Research

At the Council meeting on 6 November 1998 it was agreed that a group comprising Rob Dorrington, Michael Leeman and Rob Thomson should consider and report to Council on the promotion of actuarial research in South Africa. Rob Thomson was asked to convene the group. The establishment of a permanent Research Committee emanated from the recommendations of this group.

Members

• Mike Walker: chair
• Craig Aitchison: investments
• Emil Boeke: IT & website
• Vernon Boulle: banking & finance (alternate: Ranti Mothapo)
• Stephen Burgess: micro-insurance
• Barry Childs: grants & tenders, healthcare
• Rob Dorrington: education (SA0); AIDS, CSI
• Rinus du Plessis: damages
• Selwyn Feldman: retirement matters
• Peter Johnstone: prizes
• Gary Palser: research fund, life assurance
• Dave Strugnell
• Rob Thomson: university libraries, research contacts, enterprise & financial risks
• Natalie van de Coolwijk: secretary, short-term insurance

Objectives

• To actively support the development of actuarial research through the Actuarial Society’s education, CPD, standard setting, public policy and research activities.
• To actively identify and promote opportunities for members working in research and facilitate communication, discussion and liaison within the profession on relevant topics.
• To contribute to the strategic direction of the Actuarial Society through research and, in so doing, to support the Actuarial Society brand promise of “thought leadership”.
  

Key Responsibilities

• To maintain a research watch on topics of interest to the Actuarial Society, to promote the development of the research watch by other practice-area committees, to promote the use of the research watch in the practice of actuarial research and to monitor progress on research on the topics of the research watch.
• To publish the South African Actuarial Journal, including the nomination of an Editor and an Editorial Advisory Panel as and when necessary, subject to the requirements of editorial independence.
• To facilitate and monitor research by members of the Actuarial Society and by students and to promote strong relationships with universities regarding research.
• To call for and award tenders for research on topics considered to be of particular importance to the Actuarial Society and to monitor the progress of such research.
• To award research grants subject to such conditions as the Committee may consider appropriate and to monitor the progress made on the research.
• To arrange for the award of prizes for research papers, including the appointment of adjudication panels where necessary, and to consider the possibility of new prizes for research.
• To consider professional education standards regarding actuarial research in the South African actuarial syllabus and to make recommendations in this regard.
• To identify potential issues for research, and to identify blockages to research and take steps to eliminate or mitigate them.
• To communicate regularly with members on issues and developments affecting research, both local and international.
• To maintain the web page relating to the activities of the Committee, including, where practicable, reports on its activities and documents and links of interest to practitioners.
• To develop and maintain appropriate links with other overseas actuarial bodies, including the relevant IAA Section, and other relevant professional, industry and industry bodies.
• To advise Council, in general, on matters affecting both research itself and individual members active in research.
• To monitor and report to Council on the finances of the Research Fund of the Actuarial Society, from which payments in respect of research grants, tenders and other research-related expenses are made.

Contact Us: walkerm@aforbes.co.za or Natalie.van.de.Coolwijk@aonbenfield.com