Mon 26 Jun 2023, 08:30 -
The IFoA Conference is the IFoA’s annual flagship cross-practice event. We’re delighted to offer this as an online conference as well as in person.
Joining us online means you’ll have the choice to listen to five plenaries and five workshops and submit questions to the speakers.
Plenary speakers confirmed so far include Stuart McDonald MBE, co-chair of the Covid-19 Actuaries Response Group; Baroness Camilla Cavendish, former head of the Number 10 Policy Unit, and Chris Curry, Director, Pensions Policy Institute and Principal of the Pensions Dashboard Programme.
Take a look at the online schedule to see the complete range of sessions we have lined up over the two days.
Don’t miss out. Book your online ticket by 5 May to take advantage of our early bird booking offer.
| Activity | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Plenary 1 | 09:30 - 10:30 | Navigating the permacrisis: the actuarial profession’s role in weathering the storm Read more |
Plenary 1: Navigating the permacrisis: the actuarial profession’s role in weathering the storm Permacrisis. noun. ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity, especially one resulting from a series of catastrophic events’. The Collins Dictionary 2022 Word of the Year perfectly captures the multiple crises of the last few years, from the war in Ukraine, significant global economic and political turmoil, and the resulting cost-of-living crisis to increasingly regular extreme weather events and growing social inequality, to name but a few. This panel will bring together experts from different fields to give their views on the many threats facing society and how the profession is rising to the challenge to tackle the numerous issues at hand. How can actuaries continue to step up and steer their organisations through these choppy waters? What are the threats and opportunities facing the profession in doing so? And is it all doom and gloom or is there light at the end of the tunnel? Speakers confirmed so far: Greg Thwaites, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation; Baroness Camilla Cavendish, former Head of the No 10 Policy Unit. | ||
| Workshop A7 – Multi-disciplinary | 11:10 - 12:00 | Actuaries are human too – managing behavioural risks in expert judgement Read more |
Workshop A7: Actuaries are human too – managing behavioural risks in expert judgement Expert judgement underpins all aspects of actuarial work, from data gathering through to final reporting. In this session the speakers will explore how behavioural biases and our own natural attitudes and emotional response to risk can affect our judgement, individually and in groups. The speakers will draw on case studies from actuarial disciplines including pensions, risk and insurance, present feedback from industry surveys on behavioural bias, discuss findings from focus groups, and reflect on how we can reduce the influence of bias in actuarial work. Speakers: Edward Harrison and Zoe Burdo, LCP On the blogEdward and Zoe preview their presentation in this blog piece: Actuaries are human too: managing behavioural risks in expert judgement | ||
| Workshop B7 – Multi-disciplinary | 12:10 - 13:00 | The wider influence of actuaries Read more |
Workshop B7: The wider influence of actuaries Ever wondered how actuaries are influencing the world, right this minute? In this panel we will host panellists from various ‘non-traditional’ areas, for example medicine, manufacturing, technology, private equity, etc. The panellists will share their unique contributions as actuaries to these areas and provide insights into the role of actuaries in the wider world in the future. Speakers: Sian Walker and Ed Bujok-Stone, EY | ||
| Plenary 2 | 14:10 - 15:10 | Life after Covid: how will it impact our work and the skills we need? Read more |
Plenary 2: Life after Covid: how will it impact our work and the skills we need? What skills did actuaries use to have a big impact on the pandemic? What is the actual impact of the pandemic on NHS waiting lists and the knock-on impact on health and insurance? This plenary session will cover these questions as well as focusing on how the work during Covid could be built on for the future, for instance working with other professions, and what communication was most effective. Finally, this session will address future considerations around NHS funding, excess death drivers, health inequalities and the impact of these on pensions, life, and health and care practice areas. Speaker: Stuart McDonald MBE | ||
| Workshop C3 – Multi-disciplinary | 15:50 - 16:40 | From bias to black boxes: understanding and managing the risks of AI – an actuarial perspective Read more |
Workshop C3: From bias to black boxes: understanding and managing the risks of AI – an actuarial perspective We will explore key issues and challenges in AI risk management from an actuarial perspective, based on discussions and outcomes from a transregional industry focus group. We will define the gaps and challenges faced when it comes to implementing and utilising modern modelling techniques from a risk-perspective, in the context of regulation, and discuss best-practice guidelines:
Speakers: Valerie du Preez, Dupro Advisory Actuartech; Richard Galbraith, Canada Life On the blogValerie and Richard preview their presentation in this blog piece: From bias to black boxes: understanding and managing the risks of AI from an actuarial perspective | ||
| Activity | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| IFoA Annual General Meeting 2023 | 09:00 - 10:00 | We are holding a hybrid AGM this year Read more |
The AGM is for members only. You can confirm your attendance at the AGM when booking for the IFoA Conference 2023. If you would like to attend separately without joining the conference, learn more and book your place at Annual General Meeting 2023. | ||
| Welcome to day two and Presidential Address | 10:30 - 11:30 | Join newly inaugurated IFoA President Kalpana Shah for her Presidential Address. Read more |
