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Strengthening Partnerships: IAA's Strategic Outreach
Audience: All
The IAA recently concluded a comprehensive series of high-level meetings in Switzerland and Germany with supranational bodies and member associations, marking a significant step forward in expanding the organization's global influence and collaborative reach. Led by Executive Director Mathieu Langelier and International Relations Officer Irfan Yar, this strategic initiative brought forward actuarial expertise with key international organizations to explore innovative partnerships and capacity-building opportunities.
The delegation's journey began in Geneva, where they engaged with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team, including Miguel Solana, Regional & Technical Lead and Senior Advisor on Insurance and Risk Finance. This meeting laid the groundwork for potential collaboration in insurance and risk finance sectors, positioning actuarial expertise as a valuable resource for advancing critical development priorities worldwide. The discussions highlighted the growing recognition of actuarial science's role in supporting sustainable development goals.
Building on this momentum, the team met with André Picard, Chief Technical Adviser and Head of the Actuarial Services Unit in the International Labour Organization's Social Protection Department. Joined by Immediate Past President Charles Cowling, the group explored joint forums and actuarial capacity building initiatives, emphasizing how strategic actuarial expertise can enhance the ILO's comprehensive social protection framework.
In addition, the team met with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) on August 28th brought together Secretary General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano with the IAA leadership. This encounter between the world's leading social security organization and the global actuarial profession opened new pathways for leveraging actuarial expertise to strengthen social security systems across the globe, representing a significant opportunity for cross-sector collaboration.
In Geneva, the IAA delegation attended the Annual General Meeting of our valued member association, the Swiss Association of Actuaries. This engagement was an important part of our trip, allowing us to connect directly with members, exchange insights, and strengthen collaboration. We greatly appreciate the warm welcome and the opportunity to learn more about the priorities and contributions of the Swiss actuarial community, as such meetings reinforce the IAA’s commitment to supporting our members globally and fostering dialogue that advances the actuarial profession worldwide.
The European tour continued in Basel, where the team participated in the annual staff meeting with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). This engagement reinforced existing collaborations and provided an invaluable platform for exchanging perspectives between the actuarial and insurance supervisory communities, strengthening the foundation for ongoing professional cooperation.
In Zurich, the IAA team met with Butch Bacani, Head of Insurance at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The discussion provided valuable insights into UNEP’s priorities and offered an opportunity to exchange perspectives on how the actuarial profession can further contribute to sustainability and risk management.
The team also visited the office of the Geneva Association and met with Darren Pain, Director of Research, and Dennis Noordhoek, Director of Public Policy & Regulation. The discussions focused on industry trends, regulatory developments, and shared priorities, highlighting important opportunities for collaboration and strengthening the actuarial profession’s engagement in global policy dialogue.
After Zurich, the IAA delegation headed to Germany to visit the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and met with colleagues, including Dr. Annette Detken, Head of the Global Shield Solutions Platform. The discussions were highly constructive, covering topics such as capacity building and collaboration with the Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii), and exploring ways to work together.
The trip concluded in Cologne with a visit to Deutsche Aktuarvereinigung e.V. (DAV), one of our valued member associations. The IAA delegation had constructive discussions with the DAV team, exploring shared priorities, upcoming initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration. This visit reinforced the importance of close engagement with our member associations and highlighted the many ways we can work together to advance the actuarial profession in Germany and globally.
Through these carefully orchestrated meetings, the IAA continues to position itself as a strategic partner for major international organizations, highlighting the vital role of actuarial expertise in addressing global challenges ranging from social protection to sustainable development and insurance supervision.
Photos available online
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