To kick off the year, the IFoA will be hosting its Asia conference for the first time in the city of Kuala Lumpur on 3 and 4 March. 

A massive thank you to our volunteers from across the region who have worked very hard in creating a fantastic programme.  If you haven’t signed up, don’t miss the chance to do so now as early bird prices are ending on 3 February!

Study mentoring is also back by popular demand and we are currently recruiting volunteer career ambassadors to help out at local careers fairs.  Further details can be found below.

On behalf of the IFoA, I would like to wish those celebrating Chinese New Year and Tết Nguyên Đán a healthy, prosperous and successful year ahead!

Caryn Chua
Actuary Representative of South-East Asia

The IFoA has been invited to participate in careers fairs in Singapore (on 18 February) and in Kuala Lumpur (from 30 March to 3 April).  Further details can be found here.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help by becoming IFoA Career Ambassadors. Would you like to share your experience with enthusiastic young people?  Please contact Georgina Jenkins or visit our website to find out more.

We are pleased to announce that our new Director of Education, Clifford Friend, joined us in January, following Dr Trevor Watkins' retirement.  Clifford has a distinguished academic record at Cranfield University, including a period as acting Vice-Chancellor.  He will be visiting:

• India and Sri Lanka from 28 January to 4 February, for the Global Congress of Actuaries

• Shanghai on 29 February and 1 March

• Kuala Lumpur from 2 to 4 March, for the IFoA Asia Conference.

If you are attending either of these events, do come and meet him.

Are you interested in becoming a study mentor?  We are particularly looking for Fellows based in Singapore or Malaysia who could help with CA2, CA3, ST1, ST2, SA1 or SA2.  If you would like to get involved you can apply via our Volunteer vacancies webpage or contact Debbie Atkins to find out more.

We are also in the process of arranging study mentoring dates and venues for the upcoming April exams.  Those interested in CAs, STs and SAs subjects, please contact Caryn Chua with your choice of subject(s) and preferred location.

“I am a Fellow of the IFoA based in Singapore with Pacific Life Re. I was excited to find out about the IFoA’s plans to host a conference in the region and decided to volunteer to be part of the Programme Committee for the IFoA Asia Conference 2016.”

“My main driver for volunteering is my personal belief that it is important to develop the profession and give back to the IFoA. Volunteering for the conference was also a great platform for me to share and exchange my views on the hot topics affecting actuaries in this part of the world. The experience was an eye-opener and I was impressed to see the level of effort and dedication that went on behind the scenes.”

“I found it to be a very valuable experience as I had the opportunity to work alongside and meet with experienced actuaries from different backgrounds.”