You can confirm your attendance at the Presidential Address when booking for the IFoA Conference 2023. If you would like to attend separately without joining the conference, learn more and book your place at IFoA Presidential Address 2023. | ||
| Plenary 3 | 11:35 - 12:35 | Delivering the IFoA DEI strategy: making our profession diverse, equitable and inclusive for everyone Read more |
Plenary 3: Delivering the IFoA DEI strategy: making our profession diverse, equitable and inclusive for everyone As an international, multicultural membership organisation with more than 32,000 members in over 110 countries, the IFoA recognises, values and embraces the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion. Through its DEI strategy published in 2022, the IFoA aims to champion and embody the benefits of a globally diverse and inclusive profession for all – and encourage members to think about these issues in both their work and their workplace. This plenary will bring together experts from across the industry to give updates on initiatives spanning the DEI agenda, from encouraging social mobility across the financial services sector to improved understanding of access and inclusion requirements for disabled and vulnerable consumers. The session will also provide attendees with updates on the IFoA’s progress on implementing the DEI strategy since its publication. Speakers: Peter Hamilton, government disability and access ambassador for the insurance sector; Maz Bown, Aviva; Vincent Keaveny, Progress Together; Stephen Mann, CEO of the IFoA. | ||
| Workshop D6 – Sustainability | 13:40 - 14:30 | Earth Jenga – can actuaries learn to play by new rules? Read more |
Workshop D6: Earth Jenga – can actuaries learn to play by new rules? Introducing the concept of Earth Jenga – a twist on Jenga in which we change the rules by painting the blocks blue and green to represent our natural resources. As we extract them to put on the top of the tower, they become yellow, representing our extractive economy. The trick is to keep the tower stable while building the economy. This talk covers how to do that and looks at opportunities for actuaries as we move into the sustainability era. Speaker: Sandy Trust, M&G plc; Vian Sharif, NatureAlpha | ||
| Plenary 4 | 14:40 - 15:30 | The role of actuaries in the financial services revolution Read more |
Plenary 4: The role of actuaries in the financial services revolution Speakers: Helen White, CityUK; Ben Westerman, The Aldersgate Group | ||
| Workshop E1 – Finance and investment | Risk management | 16:00 - 16:50 | LDI another day Read more |
Workshop E1: LDI another day Liability Driven Investment (LDI) has become more prominent than ever as a topic. Too frequently, the descriptions of risks and recent events overlook important details, which we aim to explore:
Speaker: Michael O'Connor, NatWest Markets | ||
| Plenary 5 | 17:00 - 18:00 | Pensions adequacy: a ticking timebomb or ‘keep calm and carry on’? Read more |
Plenary 5: Pensions adequacy: a ticking timebomb or ‘keep calm and carry on’? Supporting savers to ensure they can retire in comfort with an adequate pension has been a long-standing priority for the IFoA and its members. Automatic enrolment (AE) has brought millions of people into pension saving, but are policymakers resting on their laurels and becoming complacent about its impact on savings levels? Do we need an injection of fresh ideas to build on the successes of AE to ensure savings rates keep up with expectations? Will the savers of today have enough for the retirement of tomorrow? Who is being left behind? What more can be done to support higher levels of saving and engagement with pensions? Hear from our panel of industry experts on how we can build a new consensus on pensions adequacy and ensure all can retire in dignity. Speakers confirmed so far: Chris Curry, Director, Pensions Policy Institute and Principal of the Pensions Dashboard Programme; Hetty Hughes, Manager, Long Term Savings Policy, ABI; Heidi Karjalainen, Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies; Leah Evans, Associate Partner and Head of Pensions Risk Transfer, EY Parthenon Pensions Team; Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair – Work and Pensions Select Committee | ||
Maz is Chief Risk Officer for Aviva Insurance Limited (AIL), across UK General Insurance and Aviva Health UK. She is responsible for the strategic and functional leadership of the AIL Risk Team, ensuring effective implementation of Aviva’s risk strategy and core risk frameworks across the business and in material business decision-making, and providing objective oversight and assurance to the board and other key stakeholders. Maz is also the global risk sponsor and leader of Aviva’s ‘Risky Women’ network, seeking to strengthen the engagement, enablement, shared career experiences and strategies of Aviva’s female risk and audit professionals.
In 2017 Maz was named Actuarial Post’s Actuary of the Year.
Camilla Cavendish is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster.
Her career has spanned both the private and public sectors. She was Head of the Prime Minister’s Downing Street Policy Unit under David Cameron and has been a Non-Executive Director of the NHS regulator CQC and CEO of a pioneering public-private regeneration partnership. During the 2020 pandemic, Camilla became a temporary adviser to the Secretary of State for Health and authored a set of recommendations into social care reform. She sits in the House of Lords as a crossbench peer.
Director of the Pensions Policy Institute
Chris originally joined the Pensions Policy Institute in 2002 as Research Director, where he managed the research programme and wrote and presented many research reports. These reports analysed pensions (including state, private, and public sector), pension reforms, and other provision for retirement income.
