On 16 June, five representatives of the IFoA arrived for breakfast in a quiet side street in Tel Aviv. Their destination was the official residence of the British ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould MBE for a seminar to mark the launch of a university actuarial course in Hebrew at Israel's Magid Institute in Tel Aviv.
By coincidence, a mutual recognition agreement between the Israel Association of Actuaries (ILAA) and the IFoA, which had been in preparation for some time, was also ready for signing. The document was signed by IFoA president David Hare in London prior to the event and by Ms Naama Hashmonai, ILAA president, at the event (pictured). Fellows and Associates of each body may now be granted equivalent status in the other body if involved in actuarial work in that country.
The IFoA was represented by David Martin, Trevor Watkins, Neil Hilary, Tony Hewitt and Alan Fishman, and Martin accepted a gift from the ILAA on behalf of Hare and the IFoA. The ambassador emphasised the links between the two organisations.
The seminar continued with roundtable discussions on changes in the profession and the education of actuaries.
The morning session was attended by senior Israeli finance figures, while the afternoon session included an audience of Israeli actuaries and students to discuss education, regulation, professionalism and widening areas of expertise.
The pleasant garden and rooms of the residence formed a backdrop to a fruitful event, appreciated by hosts and guests alike.
