Thu 09 Jul 2026 - Join us for an engaging mentoring evening designed to inspire, connect, and support actuaries at all stages of their careers. Led by the Women Actuaries Committee, the event will feature talks from experienced speakers who will share practical insights into building effective mentor and mentee relationships. Topics will include making the most of mentoring conversations, setting meaningful objectives, and navigating common challenges from both perspectives.
We encourage you to secure your place early and make the most of this opportunity for personal and professional development – spaces are limited, and we hope those who register will be able to fully commit to attending and participating in this valuable session.
As part of the programme, one of our speakers will lead an interactive, table based session, giving attendees the opportunity to actively engage with the themes discussed. This session will encourage reflection, discussion, and the sharing of experiences in a collaborative and supportive environment. Your presence and participation will help create a richer discussion for all involved.
The evening will conclude with dedicated networking time, allowing members to build meaningful connections and continue the conversation within the actuarial community. We kindly ask that if your plans change, you let us know in advance so we can offer your place to another member.
16:00 - 17:00: Registration and networking
17:00 - 17:10: Chair – Sophie Cunningham: Welcome / opening remarks
17:10 - 17:45: Speaker – Helena Ingram: Importance of mentoring and interactive mentoring exercise
17:45 - 18:00: AMP presentation (details TBC)
18:00 - 18:15: Mentor/mentee relationship example
18:15 - 18:30: Q&A and close
18:30 - 20:00: Close
Sophie Cunningham, FIA, is Group Reinsurance Director at Aviva, where she leads the placement of external treaty reinsurance for the Group’s general insurance businesses across the UK, Ireland and Canada, overseeing an annual ceded premium of approximately £700m. She is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries with over 18 years’ experience spanning life insurance, general insurance and reinsurance.
Sophie joined Aviva on the actuarial graduate scheme in the Life business in York, before moving to London to work in external reporting and subsequently holding a range of Group roles. In 2018, she was selected for Aviva’s Future Finance Talent Scheme, designed to accelerate high-potential leaders into senior roles.
Sophie is a working parent to two sons aged 10 and 8, has experience of working part-time, and is a keen runner, having completed the London Marathon earlier this year.
Jude Evans is a Client and Programme Partner at Moving Ahead, leading the design and delivery of a portfolio of cross-company mentoring programmes, including the Actuarial Mentoring Programme (AMP), delivered in partnership with the IFoA. Moving Ahead’s programmes focus on inclusive talent development, career progression and retention, underpinned by a practical, evidence-based approach to mentoring and DEI.
Her career spans the creative industries, wine trade, retail and the charity sector, bringing a broad, people-focused perspective to her work. Prior to Moving Ahead, she was Head of Partnerships at a charity delivering mentoring programmes for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. She is also a qualified executive and career coach.
Having experienced mentoring from both sides, Jude is a strong advocate for its impact. At Moving Ahead, she partners closely with employers, senior leaders and professional bodies to ensure mentoring drives meaningful individual growth while supporting lasting change across organisations and industries.
Helena is a consultant and executive coach who works with individuals and groups to unlock limiting beliefs, discover different perspectives, and fully understand the ‘why’ that drives actions, through an exploration of values, vision and purpose.
Her career encompasses over 30 years in pensions consultancy and people development, working at both large and small employers.
She has over a decade of experience in building and managing mentoring programmes, both in-house and cross-company.
Pragya Kanodia is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries with over 15 years of UK life insurance experience, specialising in Equity Release Mortgages, Solvency II, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Models and M&A. She combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership and commercial acumen.
Pragya is a passionate advocate for actuarial talent development, having mentored students through the IFoA and within her workplaces. Building on this commitment, she is currently establishing the London Institute of Actuarial Studies, a new venture dedicated to advancing high-quality actuarial education and professional development globally.
| Members | Book for free |
| Non-members | Book for free |