Under the Spotlight – Andy White
Title… Group Head of Capital Modelling
Organisation… QBE
Summarise yourself in one sentence… A terrible golfer who still enjoys a walk in the park
My interesting/quirky hobbies… I gave heliskiing a go last year, and it was the most terrifying experience of my life, mainly because my mate told the guide that we were advanced powder skiers (and I’m not!)
My favourite energetic pursuit… Trying (and failing) to keep up with my girlfriend at ocean swimming (being English is an unfair disadvantage)
The sport I most like to watch… Football, the proper one, i.e. the one you play with your feet! That said I’m an Everton fan so I don’t normally enjoy watching it!
The last book I read (and when)… The Diceman, best book I’ve read in years
My favourite artist/album/film… Team America
The person I’d most like to cook for… Myself, preferably a spicy Indian curry
I’m most passionate about… Everton FC (unfortunately)
What gets my goat… Slow walkers, especially when they zigzag and you can’t get past them
I’d like to be brave enough to… Roll a die and do what it tells me
In my life I’m planning to change… My socks more often
Not many people know this but I… Once worked in Africa with baboons (good working in the insurance industry!)
Four words that sum me up… Nil satis nisi optimum
What I wanted to be when I grew up… A professional footballer, even though I was useless I always figured I might get better. Given I’m now past the retirement age of most footballers I might have to accept that I’m stuck being an actuary!
Why and how I became an actuary… My dad knew someone who was an actuary and earned lots of money, I liked the sound of that
Where I studied to become an actuary and qualifications obtained… I did a physics degree (well actually I did lots of electives in Spanish, philosophy, business studies, and anything else easier than physics) at Warwick University and then did the actuarial exams while working
My work history… I started at a consultancy in London but really wanted to move to Australia so moved to the London office of QBE. When they offered me a six month secondment to Sydney that took approximately two seconds to decide on, and that was seven years ago
What I find most interesting about my current role… Using my brain every day, I’d get bored quickly if I was just turning the handle
My role’s greatest challenges… Running meetings with five different time zones and keeping everyone from falling asleep
Who has been the biggest influence on my career (and why)… My dad, from a young age he always supported and encouraged me
My proudest career achievement to date is… Managing to extend my six month secondment to Sydney to over seven years (and counting)
10 years from now, I will be… Finally able to keep up with my girlfriend at ocean swimming (hopefully)
The most valuable skill an actuary can possess is… The ability to spout impenetrable jargon to fend off questions you don’t know the answer to
If I were President of the Institute, one thing I would improve is… The next GI seminar would be back on the Gold Coast
At least once in their life, every actuary should… Live in another country
My best advice for younger actuaries… Boundless enthusiasm is more important than the ability to solve a partial differential equation
If I could travel back in time I would… Win a lot of money gambling
If I win the lottery, I would… Take a big group of mates to the Oktoberfest
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