We Are Actuaries – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Actuary Adam Barrow shares how volunteering has helped his actuarial career.

In this interview, Adam shares: 

-          The best point in your career to get involved in volunteering,

-          How volunteering has helped him build his professional network, and

-          What actuaries should consider when getting involved in volunteering.

Adam is the Product Actuary at UniSuper and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA). He specialises in Defined Benefits, Insurance, and Retirement matters relating to Superannuation, and has a passion for member outcomes and improving the retirement experience for all. 

Adam is an active volunteer for the Actuaries Institute and was awarded the 2025 Young Volunteer Achievement Award. He is currently a member of the Superannuation and Investment Practice Committee (SIPC), the Chair of the Member Services Sub Committee (MSSC), is an SME for Superannuation on the Life Insurance and Retirement Education Faculty (LIREF), and is a part of the Actuaries Institute Ambassador Program. 

In his spare time, he tries to remain active and find a new quality cup of coffee.

-          Connect with Adam on LinkedIn.

-         Visit the Actuaries Institute volunteering page. 

-          Connect with Julia on LinkedIn. 

Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work. 

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Actuary and data scientist Lizzie Eason shares her tips on how actuaries can be ethical data scientists.

In this interview, Lizzie shares: 

-          Why ethics is important for actuaries in data science, 

-          Some of the regulatory considerations affecting data scientists, and 

-          How she navigates ethics as a data scientist.

Lizzie Eason, ACAS is a contagiously curious, enthusiastic, relationship-driven storyteller. With the cadence of a comedian and the toolbox of a data scientist, she serves as both a skilled builder and engaging translator of data-driven models. In her current role on a budding data science team, her work as a data detective reveals insights so intriguing that business partners can’t help but wonder about what more data could reveal!

Lizzie graduated top of her class from Grinnell College in 2017 with a degree in Mathematics & Statistics. She obtained her ACAS in 2023 and has worked primarily in predictive modeling for pricing segmentation and a myriad of other business applications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, partner acrobatics, and hiking with her cats.

 Connect with Lizzie on LinkedIn.   

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn.  

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Qualified actuary, motor pricing manager and author Catrin Townsend reflects on the importance of being able to explain what you do as an actuary to others, and how she does this. 

In this interview, Catrin shares: 

• The importance of being able to describe what you do at work,
• How she describes what she does as an actuary, and
• A simple process anyone can follow to discover their own mission statement.

Connect with Catrin on LinkedIn.

Read Catrin’s book, “A Risky Business: An Actuary’s Guide to Quantifying and Managing Risk in Society”

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Ben qualified as an actuary through the Actuaries Institute of Australia and is also certified as an actuary through the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) in the UK. In Australia, he has worked in actuarial consulting across long tail reserving and pricing, perils modelling and government projects. He currently works in the London market for a Lloyds syndicate as a reserving actuary.

Outside of his professional life, he enjoys keeping active and travelling.

Read more about the Ambassador Program.
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Elaine Collins, BSc(Hons), MEc, FIAA, FAICD, is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She spent 10+ years in Appointed Actuary roles, firstly with KPMG, then as Partner of Deloitte. 

Subsequently, Elaine has spent 10+ years a Non-Executive Director, ten years on the Board of Zurich Insurance, nine years as a Board Member of the ARPC and currently holds three Boards roles: RACV, ANZLMI and Ivory Insurance. Throughout this time, she chaired Board Committees, including Risk, Audit, Customer and Pricing. 

Elaine has 25+ years’ insurance industry experience with expertise in capital efficiency, strategic risk and effective governance within organisations. She enhances linkages between the industry and academia in her role as a Professor of Practice in the School of Risk & Actuarial with the UNSW Business School. Elaine has served on several Institute Committees, including the GIPC and the Professional Practice Committee. 

In this interview, Elaine shares: 

• How she sees actuaries adding value in the boardroom; 
• Current topics organisations are facing and how she sees actuaries adding value; 
• Why collegiality is critical for boards to be effective; 
• Tips for actuaries wanting to contribute in the boardroom; and 
• How she creates balance in her life, while enjoying a diverse and challenging career. 

Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Holly Briffa is an experienced consultant and actuary with a passion for transforming data into strategic insights that drive meaningful change. With a background in actuarial science and a career that includes roles at Ernst & Young (EY) and Strategic Project Partners (SPP), Holly specialises in using data analytics to inform decision-making, optimise outcomes, and shape strategies for government, public sector, and corporate clients.
 
