The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has secured a major sponsorship agreement with Dr Patrick Sun Cheong Poon to support its newly-conceived thought leadership Programme.
The new programme seeks to re-position the IFoA at the centre of key societal debates, providing a forum and voice for actuaries in addressing the most pressing social issues of our time.
This is in keeping with the IFoA’s strategy and vision for actuaries to deploy their skills, expertise, and influence in new and wider areas.
Thought leaders, past presidents of the IFoA, external policy makers and academics will take part in the programme, which will cover COVID-19, finance in the public interest, mathematical futures, transformation of the profession, and behavioural science and sustainability topics.
Dr Poon – who is an IFoA Fellow and past president of both the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong and the Actuarial Society of Malaysia – will also be providing a generous donation to the IFoA Foundation, resulting in a new £500,000 scholarship fund in Greater China and South East Asia to provide bursaries for actuarial students at eligible IFoA accredited universities across both regions.
“The actuarial profession has an important role to play in the financial sector as well as addressing society’s wider social, economic and health issues,” he said.
“As a profession, we can be more influential in helping to address some of society’s big issues. In this regard, I am delighted to support IFoA’s inaugural thought leadership programme and presidential speaker series – which seeks to address the big sustainability issues of our time.”
Dr Poon has had a career spanning over 40 years in the insurance industry in Greater China and South East Asia, and in 1975, he became one of the earliest Chinese-born citizens to become a Fellow of the IFoA.
He is also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and many Asian-based regional actuarial societies, and has served as a board member of the International Insurance Society.
“I first met Patrick at the age of 17 in 1977 to seek his advice as he was one of the earliest qualified actuaries practising in Malaysia at that time,” said IFoA president, Tan Suee Chieh.
“He is one of the IFoA pioneers and legendary actuaries in the region, and has generously supported the pursuit of actuarial science over many years.
“We are deeply appreciative of Patrick’s kind generosity and look forward to a productive philanthropic partnership.” and investors.”
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Author: Chris Seekings