Explore every episode of the podcast Actuarial Talk

Welcome to Series 3, Episode 2 of Actuarial Talk.

In this episode, Will Gallimore is joined by Nazmul Hasan, an actuary whose career has spanned consultancy, regulation and senior leadership roles across the insurance market.

Nazmul reflects on his journey into actuarial science, from his early days in investment banking to roles at the FSA/PRA, Beazley, Bupa and beyond. Along the way, he shares insights into capital modelling, risk management, leadership and how the profession has evolved over the past two decades.

The conversation also explores the growing impact of AI on the actuarial profession, the importance of developing future talent, what firms should consider when hiring and the value of maintaining balance outside of work.

Topics covered include:

• Nazmul's career journey into insurance and actuarial science
• Capital modelling, validation and risk management
• Lessons from working at the FSA/PRA
• Leadership and managing under pressure
• How AI is changing the actuarial profession
• Hiring, talent development and the future of the market
• Advice for aspiring actuaries
• Finding balance through yoga and mindfulness

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Nazmul's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Welcome to Series 3, Episode 1 of Actuarial Talk!

In this episode, we’re joined by Colum D’Auria, Global Business Leader - Portfolio Solutions at Canopius.

With more than 25 years of experience across actuarial, finance, underwriting and executive leadership roles in the London Market, Colum has built a career that has taken him from PwC to Chubb, MS Amlin, QBE and now Canopius.

We discuss his journey from actuarial consultant to Chief Actuary, Chief Financial Officer and business leader, exploring the pivotal career decisions that shaped his path along the way.

Colum shares insights into his current role at Canopius, where he is helping to build an innovative portfolio solutions business, and discusses how technology, data and new ways of thinking are continuing to reshape the insurance industry.

We also talk about:

• Building high-performing teams and what Colum looks for when hiring

• Why actuaries should spend more time outside their own profession

• The importance of curiosity, taking risks and embracing opportunities

• How the actuarial profession is evolving in a rapidly changing world

• Why insurance is one of the most rewarding industries to build a career in

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Colum’s story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

The final episode of Series Two of Actuarial Talk is here!

William Gallimore is joined by Dan Gelderd, founder of ACT Collab (Actuarial Collaborative Technology), a business created with a bold vision: to make Python the natural choice for actuarial work.

With an impressive background spanning capital modelling roles across the London Market, from consulting at EMB to leading Aon’s Tyche Capital Model product,  Dan brings a blend of actuarial expertise and software development insight.

Dan shares his journey from life as a teacher to the actuarial world, discusses the story behind ACT Collaband its mission to connect actuarial science with modern technology, and reflects on his passion for AI, which he describes as one of the great wonders of the world, while joking (we hope!) that it could one day end civilisation.

An entertaining and insightful discussion to round off the series!

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

This episode, we're joined by Peter Way. Peter leads the actuarial team at Africa Specialty Risks, helping to improve access to specialty insurance and reinsurance across Africa and Emerging Markets. 

In true start-up style, nothing is off-limits, from opps and claims to outwards reinsurance, pricing, reserving and capital.

He shares his journey from maths teacher to senior actuary, and we discuss some of life’s biggest challenges, including serious health struggles and being left without a roof over his head when a builder disappeared with his money.

A proud family man from Weymouth and secretly a beach boy at heart, Peter’s always striving to strike the right balance between work, family, and squeezing in time for a round of golf!

And yes… we even touch on his fascination with conspiracy theories.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Peter’s story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

This episode, we’re joined by Taha Ahmad – actuary, transformation leader and all-round insurance innovator.

Taha is Director of Pricing Solutions at Verisk, where he’s helping insurers unlock the power of data and analytics to drive faster, smarter decisions. From shaping pricing strategy at Lloyd’s of London to delivering big change at Deloitte, his journey through the London market is nothing short of impressive.

Born in a remote village in Bangladesh and now based in Birmingham, Taha is also a proud father of six, so when it comes to balancing work, family, and leadership, he lives by clear boundaries and ruthless time management. “I feel like this is my community,” he says of the insurance world, and that passion shines through in everything he does.

