Welcome to the November issue of The Actuary. This month I interview Sid Malik about the non-traditional role of the actuary as a regulator in a central bank (p13), as part of the magazine’s support for actuaries considering wider fields and developing the skills they might need for successful careers in a changing world.
As our members – and indeed the world – face the unique challenges posed by climate change, the IFoA recognises its unique responsibility to support members with the challenges of today and the future. Navigating this new world requires new thinking and, over the past year, you have told us what would make a positive difference for you. We have listened.
At the beginning of next month, the United Nations will continue its custom of convening nearly every country for a global climate change summit. This year’s Conference of Parties – the UN’s 26th, and thus known as COP26 – gets underway in Glasgow, Scotland, on 1 November, and is where world leaders will strive to tackle the uniquely urgent challenges in sustainability today.
My two-year term at the helm of the magazine is nearly up, and as with every editor before me, there have been great challenges to face; however, these give the best rewards.
When we started discussing the 2021 IFoA’s Thought Leadership Series and how we could position it in support of our purpose – that is, to be the voice of actuaries, and to support, develop and be the voice of our members – we knew member involvement had to be at its heart, not least because thought leadership is often described as being when one person’s thoughts are used to lead others.
As the world prepares to ratchet up international negotiations during COP26, editorially we continue to highlight and support the work of actuaries and others who are contributing to the bold thinking required to solve the climate change problem – and this issue of The Actuary is no different. As Louise Pryor said in her presidential address, climate change isn’t a risk, but a certainty.
With the turn of the IFoA’s sessional year – and a new president and Council installed – comes the opportunity to take a fresh look at our future. Much has changed since the onset of COVID-19, but one thing is certain: we won’t see the pre-2019 world again, and the only way is forward.
Welcome to the August edition of The Actuary. During the summer months, previous editors probably imagined readers enjoying their print copy poolside, with a glass of something refreshing involving coconut and an umbrella. This is unlikely to be true in the majority of cases while part of the world is still in lockdown and travel restrictions are the norm. More likely, you are indoors when the issue arrives. Whether you are having a staycation or local break, I hope you find the magazine interesting and relevant, and it brightens up your day. Let me tempt you with some highlights from this iss
