Rendani Mbuvha

Presentation; Audio Recording

18 October 2017 | 11:45 – 12:45 | Committee 2

Relevant practice area(s):Data Analytics

Suggested audience knowledge level: Foundational and Intermediate

Abstract:

This workshop will provide practical ways for incorporating non-traditional data such as speech, text and images to enhance our understanding of actuarial and financial risks. Participants will work through a short exercise on how to build predictive models on newsfeed data using bag-of-words features(rating factors) in R. Details on how to extract meaningful features using Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) for speech and histogram oriented gradients for images will be discussed.
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Kadene Gibbs, Matthew Procter

Presentation; Audio Recording

17 October 2017 | 10:50 – 11:50 | Ballroom 2|3|4

Relevant practice area(s):Life Insurance

Suggested audience knowledge level: Intermediate

Abstract:

Recent updates to WHO guidelines to test and treat HIV+ individuals are expected to significantly increase life expectancy. Morbidity, which drives HIV mortality, is also expected to decline considerably.
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Michael Tichareva

Presentation

17 October 2017 | 10:50 – 11:50 | Committee 4

Relevant practice area(s):Banking

Suggested audience knowledge level: All levels

Abstract:

The topic explores the problems currently being faced by African economies to achieve increased infrastructure development, trade and accelerated economic growth. The opportunities are many and entrepreneurial spirit is evident. However, the funding support structures are inadequate, thus constraining the full development of entrepreneurship and the African economies.

Suzette Vogelsang

Presentation

17 October 2017 | 14:45 – 15:450 | Ballroom 1

Relevant practice area(s):Regulatory

Suggested audience knowledge level: Foundational

Abstract:

The regulatory landscape in South Africa is ever evolving with a number of key changes in legislation expected in 2017 and 2018. This is all in the backdrop of fundamental changes in the way the financial sector will be regulated in South Africa going forward. In this session Suzette Volgelsang from the FSB will provide an overview and status update of the key legislative and regulatory changes and give some insight on how they will be implemented.

Andrew Warren

Presentation; Audio Recording

17 October 2017 | 13:15 – 14:15 | Ballroom 1

Relevant practice area(s):Life Insurance

Suggested audience knowledge level: Intermediate

Abstract:

The accounting reporting standard IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts was launched in May this year after almost 20 years in development. The implications on the changes to determining the liabilities and provisions for insurance contracts, and the resulting income statement, have been the main areas of discussion during this period.
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Jean-Francois Greeff

Presentation

17 October 2017 | 13:15 – 14:15 and 14:45 – 15:45 | Committee 2

Relevant practice area(s):Data Analytics

Suggested audience knowledge level: Foundational and Intermediate

Abstract:

This two-part workshop will serve as an introduction to advanced predictive analytics for the actuary who is familiar with Generalized Linear Models. During the workshops, attendees will discuss some of the problems faced by modellers when working with GLMs and be introduced to methods used to address these problems. The workshop will be interactive and having a laptop with R is recommended.

David Kirk

Presentation; Audio Recording

18 October 2017 | 11:45 – 12:45 | Ballroom 2|3|4

Relevant practice area(s):Enterprise and Financial Risk Management (ERM)

Suggested audience knowledge level: All levels

Abstract:

Systemic risk within financial services has remained a major topic since the 2007/2008 Global Financial Crisis. “Too Big To Fail”, “Globally Systemically Important Financial Institutions”, “Recovery and Resolution Planning”, the “Financial Stability Board” and other outcomes clearly indicate a major concern for regulators that systemic risk hasn’t been well managed in the past.
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Louis Rossouw

Presentation; Audio Recording

18 October | 11:45 – 12:45 | Committee 4

Relevant practice area(s):Wider Fields, Enterprise and Financial Risk Management (ERM)

Suggested audience knowledge level: Intermediate

Abstract:

Many projects, start-up companies and collaborations based on blockchain technology are being explored. These include inter-bank ledgers, health data blockchains and reinsurance initiatives. IT companies are offering virtual environments to run and experiment with blockchain as a service as well as offering distributed ledger services. Blockchain technology seems to be at the top of the hype cycle.

Carike Nel, Jaco van der Merwe, , Saffiya Omar, Lafras Eksteen

Presentation; Audio Recording

17 October 2017 | 10:50 – 11:50 | Ballroom 1

Relevant practice area(s):ERM

Suggested audience knowledge level: Foundational

Abstract:

This topic covers 3 practice areas: Life, Short-term and ERM.

This session will include a panel discussion and presentation of the results of an industry survey conducted by the authors.

It aims to explore the role and capability of the actuary as a risk manager, as opposed to the more traditional risk quantifier. It also considers whether as actuaries we possess the requisite skill set and training to add the necessary value in this field.

Joanna Legutko

Presentation; Audio Recording

17 October 2017 | 14:45 – 15:45 | Committee 4

Relevant practice area(s):Retirement Matters

Suggested audience knowledge level: Foundational

Abstract:

Income replacement ratios are the most common way of formulating retirement targets, and monitoring individuals’ retirement readiness. These ratios can however be problematic, partly because they often do not correctly account for the impact of tax, savings rates and work related expenses, and partly because they can ignore some of the longevity and investment risks retirement fund members are exposed to.