Throughout her career, Holly has led a range of high-impact projects, from developing forecasting tools for government departments to enhancing operational models for not-for-profit organisations. Her work blends analytical precision with strategic vision, empowering stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions that deliver results.
 
Recognising the pivotal role strategy consulting played in shaping her career, Holly values how this experience has sharpened her problem-solving abilities and broadened her approach to tackling complex challenges. She is eager to share these insights, believing that strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making can benefit professionals in all industries.

In this interview, Holly shares:

• What she learned from strategy consulting;
• How she uses data to help government and private sector clients optimise outcomes and shape strategies;
• Examples of strategy consulting frameworks that can be helpful for actuaries; and
• Why she decided to return to study to pursue her Fellowship exams.

Read Holly’s article on the Double Diamond framework.
Connect with Holly on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Dominic is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Originally from Jamaica with 13 years of experience in property & casualty insurance and software presales, he is now a Senior Solutions Advisor at SAS where he has been for the last 3 years. In addition to his actuarial career, he is one of the most dynamic content creators in the profession, proficient in 16 different content forms. He is also a professional keynote speaker, focused on maximizing impact and value for quantitative professionals on a global scale. 

Finally, Dominic lives in Los Angeles, California with his girlfriend, two dogs Ziggie and Kent, and enjoys watching European football whenever possible. 

In this interview, Dominic shares: 

• His personal mission as an actuary and content creator, 
• Common pitfalls actuaries make when creating content or using social media, and 
• Advice for actuaries wanting to build their personal brands using social media. 

Visit the Maverick Actuary Website: Your Home For Actuarial Science, Risk Management, And Analytics.

Listen to Live With The Maverick Podcast.

Connect with Dominic on LinkedIn.

Find Dominic on Instagram.

Watch Dominic’s talk “Beyond Insurance - Actuarial Science TED-style Talk”.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Sidd is a qualified actuary with the Institute of Actuaries in Australia. He has worked across general insurance pricing, actuarial consulting and currently working at the Australian Government Actuary (AGA). He is working on the Priority Investment Approach, which uses actuarial analysis to estimate Australia’s future lifetime welfare costs for the current population. Originally from India, Sidd moved to Australia at the age of 13. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys hiking, trekking, and running. 

In this interview, Sidd shares:  

• Why he became an actuary, 
• His experience of qualifying during the transition to the new education program, 
• Useful strategies for maintaining good mental health, 
• How he uses his actuarial superpowers to make a difference in the world, and 
• His advice for actuaries pursuing Fellowship. 

Read Sidd’s Under the Spotlight article here.

Connect with Sidd on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Victor Bajanov is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and a seasoned analytics leader with nearly two decades of experience in data science. Currently serving as Executive of Product Analytics and Generative AI Centre of Excellence at Quantium, Victor has a diverse background spanning consulting and product development across industries including financial services, retail, and telecommunications. Victor is a member of the Data Science Practice Committee and has served as an expert witness for the Federal Court of Australia. With his blend of actuarial knowledge and cutting-edge data science skills, Victor brings valuable insights to the intersection of traditional actuarial work and modern analytics. 

In this interview, Victor shares:  

• Why analogies are so powerful, 
• Examples of powerful analogies in business, and 
• His process, and tips, for generating powerful analogies. 

Connect with Victor on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.

Tell us what you thought of this episode!

Mike has over 30 years’ experience in life insurance, wealth management, pensions and educating actuaries. Whilst in Europe, he led a team of over 30 actuaries covering product design, reserving, embedded value profit reporting and built up a risk management function for a large, multi-national insurer.  Mike set up the Part II program at Monash university and is now leading all aspects of the Institute’s education activities. 

In this interview, Mike shares his:
- career journey in becoming an actuary and now an educator,
- reflections on the ‘new’ Education program in Australia, and
- tips for actuaries wanting to future-proof their careers beyond qualification.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

Read Julia’s new book "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit"

We are featured in the Top 15 Actuary Podcasts here on Feedspot.

Thank you for listening to the We Are Actuaries podcast. Connect with Julia and Guardian Actuarial on LinkedIn. For more interviews and articles, visit our website.