Presidential Asia Tour 2023: Strengthening Bonds and Inspiring Change

My journey as President of the Actuaries Institute continues with the honour of touring Asia.

I had the pleasure of visiting Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong from 14 to 18 August, with Institute CEO Elayne Grace and Kitty Chan, Liaison Manager Asia. With the goal of fostering collaboration and sharing the Institute’s vision for the future, this tour allowed us to connect with esteemed leaders, executives, and members of local actuarial associations. I am thrilled to share the highlights of this remarkable journey and the meaningful interactions that took place during our time together.

Unifying the Actuarial Community

This was the first time in four years that a president has been able to visit the region due to the pandemic – so we made sure we made the most of it! During the tour, I was delighted to present our new brand and share insights on the wonders of the GABA-rich actuarial brain at the Presidential Asian Networking sessions. With the collaboration of Kitty Chan and the support of prominent Institute members such as Sim Ng and Louis Lee, we co-hosted these sessions with Prudential Malaysia and Deloitte Studio Hong Kong.

A total of 120 delegates attended the three Presidential Asian Networking sessions, proving the success of this approach. It was a joy to witness the passion and future-focused thinking within the actuarial community.

Thought Leadership and Engagement

During the tour, we organised a series of meetings designed to showcase the Institute’s Thought Leadership, Public Policy initiatives, regulatory liaison work with APRA, Education Programs and the latest Data Science Actuary initiative. Our aim was to provide comprehensive coverage of the broad scope of the Institute’s work and foster productive discussions.

Throughout the tour, we held 15 meetings, each serving as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and build strong relationships. These meetings encompassed a wide range of stakeholders and topics, ensuring a holistic view of the Institute’s commitment as a global actuarial professional body. While our busy schedule didn’t leave much time to soak up the cultural delights of each country and location (nor was I able to feast on the amazing local foods nearly as much as I would have liked!), the warmth, generosity and excitement of the many people we met with filled my soul.

Some notable highlights include:

• Presidential Luncheons with executives and practitioners. These intimate gatherings allowed for insightful discussions and the exchange of ideas among industry leaders.
• We had the privilege of engaging with key Regulatory bodies, including Bank Negara Malaysia, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the Insurance Authority in Hong Kong, learning more about regulatory development in each region.
• Meeting with the Actuaries Society of Malaysia’s (ASM’s) Climate Change Working Group allowed us to explore the intersection of actuarial expertise and the challenges of climate change, a gathering which highlighted the power of collective action in addressing global issues.
  

  

• Bilateral Meetings with the Singapore Actuaries Society and Actuarial Society of Hong Kong allowed us to deepen our collaboration and explore opportunities for mutual growth and knowledge sharing.
• Corporate visits to esteemed organisations such as GRAB Hub in Singapore and Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong offered the opportunity to explore synergies , while a meeting at the Dai-ichi Life Regional office in Singapore furthered my understanding of the regional insurance landscape and industry dynamics.

• An executive meetup in Hong Kong with Fellow and Institute member, Lilian Ng, Managing Director of the Strategic Business Group at Prudential plc in which we discussed strategic opportunities and exchanged perspectives on the future of the actuarial profession.

The Asia Tour was an incredible journey filled with meaningful interactions, fruitful discussions, and the strengthening of bonds within the actuarial community. The Presidential Asian Networking sessions provided a platform for collaboration to drive positive change within the profession and, by extension, society as a whole.

I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome and support received throughout the tour. The enthusiasm and dedication of our members and partners in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong reaffirmed my belief in the incredible potential of our profession.

Together, we will continue to use data for good, lead conversations for the pursuit of social good, embrace innovation and make a lasting impact. Let us carry forward the momentum generated during the Asia Tour and embark on the next phase of our journey with renewed energy and determination.

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