Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Moody's - Climate Risk Insurers series
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • October 2020
General Features

Supporting others

Open-access content Wednesday 7th October 2020
Authors
Kartina Tahir Thomson

Kartina Tahir Thomson talks about the charitable activities the IFoA Foundation is supporting

Supporting others

Those who have been to Staple Inn may have noticed the window that carries the Francis Bacon quote “I hold every man a debtor to his profession”. At the IFoA Foundation we feel the same way, and aim to provide the mechanism for actuaries to support others.

Our purpose

When we envisioned the Foundation, the words we kept returning to were ‘support’, ‘legacy’ and ‘impact’. While the focus on rewarding excellence and research is at our core, we look to highlight other principles as well. The evolution of the Foundation means it has a greater emphasis to be even more impactful going forward. Our mission is anchored on three principles:  

  1. Rewarding excellence: Providing recognition, prizes and awards for excellence in actuarial examinations and academic research  
  2. Supporting our community: Giving bursaries and grants to school and university students, those studying for actuarial exams and others in financial hardship  
  3. Addressing future challenges: Supporting the IFoA’s public interest responsibilities and partnering with other charities on causes such as financial education.

During his presidential address in June 2020, Tan Suee Chieh talked about shaping the future and creating space for innovation, thought leadership and diversity of ideas. The Foundation’s principles are set in line with the IFoA strategy and ensure a balance in activities geographically. We also seek to ensure fairness and inclusion and are passionate about increasing the profession’s diversity, both through membership support and charitable activities.

Charitable activities

From rewarding excellence to supporting our community and addressing future challenges, the Foundation is helping the profession to have a positive impact.

Enterprising Maths

For years, the IFoA’s Scottish Board, with Foundation funds, has supported Scotland’s school maths competition Enterprising Maths at national and regional level. As well as encouraging the love of maths, we hope to see the next generation of actuaries emerge through the talented participants. The Foundation aims to continue this partnership and explore similar initiatives.

Geoffrey Heywood Prize

The Foundation has a history of funding prizes for research excellence. In 2019, the Geoffrey Heywood Prize, for best research paper demonstrating excellent levels of communication, was awarded to Michael McCrea and Mark Farrell for their paper on wearable technology. Mark used his share of the prize money to help other actuaries learn about emerging technologies through a free virtual online event. The Foundation continues to champion thought leadership and support knowledge sharing events.

Sir Edward Johnston Prize

The Sir Edward Johnston Prize was established in 2013. Johnston was the sixth Government Actuary and played a significant role in both the profession and in public life. He had a long association with South East Asia, and the bequest is used in connection with the IFoA’s presence there. The prize is awarded to the best performing graduating actuarial students at a number of universities; to date, students from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore have benefited.

Going forward

We are working on several initiatives, including encouraging exceptional minds into the profession through bursaries and sponsorships, supporting students through actuarial exams, and working to boost financial literacy. From enabling young people in Asia to enter the profession to supporting students in Africa with their exam studies, the Foundation is deeply committed to making a difference.  

The IFoA Foundation is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registration number SC049518), regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator. Further information can be found at bit.ly/3bfDD3K


How you can help

We welcome ideas and fund applications that resonate with the Foundation’s mission, 
and look forward to rewarding partnerships that make a difference to society and the profession. By choosing to support the Foundation, you will:  

  • Support tomorrow’s actuaries and open doors for gifted people from every background  
  • Celebrate excellence and recognise those at the cutting edge of our profession  
  • Enable the profession to find solutions to our most critical shared global priorities.  

We look forward to your involvement in fundraising, volunteering and promoting the Foundation. The experience is deeply rewarding, and your contribution will have a positive impact on our community.


Kartina Tahir Thomson is Chair of the IFoA Foundation and serves on IFoA Council

Image credit | iStock
October 2020
This article appeared in our October 2020 issue of The Actuary.
Click here to view this issue
Also filed in
General Features
Topics
Risk & ERM
Modelling/software

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Senior Catastrophe Analyst

London, England
£70000 - £100000 per annum
Reference
146055

Catastrophe Analyst

London, England
Up to £50000 per annum + + Bonus
Reference
146053

Principal Pricing Analyst

England, London
£60000 - £70000 per annum
Reference
146052
See all jobs »
 
 

Today's top reads

 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2023 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