We chat about what the actuarial profession needs next, why he’s standing for election to the IFoA Council and how fresh thinking and inclusivity can help shape the future of insurance.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Taha’s story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

In this episode we’re joined by Anthony Williams, International Chief Risk Officer at SiriusPoint. With nearly thirty years of experience in the London Market, Anthony’s career began on the other side of the world. Starting out as an actuarial consultant in Australia, he took a two year secondment to London in the late ’90s and never quite made it back.

We dive into Anthony’s thoughts on why a great interview must be a two-way conversation, how AI is reshaping insurance and why a linear career path isn’t the only route to success. He also shares the one piece of advice he’d give his younger self: “don’t fear change.”

We also uncover the tale of a marathon through the vineyards of southern France, and question whether it was more about mileage or Merlot...

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Anthony's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Dilley, Global Head of Financial Institutions at Mosaic, to explore his unique perspective on working with actuaries. While not an actuary himself, Tom shares insights on how he navigates the actuarial world and the value they bring to the financial institutions space.
 
We also dive into how Tom manages his work-life balance while leading a global team and maintaining strong relationships across this ever-changing market.
 
Finally, we uncover the story of how Tom saved Will’s life during the London Marathon! 🏃‍♂️
 
The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Tom's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

James Borrett's journey at Gen Re showcases not only his professional achievements but also his personal growth. His transition from being the sole P&C actuary in London, after initially qualifying on the Life side, to becoming the Head of International P&C Pricing highlights his dedication, adaptability and undoubted loyalty. James highlights the consistent support and encouragement he received played a significant role in his ability to develop and implement new ideas, contributing to the company's success over his 26-year tenure.

Equally impressive is his transformational fitness journey! James admits himself that he is a man of extremes and balancing a demanding career with personal development reflects his commitment to achieving excellence. James's story is a great example of how the right environment can lead to remarkable accomplishments.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells James' story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Join us for a special episode of Actuarial Talk as we sit down with Jake Morton, Associate Director at HFG and head of the GI Actuarial and Risk team. Jake shares stories from his recruitment journey and provides his views on the current and future trends shaping the actuarial market and the hiring of staff within insurance. Plus, we put Jake in the hot seat for a quick-fire Q&A segment and Will shares some funny tales from his time in the market! 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Alice is a Partner in EY’s Non-Life Actuarial Practice focussing on Transformation and Strategy engagements. She helps clients reimagine their actuarial functions, across reserving, business planning, performance management and pricing. 

Alice has 14 years’ of experience driving large scale change across finance, IFRS 17, performance management, business planning, ESG and pricing with global listed insurance companies, both in-house and as a consultant.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Alice's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

In Hetul's words; 'I often get asked “what does an Actuary do?”. Well, my job is to make the companies I work for great.'

As a qualified actuary with over 20 years in the insurance industry for companies including Catlin, Asia Capital Re and Liberty Mutual, Hetul can offer much more than that.

He is a global leader who thinks technology and people will be the key to the future of insurance. Hetul is a big advocate of Insurtech and developing talent and mentors start-ups on the Plug and Play ecosystem, alongside work with aspiring IFoA actuaries.

After borrowing a book named 'Ugly Americans', which follows a graduate starting a new life and job in Japan, Hetul went seeking an international secondment which led to a career full of travelling and new experiences.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Hetul's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

For 25 years, Tom worked as a non-life insurance actuary – primarily in reinsurance – before shifting into the non-profit sector. He is now Director of Data & Impact for the Free Speech Union. 

Starting his career more traditionally as a maths and statistics graduate, Tom tracked a path that entailed both actuarial consultancy and in-house roles, including in 2006 his appointment as the inaugural Chief Actuary for XL Re Europe. Along the way, he has helped to bring actuarial teams together and to set up all sorts of new processes and systems from scratch. 

