2025 Board Member Candidate
Karen Burnett, FSA, FCIA
Credentials: FSA 2002, FCIA 2002
Country: Canada
Practice Area: Retirement
Employer/Current Work: CAAT Pension Plan
SOA Board Experience: 2022-2025
Video
Questionnaire
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Provide a brief description of your professional background and the type of work you have performed. Please include SOA and non-SOA volunteer and governing experiences including collaborative leadership. Explain how these experiences have prepared you as an Elected Board Member and qualify you in carrying out the strategic direction of the SOA.
I serve as Vice President, Pension Solutions at CAAT Pension Plan, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to sustainable workplace retirement plans across Canada. I am also a long-standing advocate for better retirement solutions that improve financial security for more Canadians and deliver better outcomes for the businesses and people they support.
I bring more than two decades of experience in the pension and benefits space, spanning consulting, corporate, and not-for-profit roles. Before joining CAAT, I spent over 23 years at WTW (Willis Towers Watson), where I worked as a consulting actuary and trusted advisor to some of Canada’s largest employers. My focus included plan design, funding strategies, and risk management for both defined benefit and defined contribution pension arrangements. I also led projects related to employee engagement, governance, and total rewards optimization. Across all these roles, I’ve been committed to shaping retirement programs that are forward-looking, sustainable, and member-centric. At CAAT, I’ve helped lead the organization’s strategic growth—working across industries and geographies to bring well-governed, value-driven pension solutions to over 110,000 members and 700 employers. In addition to my professional work, I’m currently in my last year of my first term as an SOA Board member. Prior to that, I spent 20 years volunteering on the FSA retirement exams committee, progressing through the various roles from item writer to General Officer. While on the SOA Board, I have been fortunate to have served on a number of board committees, including two years on the Governance and Policy Committee and as Board Liaison for both the Research Executive and Education Executive Committees. I’ve also participated in industry forums focused on the future of retirement, professional standards, and innovation. Additionally, I’ve served as a member of the Association of Pension Management Ontario Council for over 10 years, including 3 years as Chair. These diverse experiences have prepared me to bring both strategic vision and practical insight to the Board. I understand how governance, industry trends, and policy intersect—and I’m passionate about ensuring the profession continues to evolve with purpose and impact.