Looking East

A roundup of news from the global community

August/September 2016

Whether you travel the world or never leave your home country, you are affected by global organizations, international requirements and the increasingly international nature of the actuarial profession itself. Here is some news from around the world.

The 6th SOA Asia Pacific Annual Symposium

Under the theme “Future and Insights,” the Society of Actuaries (SOA) conducted its signature event in Asia, the 6th SOA Asia Pacific Annual Symposium, Aug. 29–30, in East Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The symposium intended to provide a learning and networking platform in the Asia Pacific region for SOA members and nonmembers, and covered issues in a wide range of areas in financial management and reporting, asset liability and investment strategies, insurance developments, enterprise risk management and professional competency skills.

Actuaries and professionals in finance, investment and other industries in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region attended the event. John Leung, the commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in Hong Kong, attended, and Billy Wong, the 2014 president of the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong, was a keynote speaker at the event.

Professionalism in Practice

A select group of professionals in the Hong Kong and Asia Pacific region met Aug. 30, in Hong Kong, for the SOA 2016 Professionalism in Practice course.

The interactive event covered topics on issues encountered routinely in actuarial work environments and explored the professionalism practice, code of conduct and application of the actuarial profession. The group evaluated different business cases and participated in interactive discussions.

The Inaugural SOA China Annual Symposium

The Inaugural SOA China Annual Symposium took place Sept. 1–2, in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. This symposium was designed to provide a learning and networking platform in China for members and nonmembers to share experiences about the actuarial profession and the finance and insurance industries.

The symposium focused on recent topics in a wide range of areas, from asset liability and investment strategies to health and pension insurance, enterprise risk management, and innovation and internet insurance.

This inaugural symposium intended to share best practices with participants and create an opportunity for the growth of the actuarial profession in China.

SOA Networking Member Events

The SOA organized two networking events for members in Shenzhen and Shanghai on June 21 and June 22, respectively. The events were designed to provide a platform for SOA members to communicate, network and learn from each other.

During the Shenzhen event, Henry Yu, assistant general manager and chief actuary of AVIVA-COFCO Life Insurance Co., and Cathleen Yu, head of the Actuarial Department of ICBC-AXA Life, shared their impressions on the first China Association of Actuaries (CAA)/SOA executive education exchange program. The program brought chief actuaries and actuarial department heads from China to New York, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., for two weeks in April to meet with actuarial employers, organizations and educational institutions.

During a panel discussion at the Shanghai event about the executive training exchange program, Henry Yu and Cathleen Yu were joined by Xiujuan Chen, chief actuary of China Pacific Life Insurance Co.; Yu Xiang, corporate actuary of Hannover Ruck SE Shanghai Branch; and Lynn Lin, chief actuary of AIA China.

Attendees were able to ask questions and participate in interactive discussions, and they enjoyed a light dinner and drinks.