Podcast/Vodcast/Audio

Data Science and AI

Superannuation and Investments

Investment Ideas: Digitisation

By Actuaries Institute, Douglas Isles, Jan Swinhoe, Aidan Nguyen Short read • 13 March 2025

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We're witnessing a historic democratisation of data and AI capability.

So says Zilinka Jiang in our latest instalment of Investment Ideas. In Digitisation, Zilinka sits down with hosts Jan Swinhoe and Douglas Isles to discuss the transformative potential of AI.

Key areas discussed include:

Practical applications in business, including how Telstra has improved customer service by using AI to help call centre agents quickly access relevant information.
The value of AI as a personal productivity tool, particularly as a coach for decision-making and communication
The importance of approaching AI with experimentation rather than anxiety
How AI can enhance investment management, from processing large volumes of data to identifying patterns in customer complaints

About the guest speaker

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Zilinka Jiang

Zilinka is a Data Science Executive at Quantium. Zilinka has successfully led dynamic projects in telecommunications, retail, and finance, creating value through AI and data-driven transformations. With a passion for nurturing talent, she has guided global teams and established data science practices while supporting the career development of over 100 data scientists. Zilinka was recently awarded the Actuaries Institute's Women Leaders in AI/Data Science Scholarship to complete studies at the Stanford Business School.

About the authors

Actuaries Institute

The Actuaries Institute is committed to promoting the actuarial profession and provides expert comment on public policy issues that exhibit uncertainty of future financial outcomes.

Douglas Isles

Douglas qualified as an actuary in 1999 while working at Aegon UK, where he worked in marketing and then as an investment manager. He moved to Australia in 2002, and after a brief spell with CBA, has spent over 17 years at Platinum Asset Management, in two stints, sitting on their management committee since rejoining in 2013. He is currently the Head of Investment, having previously been an Investment Analyst and Investment Specialist. Douglas lived in Singapore from 2009, launching Pengana Capital’s Asian office before working in equity sales for Standard Chartered Bank. He has an MA in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge, became a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute in 2019, is a member of the AICD and sits on the board of Odyssey House NSW.

Jan Swinhoe

Jan spent the first 9 years of her career working in the Superannuation world with limited exposure to investment intricacies, but she was curious (and naiive enough) to respond to an ad through the Actuaries Institute that sought trainee derivatives dealers for a large US investment bank. The rest is history with Jan spending the next twenty years of her career in banking and broadening out many aspects of her structuring expertise to complete numerous transactions for large global companies. Since commencing her Non-executive career in 2011, she has sought to merge these passions and has served on a number of Boards including Mercer Superannuation (Chair for 10 years until June 2024), IMB Limited, Suncorp Superannuation, Athletics Australia (First female President) and Fusion Retail Group. Jan currently serves on the Boards of Swiss Re Life & Health, Australian Philanthropic Services and Vanguard Super. Jan’s personal interests include running, financial literacy for all and mental health.

Aidan Nguyen

Aidan is the Public Policy Lead for the Actuaries Institute where he cares about improving and aligning financial wellbeing for all. He helps actuaries use their voices as both trusted adviser and honest broker to get better public policy and effective regulation.