actuarial functions, andWhat she sees as key characteristics of effective people leaders.Connect with Shivani on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Emma Vitz is a consultant working in general insurance pricing, natural perils and climate risk at Finity Consulting. Originally from New Zealand, Emma studied Psychology and Statistics before pivoting into an actuarial career. She has a strong interest in communicating complex topics in an interesting and accessible way for a broad range of audiences. Following on from the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, Emma appeared on live TV and radio to discuss the impact that the largest non-earthquake disaster would have on insurance affordability and availability. She has also written data journalism pieces on everything from housing to healthcare and truancy. Her data visualisations have been presented to the New Zealand Housing Minister on live television and viewed hundreds of thousands of times online. Emma has also presented at a variety of conferences in New Zealand, Australia and in international forums.  In this interview, Emma shares: Her unconventional path into actuarial science,Why she has spent so much time focusing on communication skills, and what other actuaries could gain from developing similar skills, andHow she applies actuarial thinking to her career more broadly Connect with Emma on LinkedIn.More of Emma's work:Articles: The SpinoffArticle: Climate change and insurance: Weighing up the riskInterview: Emma Vitz: How Cyclone Gabrielle will affect insurance industry | Q+A 2023Article: Insurance retreat: Homeowners in flood-prone areas abandoned and facing riskRead Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Jon is a Data Science Actuary who has designed and delivered successful AI initiatives across all areas of insurance and banking, including pricing, customer personalisation, claims operations, web and mobile app development, and intelligent automation.  Jon believes actuaries have an integral role in managing the responsible use of AI in society. To this end, he has actively participated across all aspects of the Actuaries Institute’s data science strategy, including education, events, and public policy submissions.  Jon is a regular speaker in data conferences and podcasts, a Councillor of the Actuaries Institute, and in 2022 he was recognised as one of the Top 10 Analytics Leaders in Australia. In this interview, Jon shares:  How he uses his actuarial superpowers to help insurers better serve their customers, Whether he thinks AI will take our jobs, and What actuaries can do now to future-proof their careers.  Connect with Jon on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Kelly is currently a Senior Actuarial Consultant at WorkSafe Victoria, providing internal consultancy support to the scheme. She started her career as an actuarial analyst in workers' compensation at Return to Work South Australia. She then worked as a Senior Manager at PwC, specialising in working with accident compensation schemes and government insurance authorities for 10 years.  She was born and raised in Malaysia, and currently lives in Melbourne with her family. Outside of work, she loves watching her 3-year old son grow into a cheeky and curious little human (and tries to bake/cook/read whenever she can)! She is also an active volunteer with the Actuaries Institute. In this interview, Kelly shares: Her challenges in starting her actuarial career as an international students, Her experience of combining work and parenthood without local family support or childcare (hello, Covid lockdowns!),  How she made time to complete the GA Leadership Program while working full-time and parenting her young son, How taking an alternative career path has come with unexpected benefits, and What she’s learned from combining parenthood with her actuarial career. Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn.Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Charlie is a Senior Valuation Actuary from SCOR Reinsurance APAC L&H Reserving, located in Singapore. His role primarily involves reviewing and supporting APAC local valuation teams in Group reporting activities, including IFRS17 and Solvency-II reporting, experience analysis, Prophet modelling, internal retrocessions, and process enhancements. Currently he is working closely with Korea valuation team to support their Group reporting stream. In 2022, Charlie relocated to Singapore with his young family, thanks to SCOR’s internal mobility, allowing him to transition from ANZ valuation team. Prior to SCOR, Charlie worked in reporting roles for direct life insurers, including economic valuation, regulatory capital, and Prophet modelling. In this interview, Charlie shares: His experience moving from China to Australia as a teenager,  His recent experience moving his young family to Singapore for work, What he’s learned working as a leader with new teams across different countries, Lessons about great leadership he’s learned from working with his own managers, How he learned the skills he needed to be effective in a leadership role, and  His top tip for actuaries wanting to build their skills to take on leadership roles. Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!Adam Butt is the Head of Actuarial Studies at Australian National University.  Prior to commencing his career in academia in 2005, he worked as a superannuation consultant at Aon Consulting.  Adam’s research interests focus on superannuation and personal financial decision making, and actuarial education.  Adam’s research has been published in a number of top-ranked journals including Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Annals of Actuarial Science, The Economic Record, and Journal of Economic Behaviour & Organisation.  He is passionate about actuarial education and ensuring that graduates are prepared not just with a technical education, but also with knowledge of themselves and an orientation to lifelong learning. In this interview, Adam shares: Why he chose to become a university lecturer after qualifying, His philosophy on teaching and education, The most valuable skills actuarial students can learn at university and elsewhere, How to improve gender and other representation in actuarial student cohorts.Connect with Adam on LinkedIn. Read Julia’s leadership development books written especially for actuaries:For new and aspiring managers: "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"For new and aspiring senior leaders: "Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries"We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.