Welcome to the 2020s, and my first issue as editor of The Actuary. It is an honour and a pleasure to be here.
"Why did you apply for the role?" I am often asked at actuarial (working) parties. Partly, it's because I have written for and volunteered at the magazine in the past, and found it to be a rewarding experience. I have also contributed to examinations and research, but in terms of being able to speak to our whole profession, this platform is second to none. Sometimes, there is a powerful message that needs to be heard. In this issue, Travis Elsum argues that insurers should support the transition to a low-carbon economy, while professor Nigel Halford introduces us to the differences between GM and gene editing, and asks whether EIOPA's catch-all terminology achieves a good outcome for food safety and sustainability.
There is also no better way to meet interesting people and ask them questions. This month I interview Craig Turnbull, who has had a varied career covering both the cutting edge of modelling and writing about actuarial history.
I would like to thank my predecessor Francisco Sebastian for his significant contribution during the past two years. Francisco aimed to make the magazine more global, and I intend to stay on that course. This month, we hear from Silvia Dell'Acqua about actuaries in Italy and John Ferguson on critical illness experience in Asia.
Primarily, though, we are an actuarial magazine, and I do not intend to neglect technical actuarial content. This month, for example, we have Andrew Smith writing about Markov chain Monte Carlo.
As always, please write in and tell us what you think of the magazine - or even better, write an article. Enjoy the issue and have a wonderful 2020.
Dan Georgescu
Editor