Actuaries Institute names new president

Lindsay Smartt will head up the institute, and is joined by vice-president John Evans, Jenny Lyon as senior vice-president, and CEO David Bell.

Mr Smartt has been a non-executive director of the Actuaries Institute since 2010, and is currently a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee at BT Financial Group.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Smartt said he is committed to extending the profession’s influence among key decision-makers who are grappling with complex issues such as an ageing population, budget reform and climate change.

“The institute will also build on the substantial work of my predecessor, Estelle Pearson, and focus on sustainability, the relevance of the profession and the role the institute plays in the international arena,” he said.

The Actuaries Institute intends to issue high-profile white papers focusing on topics such as data analytics, insurance, banking, and housing wealth.

Mr Smartt said the Institute needs to continue to be responsive to the changing business environment with an increasing emphasis on disruptive inputs and the development of new practice areas for actuaries.

“Many actuaries now nominate data analytics as their primary area of practice. The Institute is responding to this change by driving the strategic development of the role of actuaries in this exciting new area and working with our international colleagues to increase our influence in this sector,” he said.

In particular, Mr Smartt said the Institute wants to further expand its support in Asia, where it has 15 per cent of its membership base.

[Related: Credit Ombudsman appoints former ASIC exec]