Wed 18 Mar 2026 - Building on the success of the inaugural 2025 event, the IFoA’s Big Pitch returns for its second year to identify the next major actuarial research topic in health and care. Last year’s three winning pitches are set to be published in the British Actuarial Journal (BAJ), and Vincent Bodnar’s proposal on Designing a new social care product linked to pensions sparked a social care survey co-led by the IFoA Social Care Working Party in partnership with YouGov.
This year, we feature four dynamic presentations from leading thinkers and practitioners on the evolving role of actuaries, from risk measurers to risk shapers, using prevention, behavioural science, and advanced analytics to improve health outcomes, financial sustainability, and insurer profitability.
Then, it’s your turn: a Q&A inviting attendees to challenge speakers with tough questions, followed by an audience vote to select the most compelling research idea.
Join us for this free event on 18 March 2026 at Staple Inn to hear four exciting new pitches tackling key challenges in health and care, and help shape the future of actuarial research.
The Health & Care Board would like to acknowledge that The Big Pitch has been made possible to run as a free event because of funding from the sessional research meetings budget.
Nicky Draper, Director of Life and Health Consulting at Crystallise, provides background on relevant medical research, connecting key topics, and offering valuable insights for members.
Four research presentations:
Networking and canapés: Continue the conversation in a relaxed, informal setting.
Register below to secure your place and help shape the future of health, care, and protection markets.
| Activity | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration and welcome refreshments | 13:00 - 13:20 | Registration and welcome refreshments |
| Welcome and opening remarks | 13:20 - 13:30 | Welcome and opening remarks Read more |
Introduction to the Big Pitch and overview of the day. Chair | ||
| Scene setting overview | 13:30 - 13:40 | Scene setting overview Read more |
Nicky Draper, Director of Life and Health Consulting at Crystallise, provides background on relevant medical research, connecting key topics, and offering valuable insights for members. | ||
| Presentation 1 | 13:40 - 14:10 | Behavioural economics for insurance nudges Read more |
Transforming prevention into a strategic, ROI-driven tool for insurers Speaker: Ankit Nanda, Optum | ||
| Presentation 2 | 14:10 - 14:40 | Financial sustainability of the UK public health sector Read more |
The case for long-term planning in an era of changing demographics Speaker: Paul Klumpes | ||
| Refreshment break | 14:40 - 15:00 | Refreshment break |
| Presentation 3 | 15:00 - 15:30 | Unlocking value: Actuarial insights into wellness and prevention programmes Read more |
New insights on preventative wellness and why it’s more than a passing trend. Speaker: Catherine Zhang | ||
| Presentation 4 | 15:30 - 16:00 | Breaking down the black box: why actuaries should embrace machine learning now Read more |
Achieving the best of both worlds with explainable machine learning [H&C: Data Techniques in H&C WP]. Speakers: Fiona Fan, Michiel Luteijn, Jacky Tam | ||
| Q&A and audience vote | 16:00 - 16:30 | Q&A and audience vote |
| Closing remarks | 16:30 - 16:40 | Closing remarks |
| Network and continue the conversation over canapés | 16:40 - 18:30 | Network and continue the conversation over canapés |
Nicky Draper is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and serves as a member of the Health and Care Board and the Lifelong Learning Committee. She is Director of Life & Health Consulting at Crystallise, where she works at the intersection of clinical evidence, insurance innovation, and longevity strategy.
With extensive experience in mortality, morbidity, and longevity risk, Nicky advises insurers, reinsurers, and pension actuaries on product development, underwriting, and risk modelling. Her background includes a long career in the UK National Health Service, spanning intensive care and public health.
Nicky has chaired and contributed to several IFoA working parties, including those on diabetes, antimicrobial resistance, and the COVID-19 Actuarial Response Group. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has authored thought leadership pieces on public health and actuarial implications, including the IFoA’s “Think” series.
| Members | Book for free |
| Non-members | Book for free |
Staple Inn
1-3 Staple Inn Hall
High Holborn
London
WC1V 7QH