While the technical side was always a major part of the journey, it was the unpredictable moments, such as the credit crunch in 2008 and multiple acquisitions coming out of the blue (XL and Catlin, AXA and XL Catlin), that have stayed with him the most.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Tom’s story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Tom Chamberlain has worked in the insurance industry since 2001, having fulfilled both technical and leadership roles for a number of large global insurance companies across Actuarial, Underwriting and Senior Management.

Tom has a strong entrepreneurial focus and utilises cutting edge technology to drive new, innovative projects to bring about lasting change in insurance and reinsurance businesses.  

A qualified pilot, advanced scuba diver and part-time DJ, Tom is a firm believer in a healthy work life balance, and alongside a busy family life, knows how to unwind outside of the office! 

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Tom's story. 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Dominic Christian is Global Chairman of Aon Reinsurance Solutions and a member of Aon's Global Executive.  Alongside his Aon career, Dominic is a Councilman of the City of London Corporation, representing the Ward of Lime Street and is Deputy Chairman of Lloyd's of London. 

From starting in the City as a road sweeper, to building an extraordinary career in insurance, the Actuarial Talk podcast tells Dominic's story. 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Bryan Joseph is an actuary and business leader with over forty years experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry globally. 

He has worked as both a consultant to and as an executive in (re)insurance companies. Bryan has operated at the linkage between capital, risk and the interface between capital markets and insurance markets. 

Bryan has faced prejudice in both his personal and working life and has overcome many challenges to build an extraordinary career in insurance. 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Laura is the Chair of the GI Lifelong Learning Committee (GILL) and a Senior ERM Manager at Ki Insurance.

She is a passionate advocate for volunteering and has previously volunteered in a range of roles for the IFoA including examining, curriculum rewrites, and as a member of both the GI Education and CPD subcommittee and Herd Mentality working party.

Outside of this Laura currently volunteers for Your Place (https://your-place.org.uk/) and Wapping Youth FC, alongside other ad-hoc volunteering.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Laura's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Sunnie, an accomplished actuary with an impressive trajectory, began his journey with an Engineering degree from India. His endeavours have spanned continents – from India to London, through Singapore and the Middle East. Over the years, he's built a formidable repertoire in consultancy, broking, personal lines insurance, and Lloyd's / London market. 

Previously the Head of Capital and Exposure Management at IGI, he's currently a Partner at AInsurCo. Beyond the numbers, Sunnie loves cricket and dotes on his two children. Dive into his journey which seamlessly blends personal passion with professional prowess.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Sunnie's story.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Tom is an actuary who loves coding and data. Previously a Director at RPC-Tyche, he has set up his own mini-consultancy whose focus is on using the right technologies to solve London Market clients’ problems.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Tom's story. 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Nick Line is the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for Markel’s International business, with responsibilities for underwriting profitability, oversight, and risk. He joined the insurance industry nearly three decades ago as an actuarial assistant with Lane Clark & Peacock, before moving across to Markel, where he progressed from Actuarial Manager to Chief Actuary and then to CUO. 

Nick has been with Markel for more than 26 years and is sponsor of the organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion pillar, which forms part of its Style in Action Framework, whilst he also sits on Markel’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee. Outside of work, Nick is an avid cricket fan.

The Actuarial Talk podcast talks to Nick about his career journey so far and how he is helping to champion Markel’s D&I initiatives and support young professionals in their insurance careers.

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Howard Dale is a quantum physicist turned actuary and after ‘not really knowing what an actuary was’ at the beginning of his career, now runs an actuarial contracting business! 

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Howard's story. 

Apologies for the issues with Will’s microphone in this episode, but Howard sounds great! 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Alice Kaye is Chief Operating Officer at Inigo, a Lloyd’s syndicate that launched in 2021.  She joined the London insurance industry as an actuary, working initially in GI and then in Life & Health. Alice pivoted into reinsurance underwriting, first in Paris and then back in London, before joining Inigo in their early months. 

Alice is an insurance enthusiast, and on top of that a huge proponent of making the industry a fantastic place for us all.

The Actuarial Talk podcast tells Alice's story. 

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Disclaimer:  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of HFG. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The hfg name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.