Why young actuaries are putting their hands up

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognise the people who give their time to strengthen the communities and professions they belong to. In the actuarial profession, that contribution is alive and well — and increasingly, it is young actuaries who are stepping up to lead it.

We spoke with four Young Actuaries Program (YAP) chairs from across Australia and the Asia region about what drew them to volunteer leadership, what the work actually looks like, and what they would say to an early-career actuary still weighing up whether to get involved.

Kuan Ying Chen | YAP Chair, Queensland 

What drew you to YAAB/YAP? What does the work actually look like in practice?

I joined YAP to reconnect with the actuarial community in Brisbane. When I started in my current role — my first actuarial role — most of my time was focused on work and actuarial exams, which left little room to engage with the broader profession. Now that I have more capacity, I wanted to give time back and contribute where I can.

In practice, YAP work involves catching up with committee members to plan social and networking events for the upcoming quarters. Our goal is to bring more actuaries together and foster an open, supportive community where people can connect, share experiences and feel a sense of belonging.

Volunteering takes time and energy. What keeps you coming back?

I enjoy volunteering, but I also know that work and life can be distracting at times. That’s why I deliberately commit to roles that require active involvement. It keeps me accountable and engaged. Being part of something that has momentum and real impact is what keeps me coming back.

What would you tell a young actuary who's on the fence about getting involved?

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, in his book The Black Swan, describes “black swan” events as unexpected moments that can have a significant impact, both positive and negative. Getting involved is a way to put yourself in environments where positive black swans can happen — meeting the right people, discovering new interests or creating opportunities you didn’t anticipate.

You may not know exactly what you’ll get out of it, but that uncertainty is often where the value lies.

Looking back and looking forward: what do you know now that you wish you'd known earlier, and what's waiting for someone who takes the step?

The things I hesitate over often end up being the most rewarding once I commit. I’ve learnt that if you’re comfortable with the downside, it’s usually worth giving something a go.

For volunteering, the downside is fairly limited — at worst, you trade a bit of spare time. But, the upside can be meaningful connections, personal growth and the satisfaction of contributing to something beyond yourself.

Zack Domrow | YAP Chair, New South Wales

Zack Domrow experienced the value of a strong professional network early in his career. And when the opportunity arose to help create that for others, he took it. As Chair of YAP NSW, he works closely with his committee to deliver events and initiatives that matter to young actuaries at every stage.

 What drew you to YAAB/YAP? What does the work actually look like in practice?

YAP provides a great opportunity for young actuaries to connect with peers and build relationships in a more informal setting. This is something that I have personally experienced and benefited from earlier in my career. When the potential to be more directly involved arose, it felt a natural step to not only contribute to the profession, but to help create those same opportunities for others. 

The committee primarily focuses on organising and running events that build community and encourage the development and extension of professional networks for young actuaries, while also providing support for other YAP, YAAB and Institute initiatives.

As Chair, my role involves supporting the day-to-day running of the committee and working closely with members to determine our priorities and the events that will be of interest and value to young actuaries. The role also involves coordinating with the Institute and Young Actuaries Advisory Board to ensure alignment in our initiatives for young actuaries. 

Volunteering takes time and energy. What keeps you coming back?

Volunteering alongside work, family and other commitments takes effort, but it's genuinely rewarding. What I enjoy most is working with such talented, passionate committee members toward shared goals, and having fun along the way. I also value the chance to meet young actuaries at all stages of their careers and hear the breadth of perspectives and experiences they bring.

What would you tell a young actuary who's on the fence about getting involved?

Engagement is a key ingredient in maximising the value of being a member of the actuarial profession, particularly early in your career. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to deepen that engagement, expand your professional network and learn from others in ways that aren’t always possible through day‑to‑day work alone. 

Looking back and looking forward: what do you know now that you wish you'd known earlier, and what's waiting for someone who takes the step? 

Early in my career, it felt natural to place a strong emphasis on developing technical skills, particularly while completing the actuarial education program.

One aspect that doesn't always get the attention it deserves is soft skills development. Engaging through the Institute, and volunteering in particular, is one of the most effective ways to build these skills and form meaningful connections across the profession. This provides exposure to a variety of perspectives and experiences that may help shape aspects of your development and your career. 

Sankarshan Muralitharan | YAP Chair, Victoria

Sankarshan Muralitharan's decision to get involved with YAP was rooted in a conviction that professional development extends well beyond the technical. Since joining, he has been part of the effort to rebuild community connection among young actuaries in Victoria following COVID.

What drew you to YAAB/YAP? What does the work actually look like in practice?

My decision to get involved with YAAB/YAP was driven by two things:

1. A genuine desire to give back to the actuarial community and;
2. The recognition that professional development extends well beyond the technical.

