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Business Acumen / Personal Effectiveness
Presidential Reflections: A Year of Community, Connection and Collaboration
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As I sit down to reflect on my journey as your Institute President, I'm struck by how much has unfolded since I took on this role. What began as a vision centred on Community, Connection, and Collaboration has evolved into something far richer and more meaningful than I could have imagined.
The highlight of this year has undoubtedly been witnessing our actuarial community come alive through shared experiences. My Presidential Tour took me across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and each stop reinforced my belief that our strength lies not just in our technical expertise, but in our connections with one another.
The Asia Tour in August was particularly special. Visiting Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong felt like a homecoming – not just for me personally in KL, but for our profession's global family. We hosted 20 sessions engaging 265 participants. These numbers tell a story of growing engagement, but what they don't capture is the energy in the rooms, the thoughtful questions about cyber issues and social purpose, and the genuine excitement about where our profession is heading.
"The Presidential Address sessions have demonstrated that when we transform traditional formats into genuine learning opportunities, our community responds with enthusiasm and engagement."
Equally rewarding has been my visits to the eight Australian universities offering actuarial science as an undergraduate degree. These conversations with students and academics have been eye-opening. The questions these future actuaries ask aren't just about career paths – they're about purpose, impact and how they can use their skills to address society's biggest challenges. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their perspectives on technology, sustainability and social responsibility challenge us all to think bigger.
The International Actuarial Association meetings in São Paulo were a powerful reminder of how our challenges transcend borders. Watching our own Bozenna Hinton lead as IAA President filled me with pride in Australian actuarial excellence. The conversations over those three days confirmed what I've long suspected – whether we're in Australia, Brazil, or anywhere else in the world, actuaries are grappling with similar challenges: climate resilience, regulatory evolution and emerging technologies.
The standout development was the IAA's new AI for Actuaries initiative , which aligns perfectly with our own strategic thinking about the future of our profession.
When I set out with community as a key focus, I wasn't thinking only of our own actuarial community – I was thinking about how we serve and strengthen the broader communities we're part of. This year has seen us deepen our connections across government, industry and academia in meaningful ways.
Win-Li with Steve Hui, FIAA, (left to Win-Li) and officials from Hong Kong's Insurance Authority
Our regulatory and bilateral meetings throughout the Asia Tour highlighted the value of these cross-sector partnerships. From discussions with local regulators about sustainability and affordability challenges to engaging with innovation companies like CoverGo in Hong Kong, we've been actively building relationships that extend our profession's influence and create opportunities for our members.
Back home, our CEO Elayne Grace and fellow actuaries Victor Bajanov and Craig Price spoke at Australia's AI Leadership Summit – organised by CEDA and the National AI Centre – providing a powerful platform to showcase how actuaries are uniquely positioned to lead on AI governance and ethical implementation.
We've also been investing in future talent through our sponsorship of the CEW Data Science and AI scholarship, while strengthening ties with government agencies and industry partners across sectors. These partnerships ensure actuaries have a seat at the table where critical decisions about technology and society are being made, while creating new pathways for our members to make an impact.
This year has crystallised my thinking about AI and where our profession is heading. The disruption isn't coming – it's here. But rather than viewing this as a threat, I see it as our moment to shine. Building on our AI-Powered Actuary report from last year, we've developed a comprehensive tactical plan that we'll be rolling out over the next 15 months.
This plan isn't just about keeping up with technology – it's about ensuring every actuary has the skills, knowledge, and support to thrive in an AI-enhanced world. We're looking at everything from education and lifelong learning to new career pathways and partnerships.
The age of AI and data is the age of the actuary, but to seize our moment, we need to do more than build on our strengths – we must extend our ambitions.
Win-Li presenting during the 2025 Presidential Asia Tour
What has surprised me most in this role is how much I've learnt from our members. Every conversation, whether with a recent graduate in Shanghai or a seasoned practitioner in Sydney, has taught me something new about resilience, innovation, and the power of professional community.
I've learnt that leadership isn't about having all the answers – it's about creating spaces where others can share their insights and solutions. I've discovered that our community's greatest asset isn't our mathematical prowess (though that's considerable), but our willingness to collaborate across boundaries – geographical, generational and professional.
As I look towards the final months of my presidency, I'm optimistic about what we're building together. The initiatives we've started this year – from the AI tactical plan to our enhanced global partnerships – are laying foundations that will serve our profession for years to come.
But more than any program or strategy, what gives me the most confidence is seeing how our community continues to live out the values of connection and collaboration. Whether it's a young actuary in Melbourne asking sharp questions about cyber risk, or experienced professionals in New Zealand sharing their expertise with the next generation, our community is engaged and alive with possibility.
Win-Li with 2025 Actuary of the Year Iris Lun (left) and Rohan John (right) in Melbourne, Australia
The challenges ahead – from climate change to technological disruption – are significant. But I've seen what we can accomplish when we work together, when we connect across traditional boundaries, and when we collaborate with shared purpose and passion.
We are a profession with deep roots, strong ethics, and high standards. We thrive on challenge and embrace change. We are poised to be at the forefront of data and AI.
As we move forward together, I'm confident that our future is bright – not because the path ahead is easy, but because we're walking it together, as one connected, collaborative community – serving not just ourselves, but the broader communities that depend on our expertise.
