Welcome to the first issue of 2023. This year has already got off to a good start for many, not least the students who have just qualified.
My year has definitely got off to a good start, having taken over as editor of the magazine from Ruolin Wang. She did a great job and I’m very pleased that she’s staying on as a features editor.
I myself have been a features editor for the magazine up until now, so I feel well placed to step up. A bit about me: I’m an independent actuarial and pricing consultant from Cyprus, with eight years’ experience. Our profession offers fantastic global opportunities if you want them and, like many of you, I have worked all over the world.
We kick off this year with a variety of topics to get your teeth into: liability-driven (p32) and natural capital investments (p24), Islamic insurance models (p21), comparisons of actuarial life in Cambodia (p20) and Zambia (p30)… We also hear the views of climate champion Sir David King (p14). And, acknowledging wider demands on actuaries, we start a regular series on soft skills (p38).
In recent months, we have seen the reinsurance market hardening, mainly due to the inflation caused by COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine, drops in reinsurance assets and an increasing number of natural catastrophes. At the same time, interest rates have bounced up from their negative state.
These are interesting times and there’s plenty for us to cover in the coming months… If you have any subjects you’d like us to focus on, or any other thoughts about the magazine, please email me.
Enjoy the issue.
Yiannis Parizas Editor [email protected]