In practice, the work centres on building a strong community of young actuaries – organising events, maintaining communications and creating spaces where early-career professionals can connect and grow. It is more hands-on than people might expect, but that is precisely what makes it rewarding.

Volunteering takes time and energy. What keeps you coming back?

What keeps me engaged is the community we have built.

In the aftermath of COVID, events were sparsely attended and the sense of connection had understandably diminished. Being part of the effort to rebuild that and seeing young actuaries re-engaging, forming a genuine community and showing up for one another has been deeply motivating. The connections I have made through YAAB/YAP are ones I genuinely value and that sense of belonging to a close-knit professional community is something worth investing in.

What would you tell a young actuary who's on the fence about getting involved?

Do not wait for the perfect moment, because it rarely arrives.

It is far too easy to deprioritise these opportunities in favour of immediate work demands, but the network you build outside of your own organisation is something no technical qualification can replicate. Getting involved with YAAB/YAP or any volunteering opportunity offers exposure to peers and perspectives you simply would not encounter otherwise. The professional and personal returns are well worth the commitment.

Looking back and looking forward: what do you know now that you wish you'd known earlier, and what's waiting for someone who takes the step?

Looking back, I wish I had understood earlier that career development is not purely about technical ability.

The actuarial exams naturally consume a great deal of attention and it is easy to treat everything else as secondary. What I know now is that the relationships and perspectives you build outside of your day-to-day role are just as meaningful.

For anyone considering getting involved, what is waiting on the other side is a broader sense of what the profession can look like and a community that genuinely supports you in getting there.

Robert Xu | YAP Chair, Asia

Robert Xu's first professional connections in Hong Kong came through an Actuaries Institute event. That experience — of arriving somewhere unfamiliar and finding a community — shaped the volunteer he became. As the only YAP chair spanning multiple markets across Asia, he is now focused on extending that same sense of belonging to young actuaries across the region.

What drew you to YAAB/YAP? What does the work actually look like in practice?

Moving to Hong Kong from Australia for my first job was a leap into the unknown. Hong Kong was a place where I had no family, friends or existing support network.

I attended an Actuaries Institute social event in Hong Kong that helped me make my first few connections and that experience stayed with me. After finishing my actuarial exams last year, I knew I wanted to give back by creating those same opportunities for others.

Serving on YAAB has been exciting because it gives me the space to think creatively about how to ensure young actuaries in Asia are just as supported as those in Australia.

My role is especially unique in that I’m the only member covering multiple markets across Asia. Since the geographical spread makes hosting frequent in-person events difficult, I’ve had to rethink how we build community.

One initiative I’m especially proud of is expanding the CoffeeBot networking program into Asia. It’s a simple idea: members sign up and are periodically matched with a peer for a casual coffee chat. Not only are geographical barriers removed, but the initiative has also had a multiplier effect as each round of introductions leads to further connections, building momentum over time.

Volunteering takes time and energy. What keeps you coming back?

I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people navigate their careers.

Volunteering provides a window into the industry, allowing me to connect with actuaries in roles I’d otherwise never encounter. Without the Institute, my perspective on the profession would be much narrower.

The real payoff of volunteering is seeing your efforts translate into something meaningful. There’s a specific satisfaction in looking around a room at the end of an event and seeing people who arrived as strangers exchanging contact details. It’s rewarding to know that a few hours of planning have kick-started a network for others on a scale that goes far beyond what you could achieve individually.

What would you tell a young actuary who's on the fence about getting involved?

The idea that you need years of experience to contribute is a myth. With a huge portion of our membership under 35, we are the ones who will define the future of this profession. We need your perspective to ensure the Institute supports our generation's reality.

If you want to get involved, the volunteer page is the best place to start. You can also find volunteer vacancies advertised in the weekly Bulletin email . You have nothing to lose by putting your hand up and just giving it a go.

Looking back and looking forward: what do you know now that you wish you'd known earlier, and what's waiting for someone who takes the step? 

Being based outside of Australia, I’ve come to appreciate how important the Australian actuarial community has become to me. Through volunteering with the Institute, I’ve been able to turn what might have been a distant professional network into a vital support system. It has helped me not only adapt to a new workplace but also find my footing in a new city. Looking back, I wish I'd realised that sooner.

You also don’t need to feel fully prepared before you start volunteering. Most of the value comes from figuring things out as you go and even small actions — like encouraging your colleagues to come along to an Institute event — can have a much bigger impact than you expect. 

Is it your turn to put your hand up?

The profession is shaped by the people who put their hands up. If you're ready to be one of them, visit the volunteer page or look out for vacancies in the weekly Bulletin.

You can also subscribe to the YAAB newsletter to stay up to date with news and opportunities from the young actuary community.