Description: Brief essay on the benefits of focused pratice and the idea that differences between expert performers and normal adults reflect a long-life persistence of deliberate effort to improve performance.

Description: Briefing about recent activity of the International Section Council Members and initiatives, including recount of the International Committee charter.

Description: Every year since 1996, SCOR has rewarded the best academic work in the field of actuarial science with annual prizes in several countries throughout the world. These prizes are designed to promote the development of actuarial science, to encourage research in this field, and to contribute to the improvement of risk knowledge and management. The SCOR Actuarial Awards are recognized in the insurance and reinsurance industries as a mark of excellence. The Actuarial Awards in France are supported by the SCOR Corporate Foundation for Science. The SCOR Actuarial Awards juries are composed of internationally recognized researchers and insurance, reinsurance and finance professionals. The winners are selected for their command of actuarial concepts, the quality of their analytical methods, and the originality of their research in terms of scientific advances and potential practical applications to the world of risk management. In 2021, SCOR presented Actuarial Awards in five countries around the world: Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

Description: In this third issue of International News in 2022, we feature a contribution by SCOR, a leading reinsurer, highlighting the Actuarial Awards that SCOR presents annually, since 1996, to the best academic work in actuarial science, with annual prizes in several countries throughout the world. We also feature an article by Jessica Leong, FCAS, on barriers that Asian women must overcome to become leaders. Jessica recounts her own experience and how in overcoming some challenges she became the first Asian president of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Description: A new generation of Armenian actuaries have started to write SOA exams. The state of development of the profession is explored in this article.

Description: Recap of ICA 2018

Description: Actuarial activity in Azerbaijan commenced in 2008 with the enactment of the insurance law. The Actuarial Association of Azerbaijan was created in that year. The insurance law prescribes an official roster of actuaries who qualify after passing an exam. There is also the position of “appointed actuary” who reports directly to the board of directors of the insurance company. However, due to the relatively fast development of the insurance market, there is an urgent need of qualified actuaries. Actuaries Without Borders and the International Actuarial Association have thus helped in the capacity building process. This article describes the workshop that was held in Baku, in December 2019.

Description: Brief description of the actuarial profession in Switzerland, the success story of the Swiss Solvency Test (SST), and some features of the insurance market.

Description: In this fifth issue of International News of 2022, we feature the following contributions: (1) Ruben John John Callo, FSA, FIAA, FLMI, and the SOA’s Ambassador to Australia under the Ambassador Program , presents an illustrative study aimed at helping consumers choose life insurance products using the “customer value per dollar” methodology, and although examples included relate to the Australian market, the methodological principles can be adopted in other markets; (2) Shirley Z. Song, FSA, MAAA, Member of the International Section Council, Josh Dobiac, MS,CAIA, and Yang Jing, deal with the Targeted Improvements to the Accounting of Long-Duration Contracts (LTDI), and the fact that both IFRS and US GAAP frameworks are evolving into a new financial reporting framework. The implications for US insurers are discussed.

Description: Carlos Arocha, the 2022 Chair of the International Section Council, introduces the articles featured in the current newsletter issue. In addition, he highlights recent and planned activities undertaken by the section.