ActuarialSocietyofSA

𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄: 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝟮 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲) We are pleased to share the latest edition of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) Research Newsletter, celebrating how our members are taking "A Seat at the Table" to prepare, engage, and make a tangible difference through research. Inside This Issue: • 𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: Lusani Mulaudzi explores the science of decision-making, looking back at how ASSA-funded research helped shape the South African Law Reform Commission's landmark report on medico-legal claims. • 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Discover the winning insights from our 2026 outlook exploring Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Actuarial Profession in South Africa, featuring insights from overall winner Kavi Pather and runners-up Sisanda Ngema and Callan Kotzen. • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Celebrating excellence across our published papers, convention presentations, and honours contributions, including recipients of the RGA Best Published Papers Prize and Alexforbes Best Paper Award. • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: An engaging interview with part-time olive tree farmer and researcher Adriaan on pushing boundaries, demystifying literature, and the importance of open-sourced knowledge. • 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: We are thrilled to launch ASSA's new Discord-based research communication platform, designed to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, and real-time engagement across all our practice areas! 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 From navigating the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and actuarial judgment to contributing to public policy and open-source professional development, our research community continues to move the profession forward. Read the full newsletter today: assa.net.za/io/fn #ActuarialScience #ASSA #ResearchNewsletter #ArtificialIntelligence #PublicPolicy #Actuaries #SouthAfrica

Mark Your Calendars! We are pleased to share the 2027 Seminars Calendar. Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise in Investments, Healthcare, or Life Insurance, we have a diverse range of sessions planned across Gauteng and Cape Town. Stay tuned for more details and registration links closer to each date. For any immediate inquiries, please reach out to events@actuarialsociety.org.za #ActuarialSocietySA #Actuaries #ProfessionalDevelopment #CPD #ActuarialScience

Join the Non-Life Insurance Sessional for an essential industry update presented by the Prudential Authority. This sessional delivers an overview of industry experience and financial soundness based on regulatory returns under the Solvency Assessment and Management (SAM) regime. Key focus areas include underwriting experience, the composition of assets, liabilities, and basic own funds, and a detailed breakdown of Solvency Capital Requirements (SCR). Register here: assa.net.za/io/fi #NonLifeInsurance #PrudentialAuthority #SolvencyAssessment #InsuranceRegulation #FinancialSoundness

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮 We are thrilled to complete our speaker line-up for the 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔 & 𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹! Joining Michelle Abrahams and Siobháin O'Mahony as our special guest speaker is Tatenda Karonga, a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) and a Senior Actuarial Specialist. Tatenda brings firsthand experience navigating the rigorous qualification journey, managing professional growth, and building a successful career in the industry. During the session, he will share personal insights, practical strategies for tackling exams, and guidance on how to leverage your ASSA qualification across the continent. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: • 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: The complete ASSA qualification pathway from student membership to Fellowship, continental opportunities, and overcoming common challenges. • 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: Tatenda Karonga – Fellow of ASSA & Senior Actuarial Specialist Michelle Abrahams – Member Engagement Executive, ASSA Siobháin O'Mahony – Education Executive, ASSA • 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗔𝗗𝗔 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀: Yvonne Palm and Yeside Kazeem • 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱: Current ASSA student members, university students, early-career actuarial professionals, and aspiring actuaries across Africa and beyond. 📅 Secure your spot today by registering here: assa.net.za/io/ff #ActuarialScience #ASSA #AADA #ActuarialJourney #Actuary

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our valued sponsors for their generous support of the 2026 ASSA seminars. Your partnership drives innovation and professional growth across the actuarial profession. Thank you for helping us make this year's events a remarkable success! #ASSA2026 #SeminarSponsors #Gratitude #ActuarialScience #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝗙𝗥𝗦 𝟭𝟳 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. With models now driving key financial figures, actuarial work faces increased audit scrutiny - often by other actuaries acting as subject matter experts. Unlike accountants governed by ISAs, reviewing actuaries lack equivalent professional standards. Drawing on consulting and financial reporting experience, this session examines where review approaches diverge (from modelling and discount rates to pipeline premiums) and asks: what should the profession do about it? 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: assa.net.za/io/fh #IFRS17 #ActuarialScience #LifeAssurance #FinancialReporting #AuditScrutiny

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿! Please join us for our second event of 2026, which is sponsored by Dynamo Analytics | Psicle! This will feature actuarial presentation crash courses on hot topics, drinks, and snacks. It is a fantastic way to meet South Africans in the industry working in the UK. Open to all ASSA and alumni members of ASSA (if you were a member of ASSA at any point in time). Get your tickets here: assa.net.za/io/fj If you want to join ASSA Abroad UK or have any queries, please reach out to Dylan Ascough at dylan@truesouth.co.za. #ASSAAbroad #ActuarialSociety #NetworkingEvent #ASSAAlumni #ProfessionalDevelopment #Actuaries

A huge thank you to the 1 900 delegates and the fantastic speakers who made #ASSA2026ZA such a success. Of course, we couldn't have done it without the incredible support of our sponsors and exhibitors.

Victoria Reuvers, MD of WealthStrat, and Justin Floor, actuary and Head of Equities at PSG Asset Management, are wrapping up #ASSA2026ZA with thoughts on the art of making investment decisions in an uncertain environment.

The final plenary of #ASSA2026ZA with Jeremy Gardiner, Director at @ninetyone_sa, on the state of the economy. South Africa is in better shape than expected despite the global crisis, but headwinds are challenging.

Discussing the future of life expectancy and forecasting long-term mortality improvements at #ASSA2026ZA with Jivko Binev and Doug Rix. Historically, life expectancy has continued to rise, driven by waves of medical and healthcare innovations and lifestyle changes. While this trend has slowed over the past two decades, the recent rise of AI and the growth of new medical innovations such as GLP1 drugs offer cause for optimism.

Actuarial recruitment firm @sa3_coza and platinum sponsor of #ASSA2026ZA presenting the results from the 2025 SA3 Salary Survey. Jurie Gouws explains that the results are based on feedback from some 1 500 participants over three months last year.

Congratulations to Marli Venter and Garret Slattery on receiving the @ActuarialSa Presidential Award from Nalen Naidoo at #ASSA2026ZA. The award recognises two actuarial education leaders who have shaped the minds of many of South Africa’s actuaries through their stellar careers in education.

Poster presentations were introduced at #ASSA2026ZA to showcase research, case studies, innovative practices, or work in progress in a short, visual, interactive format. Mpho Simelane’s presentation, “Cities as risk systems: Rethinking property development and financial decision-making in SA”, was chosen as the best poster presentation for 2026.

Congratulations to the following top Academic Achievers honoured at #ASSA2026ZA: F201: Motlodiwa Didintle Modise, F202: Huckleberry Finn Elliot, F203: Joshua Benadie, F205: Craig Charles Barth, and F207: Alexandra Baptista Gouveia.