The IFoA Foundation brings together our community to further its mission of ‘actuaries supporting others’
The IFoA Foundation is delighted to welcome Founding Partner organisations as we aim to open every door for the next generation and empower the profession to be transformative in addressing the global challenges of our time. Our relationships with Barnett Waddingham LLP, Gen Re, Hymans Robertson, LCP and Milliman will be key in delivering our objectives.
Andrew Vaughan, senior partner at Barnett Waddingham LLP, said: “Partnering with the IFoA Foundation allows us to do the right thing for our people and clients, and for the future of the profession. We are proud to play our part in creating a more inclusive community and promoting diversity so that everyone who chooses our profession is inspired to share their passion, talent and ideas regardless of barriers they may face.”
Boosting accessibility
A priority project is a grassroots schools initiative to engage children in actuarial science and careers, helping to address problems around accessibility early in the educational journey. Foundation partners will be invited to contribute their expertise, experience and resources, creating a taskforce of representatives to help deliver a programme that complements existing initiatives. The pilot project will create a framework for a scalable model that can be rolled out nationally and internationally.
Projects such as these offer a synergy with the priorities of the Foundation’s Founding Partners; for example, Milliman is working on a Black Actuaries Inclusion Plan with closely aligned aims. Joanne Buckle, principal and consulting actuary at the firm, said: “Milliman is excited to be partnering with the IFoA Foundation, and see this as a critical way to advance our diversity and inclusion and CSR goals.”
Gen Re is already working with local schools in deprived areas of East London and is keen to deepen its impact by working with the Foundation. Regional manager Jules Constantinou said: “We are committed to promoting diversity and creating a more inclusive actuarial community.”
Hymans Robertson’s CSR manager Sarah Gilmour said: “The aims of the Foundation are a great match with the work we support through our own Foundation, helping to improve the lives of young people and communities facing hardship or disadvantage.”
Addressing critical issues
Our Founding Partners will have opportunities to influence our long-term strategy, with activities both in the UK and across the globe. Our international grants programme will benefit students who are experiencing financial hardship, and our work with the Actuarial Academy of East Africa will transform the learning experience for actuaries in that region, addressing the shortage of actuaries there.
LCP partner Catherine Drummond said: “LCP places real importance on promoting a diverse and inclusive culture internally, and across our industry. By creating opportunities for young actuaries from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds and by promoting social mobility, we will consequently increase the power of our profession to address critical issues and societal challenges.”
The Foundation is grateful to have received donations from individuals who are passionate about supporting the profession.
IFoA Foundation general manager Belinda Dee said: “With our unique position as the IFoA’s charity partner and our commitment to giving opportunity to actuaries and future actuaries from all backgrounds, celebrating excellence at the cutting edge of the profession and working with our partners to unlock solutions to the most critical shared global priorities, we are attracting the interests of philanthropists. This will enable us to accelerate our grant programme and deliver real impact. On behalf of the trustees and all those who will benefit, thank you to everyone who has got behind us and pledged their support.”
To find out more about the IFoA Foundation, please contact Belinda Dee at [email protected] or visit bit.ly/2ZaCntq. You can follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@IFoAFoundation).
