Insurance Uncut

What is it like to start an actuarial career today?

In this episode of Insurance Uncut, we are joined by Michael Walden (FloodRe) and Jade Lagrue (LCP) to discuss early actuarial careers, from balancing exams and work to finding your professional community.

Drawing on their experiences in-house, in consulting and through the London Market Student Group (LMSG), they explore how AI and hybrid working are changing the way actuaries learn. They also share advice for those starting out - and for the senior managers supporting them.

In this episode of Insurance Uncut, we are joined by Catrin Townsend and Jeremy Keating from Price Writers to discuss training, transformation and productivity in insurance technical teams.

We explore how teams can build practical technical capability, make the most of both established and emerging tools, and create the time and headspace needed for meaningful change. From AI and machine learning to better planning, delegation and team effectiveness, the conversation is packed with practical ideas for pricing, reserving and data teams.

This week we talk to Lisa Renton-Ahmadi and Rav Atwal from Ki about algorithmic underwriting, actuarial innovation and the growing use of AI in insurance pricing.

We explore how Ki combines data, technology and machine learning with underwriting expertise and actuarial judgement; why human oversight remains essential; and how modern tools can help teams make better, faster and more scalable decisions.

This week we talk to Sean Malloy, founder of First Hand Insurance Recruitment about the actuarial recruitment market and the changing skills, opportunities and expectations shaping the profession.

Having previously worked as an actuary, Sean brings a valuable perspective on both sides of the recruitment process. We discuss the value of personal relationships and cultural fit in successful recruitment, and how increasing specialisation is shaping actuarial careers.

Sean also shares his perspective on AI, technical skills, the entry-level talent pipeline and why being authentic can make all the difference.

This week we talk to Sayeed Zaman from LCP, about the findings from LCP’s latest actuarial team size survey. Drawing on insights from 47 firms across the UK and European general insurance markets, we explore:

• Why actuarial team sizes can differ significantly between firms of a similar size.

• How specialist roles and AI are shaping actuarial teams and the skills needed.

• How leaders can shape and develop their teams for the future.

This week we talk to Laura Hobern and Katie Garner from LCP, who are joining the Insurance Uncut team. We discuss:

• The new hosting line-up and the perspectives they will bring to the podcast.

• Some insurance market hot topics on our minds right now, including climate change, inflation and 2025 year-end developments.

• How AI is shaping the market, and other themes emerging from the PRA’s 2026 Dear CEO letter.

This week we talk to Nick Wolfe, Head of Specialty at NorthStandard. We discuss:

• What makes P&I clubs different to other insurers.

• The speciality insurance lines that Nick looks after and potential impacts of recent geo-political events.

• The importance of culture in managing a team and when merging firms.

This week we talk to Nick Line, 2 months into his new role as Chief Underwriting Officer at CFC, to explore what drove the career move and the latest trends shaping underwriting today. We discuss:

• A day in a life of a CUO

• How to make the most of analytics within underwriting

• The latest trends in the cyber market

• The importance of culture to an organisation and Nick’s involvement in the Dive In Festival.

This week we talk to Polly Miller, Legal Director at Clyde & Co, to explore the latest developments in occupational disease litigation. We discuss:

• Typical issues that arise in disease claims and how claimant and defendant lawyers approach these

• How insurance coverage has evolved over time, including the impact of COVID-19

• Current trends in disease litigation and the emerging risks to watch.

This week we talk to Richard Revill, Head of Corporate Actuarial, and Ed Rolland, Group Senior Reserving Actuary at Canopius Group, about their claims analytics research. We discuss:

• The motivation behind the research and the key outcomes

• The techniques used and issues faced along the way

• Practical applications and next steps for claims analytics research