In 2013 Chris became Director of the PPI where he has overall strategic responsibility for the management and operation of the institute. In 2019, he was appointed Principal of the Pensions Dashboard Programme at the Money and Pensions Service. This is on a part-time basis alongside his role at the PPI.
Chris was appointed as one of the three co-chairs for the 2017 Department of Work and Pensions automatic enrolment review. The review considered the success of automatic enrolment and explored ways that the policy could be further developed. Chris led on providing advice on the theme of contribution. He was also a member of the Joint Expert Panel that examined the valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme in 2018 and 2019. Chris is an Honorary Fellow of the IFoA.
Leah is the outgoing Chair of the Pensions Board of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and a member of the CMI Executive Committee.
Leah is an Associate Partner and Head of Pensions Risk Transfer in the EY Parthenon Pensions Team. Leah specialises in strategic pensions risk management advice to corporates and trustees, including global pension risk management for multinationals.
Peter has a background in marketing, and has responsibility for Zurich’s engagement in Life industry issues. He is involved in consumer and regulatory developments in the protection and broader financial services market, and chairs the ABI's Retail Protection Committee and Long-term Care Working Party. Peter sits on BIBA’s Access to Insurance Committee, and in July 2021 was appointed Disability and Access Ambassador for the insurance industry, a post that reports to the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office.
Manager, Long Term Savings Policy, ABI
Hetty Hughes is a Manager in the Long Term Savings Team and is responsible for analysis of issues in the retirement market and responding to policy developments in this area. She joined the ABI in 2018 from Blick Rothenberg Limited, where she trained and qualified to become a Chartered Accountant for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, working predominantly in audit, specialising in DB and DC pension schemes. Hetty holds a first class honours degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Leeds.
Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Heidi is a Research Economist in the Retirement, Saving and Ageing sector. Her current work includes research on pensions and saving for retirement, with a focus on pension saving of the self-employed. Before joining the IFS, she worked in infrastructure financing.
Vincent is a Partner in the international business law firm, DLA Piper, where he advises on finance and debt capital markets transactions in the UK and Europe.
He was Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2021/22, having served as Sheriff of the City of London for the year 2018/19. As Lord Mayor, Vincent hosted the inaugural Net Zero Delivery Summit and led the Finance for Impact initiative. He co-chaired the HMT & BEIS sponsored Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce and is Chair of Progress Together, the financial services membership body promoting greater socio-economic diversity in the financial services industry.
Chief Executive of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
Partner, Head of Longevity and Demographic Insights, LCP
President of The Institute & Faculty of Actuaries
Matt has 30 years of experience working as an actuary in the life and general insurance industry. After a long career at Watson Wyatt, Matt joined Aviva in 2009 where he held the role of Group Chief Actuary until January 2022.
Matt’s responsibilities in this role covered all aspects of the Group’s actuarial methodology in respect of both Life and General Insurance. In addition, Matt led the development of data science and the embedding of climate risk within Aviva’s Risk management Framework. Matt plays an active role in the UK actuarial profession and was elected to the Council of the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) in 2016, before joining the Regulation Board in 2018.
More recently Matt has been closely involved in the profession’s response to climate change, the development of the IFoA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy.
Immediate Past President of the IFoA
Kalpana brings 30 years of business experience in the insurance and investment industry. She was longstanding Group Chief Actuary and Partner at Hiscox until 2016. She is now one of a handful of female Chairs in the insurance industry, a non-executive director of several organisations and a member of the Capacity Transfer Panel for Lloyd’s of London.
She is also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers and member of Court of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries. She has Chaired and contributed to committees for the IFoA, Bank of England, Lloyd's of London and the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kalpana headed the first voluntary team of actuaries helping the UK’s National Health Service with emergency analytics and planning.
Kalpana is a regular judge for the Women in Insurance Awards and a frequent speaker on insurance and diversity related topics. Over the years she has been recognised for her work by organisations including the Institute of Directors, Financial Times, Cranfield University, Insurance Insider and Brummell Magazine.
Greg is Research Director at the Resolution Foundation and also works part-time as an Associate Professor in the University of Nottingham’s School of Economics. Prior to this, he was Head of International Research at the Bank of England, and worked for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the Independent Commission on Banking (the Vickers Commission). He has research interests in the macroeconomics of demographic and structural change, firm-level data, macroeconomic policy, and inequality and distribution.
The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms is MP for East Ham and the Labour Party’s Faith Envoy. He was the Shadow Minister for Employment from 2010 to September 2015 and sat on the Exiting the European Union Select Committee.
He chairs the Work and Pensions Select Committee and is also the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
Stephen became an MP in 1994 and held several ministerial posts under the previous Labour government including Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Before entering parliament, Stephen worked in telecommunications for 15 years, first for Logica and then for Ovum. He managed Ovum’s telecommunications reports business until his election in 1994.
Stephen is also a member of the Ramblers Association and the former Chair of Christians on the Left.