The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), UK. hosted the prestigious IFoA Industry–Academia Conclave at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Brindavan campus, Whitefield, in Bangalore on 21st March 2025.
This landmark event brought together over 100 students from six leading institutions —Christ University, University of Madras, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Institute of Actuarial and Quantitative Studies (IAQS), Institute of Insurance and Risk Management (IIRM), and the host SSSIHL—
It also welcomed eleven top organizations shaping the future of actuarial talent acquisition in India: Accenture, Swiss Re, Aon, Chubb, K.A. Pandit, CreditAccess Life Insurance Ltd., RSA Insurance, TransAsia Risk Advisors, KPMG India, PwC India, and Tech Actuarial.
Inaugural Ceremony
The event commenced with a sacred Vedam Chanting (Medha Suktam), and offering of prayers to the Goddess of Knowledge (Saraswati), followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL, Mr. Vikas Newatia, President, IFoA, and Mr. Satya Sai Mudigonda, Lead, Center of Excellence in Actuarial Data Science, SSSIHL, along with other dignitaries from academia and industry.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the significance of actuarial growth in India, the university’s unique value-based integral education system, and notable achievements such as the CAS Gold Level Recognition and SoA Advanced Curriculum.
Ms. Katrina Thompson, President of IFoA, delivered an engaging town hall address, sharing IFoA’s vision for the future and fostering dialogue among academia and industry stakeholders.
Roundtable Discussion: The Future of the Actuarial Profession
An exclusive, invite-only roundtable discussion on “The Future of the Actuarial Profession”, moderated by Ms. Katrina Thompson, President of IFoA, held at the start of the day, set the tone for the event
The session featured insightful contributions from key industry and academic leaders, including:
- Industry Leaders: Vikas Newatia (IFoA India, CEO of RSA), Mr. Rohit Jain (Accenture), Ms. Megha Garg (Swiss Re), Ms. Smita Singh (Aon), Mr. Raghu Anjan (Chubb), Ms. Suruchi Bhargava (K.A. Pandit), Ms. Anjani Choudhary (CreditAccess), and Ms. Arunima Sinha (Chubb).
- Academic Leaders: Satya Sai Mudigonda (SSSIHL), Dr. Biju Toms (Christ), Dr. Mahadeo Ota (Crescent), Dr. M. R. Sindhumol (Madras University), Dr. V. V. K. Mohan (IIRM), and Mr. Aman Loharuka (IAQS).
Other attendees included Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dr. Rohan Yashraj Gupta, Dr. Priyanka Pandey, Mr. Niranjan, Dr. Darshan Gera, Mr. Arunachala, Mr. Sai Prabhakar, Ms. V. Aparna, and Mr. Sai Vinod.
Panel Discussion: Cyber Risk
A key highlight of the conclave was an insightful panel discussion on “Cyber Risk”, exploring the evolving challenges in managing cyber threats. The discussion examined the current role of actuaries in cyber risk, gaps in actuarial involvement in cyber risk management, and innovative strategies for small businesses to mitigate cyber threats.
Moderated by Ms. Katrina Thompson, the panel featured leading experts Mr. Suresh Balakrishnan (Strategic Risk Consultant, TransAsia Advisors), Mr. Sony Anthony (Partner and Head – Cyber Defense & Incident Response, Global Head – Cyber in Deals, KPMG India), and Mr. Thilak Pandiyan (Director – Cyber Security & Privacy, PwC India), who shared invaluable insights on cyber risk management and how actuaries can contribute to cyber risk assessment and mitigation.
Student Showcase: Career Opportunities in Actuarial Science
The Student Showcase session provided young participants a unique opportunity to interact with five leading actuarial organizations: Accenture, Swiss Re, Chubb, Aon, and CreditAccess Life. Representatives from these firms presented diverse actuarial career pathways, fostering meaningful discussions and equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of career prospects in the actuarial industry.
Conclusion & Acknowledgments
The conclave concluded with the universal prayer symbolizing unity and gratitude. We express our heartfelt gratitude to IFoA for hosting this impactful event at SSSIHL. Special acknowledgment goes to Vikas Newatia, Chunku Pani, Payal Prakash, and Dhanashree from IFoA for their exceptional efforts in making this conclave a resounding success.
