The end of one year and the start of another is a time when many of us reflect on what we have achieved and what weve still not checked off the list of the previous years aspirations. It is only when we look back that we truly appreciate how much we have accomplished and experienced in the year.
The end of one year and the start of another is a time when many of us reflect on what we have achieved and what we've still not checked off the list of the previous year's aspirations. It is only when we look back that we truly appreciate how much we have accomplished and experienced in the year.
In July, I stated: "As your president, I pledge that I will serve you and the best interests of our Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. I am keen to hear from you and to understand how our combined efforts can best serve the profession." Please continue to get in touch and share your ideas about how to move our profession forward. Your diverse perspectives and suggestions have been invaluable.
I am now mid-term, and attending the conferences and regional events has been one of the highlights so far. I am grateful to the regional societies and associations that have invited me to engage with them and look forward to meeting others in the remaining six months of my term.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the new qualifier ceremonies, where I have been honoured to meet and speak with new Fellows and their loved ones. I have been inspired by hearing what they hope to achieve in their careers and derived great pleasure from the stimulating debates about what the actuarial profession might look like in years to come.
Council had a busy six months and, at the end of 2017, we began a consultation on the Chartered Actuary qualification. There is still time to share your views on this proposal, and you can read more about it here.
Looking ahead, there is much to anticipate and many opportunities to positively influence the future of our profession.
It certainly looks like another half-year brimming with action! You may recall that last year we held our first-ever international Council meeting to coincide with the IFoA's annual Asia Conference.
As you read this, we will be returning from our second international meeting in India, where we also attended the Global Conference of Actuaries and met with local employers and our substantial membership based in the region.
In the UK, I hope to meet those of you planning to attend some of the IFoA's upcoming events, including the Protection, Health and Care Conference. I am also looking forward to a busy month in March, when I'll be visiting several more of the regional societies.
In April, the IFoA will be hosting its first roadshow in Africa, comprising one-day conference events in Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria. These regions are key membership hubs for us, and for those of you based in these locations, further details will be available soon.
2017 was a successful year for the IFoA in many respects, and I am looking forward to working with the executive team and with Council to make 2018 an enriching year for our profession. I would like to extend my thanks to our nearly 4,000 volunteers, who willingly lend us their expertise to multiply our effectiveness as a professional body. I wish all of our members and stakeholders a prosperous year ahead.
Marjorie Ngwenya is the president of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries