Report by Dr Yan Liu
On 2 December 2011, over 100 Chinese actuaries gathered in Staple Inn Hall, London, to launch the Chinese Actuarial Network UK (CANUK). Ms Haijing Wang chaired the evening and introduced this event as a significant milestone for Chinese actuaries in the UK.
In his opening speech, Mr Feifei Zhang, President, set out the objectives for CANUK as providing a networking platform and a communication channel for Chinese actuaries in the UK and further afield, and supporting Chinese actuarial professionals in the UK through educational, social and other events.
Derek Cribb, chief executive of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and Trevor Watkins, director of education, spoke at the event. They highlighted the international outlook of the UK actuarial profession and the fact that one-third of the members, and half of the students, are based overseas.
The UK Profession has an international policy to enhance the interests of its members in the broad areas of regulatory environment, professional environment and career opportunities worldwide. Dr Watkins also pointed out that this was the largest-ever gathering of Chinese actuaries in Staple Inn Hall.
Peter Lee, director at Towers Watson, delivered a presentation on current hot topics. Mr Lee's presentation was followed by a panel discussion about actuarial careers in Asia and in the UK. The panelists were Mr Alex Ince
(Oliver James), Ms Fulin Liang (KPMG), Mr Feifei Zhang (Aviva) and Dr Yan Liu (RBS Insurance).
The website for CANUK can be found at
www.chineseactuary.net/UK/. CANUK wishes to acknowledge that the launch event was sponsored by Oliver James Associates.
About the author
An actuary’s introduction to the Chinese economy by Dr Yan Liu can be found here.