On October 18, eight industry advisory board members convened with the actuarial science faculty group at the Faculty Club for an annual board luncheon. During the luncheon, they discussed updates and strategic directions for the actuarial science program.
The Undergraduate Chair of Actuarial Science, Vicki Zhang, provided a detailed program update highlighting significant achievements over the past year. Since the last board meeting, our Actuarial Science programs have been awarded the prestigious Gold Level—the highest achievement in the CAS University Recognition Program. Further, they continue to be recognized as a Center for Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), and maintain full accreditation status with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA), significantly enhancing the pathway for students to achieve professional credentials.
The Actuarial Professional Experience Program was also spotlighted for its success in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry application. This initiative has successfully connected students with over 30 industry partners, facilitating internships and providing practical experience through industry panels, soft skills workshops, mock interviews, and an actuarial case competition. Zhang also mentioned the continuation of five practicum courses taught by senior actuaries that offer students hands-on experience in various actuarial practice tracks. This practical training is complemented by numerous scholarships and travel awards funded by alumni and industry donations, fostering further opportunities for student development and recognition.
From left to right, pictured are Sajjad Ahmad from Wawanesa, Assistant Professor Silvana Pesenti, Thomas Hinton of Partner Re, Emile Elefteriadis from Swiss Re, Anthony Ma of Manulife, Brad Neilson from Intact, Sebastian Jaimungal who is the Chair of the Department of Statistical Sciences, Vicki Zhang, the Undergraduate Chair of Actuarial Science, Professor Sheldon Lin, Assistant Professor Christopher Blier-Wong, Valerio Valenti from Sunlife, Ian Genno of OSFI, Professor and Director of the Master of Financial Insurance Program Andrei Badescu, Chenthooran Muthukumaraswamy from WTW, and Professor Emeritus Sam Broverman.
The meeting also covered discussions on major industry, market, and professional trends, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by data science and AI in actuarial science. Board members brought forward various suggestions to enhance board diversity and improve the program. The feedback was well-received, and the group expressed a collective enthusiasm for continued collaboration to further enhance the actuarial science curriculum and student experiences at the University.