An actuary abroad: Why two Sydneysiders said yes to Asia

Few professions open the world quite like ours. As Australian actuaries, our qualifications are recognised worldwide, our technical foundations carry across markets, and an overseas move can come down to a flight and a farewell dinner rather than years of starting from scratch. It's one of the profession's most overlooked advantages.

An Actuary Abroad is a new Actuaries Digital mini-series profiling the members who put it to work. Across regular features, we'll hear from actuaries at every career stage — some who relocated and built a career there, some who went overseas and came back stronger, and some who used international experience to step into senior leadership.

In this article, we hear from two Sydney-trained actuaries who recently said yes to Asia: Dan Wang, Vice President and Head of Corporate Actuarial at Generali Thailand, and Grover Lin, Pricing and Data Analyst (APAC) at Canopius in Singapore.

Dan Wang

What made you decide to move abroad?

The main driver was career growth. In Australia, senior actuary roles tend to be quite specialised. The role in Thailand was very different. I got exposure across valuations, capital, experience studies, new business value, reinsurance and special projects. That kind of end-to-end exposure across the actuarial value chain is hard to get in more mature markets and I could step into a broader leadership role earlier which made the decision easy.

How did working overseas shift your career trajectory?

It accelerated things both vertically and horizontally. I joined higher-level financial decision-making meetings and managed a bigger team, which built leadership and stakeholder management skills quickly. As a valuation actuary, I was also involved in pricing, product development and discussions with various distribution channels to accelerate growth by maximising new business value. That level of commercial exposure shifted me from a technical specialist to someone with a broader business focus.

How did being an Australian-trained actuary land in your new market?

Australian actuarial qualifications are highly regarded worldwide. Because exams are embedded in the university program, we qualify earlier and start building management experience faster. The type of work experience you develop in Australia is comprehensive, which made it easier to contribute across valuation, capital and broader topics. Exposure to regulators and auditors back home was also invaluable preparation for a more senior role.

How did you build your professional network from scratch?

Being naturally extroverted helped; I was proactive about putting myself out there. I attended the Asian Actuarial Conference in Thailand and joined a Thailand Life Assurance Association meeting. Even though everything was in Thai, just showing up was incredibly valuable for building my network.

At work, I made sure to always say yes when colleagues invited me to explore the wonderful places of Thailand or to attend other company outings. That allowed me to rapidly build relationships with internal stakeholders.

What would you tell an Australian actuary thinking about moving overseas?

Evaluate the pros and cons carefully, then take the risk. There will be some "experience profits and losses" along the way, but the profits will outweigh any relocation inconvenience. Working in a team that mainly speaks another language is challenging in a good way — it really pushes you to develop next-level communication and trust-building skills.

No doubt you will find yourself stepping into a more senior role, taking on more responsibility and having a real impact on business outcomes. Therefore, I would recommend taking some senior management skills courses before you depart.

Grover Lin

What made you decide to move abroad?

I've always wanted to work overseas and in today's globally connected world, it feels even more valuable. For me, it's as much about career growth as it is about experiencing life in a different culture. Singapore is Asia’s insurance/reinsurance hub, making it the ideal place to learn and expand my career perspectives, with the additional benefit of being so close to Asian culture, food and travel! The final tipping point was realising the best time for action is now. I was ready to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone.

What was harder than expected, and what surprised you in a good way?

This will sound cliché, but the weather is hot and humid! The daily commute and outdoor activities can be quite tough. People also work longer hours and there's a higher tendency to always be "available", even on evenings and whilst on leave. There are new cultural contexts to learn too, such as always bringing a business card and being mindful of religious food restrictions. With any move abroad, you need to invest time and energy in building relationships in and outside of work. Surprisingly, my colleagues were all very friendly and there is a strong social lunch culture here — food really brings everyone together.

What does a typical work week look like and what's different from Sydney?

Days are flexible as long as the work gets done. People come in later because they stay later, unlike Sydney where most are early risers. My role is quite broad, so I’ve been fortunate enough to work with senior stakeholders on our underwriting strategy, business planning and attend client/broker meetings as a pricing actuary. Lunchtimes are a real social event as everyone goes out together, more like coffee runs back in Sydney.

As someone earlier in your career, what's been hardest and what's worked?

The hardest part has been getting over imposter syndrome. There's so much to learn in a new market and I felt like a foreigner even though I knew I had the fundamental skills from my previous roles.

In these situations, it’s important to have a continuous learning mindset and find mentors in the industry who will guide you. For me, it was building a strong relationship with my manager by demonstrating my strengths and asking questions when I was unsure. I also made allies; people who will advocate for my work but also help me adjust to the work culture, meet industry peers and attend social events together.

What would you tell an Australian actuary thinking about moving overseas?

Three ingredients make for a successful relocation: hard work, preparation and luck. The first two get you most of the way, but without a bit of luck the opportunity might never come. Equally, an opportunity without preparation may not lead to a successful experience. There's not much I can say about luck, but hard work and preparation go hand-in-hand. Think early about the skills and networks to build and the projects that give you overseas exposure, then talk to others who have already relocated. Preparation should start when you’re first thinking about working overseas, not when you’ve already decided, because by then you may already be behind.

What's next?

An Actuary Abroad continues through 2026 with more perspectives from Australian actuaries building careers across Asia and beyond.

If Asia is on your radar, a good place to start is the community already there. The Actuaries Institute is hosting Hong Kong Connect: Calculated Fun Trivia Night on 12 June 2026 in Wan Chai — an evening with the Hong Kong actuarial community over trivia and food.