What’s really holding actuarial teams back from getting value out of modern technology? 

In this episode of Risk Reimagined, Technology isn’t the barrier: rethinking actuarial transformation, Steve speaks with Adrien, a career actuary who has spent years working at the intersection of actuarial practice, platforms, and AI. Together, they explore why the biggest challenge today isn’t access to tools, but how organisations collaborate and operationalise them. 

Adrien shares real examples of when transformation worked, and when it didn’t, highlighting the role of trust, early collaboration between actuaries and technologists and iterative delivery over long, siloed builds. The conversation also looks at how AI is changing the pace of development, shortening feedback loops and making actuarial insight more accessible across the business. For listeners navigating technology change, this episode offers practical perspective on what actually drives successful actuarial transformation and what gets in the way!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

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What does it really take to upskill actuaries for AI and modern data work? 

In this episode, Steve speaks with Cal Skwerski, an actuary who has moved from traditional reserving into analytics and technology-led transformation, about how Cal approached building data literacy at scale. The conversation explores why early training efforts fell short, how a shift toward a shared baseline of skills changed adoption and why community, peer learning, and hands-on “capstone” projects proved critical. 

A central theme is the importance of creating a common language around data, AI and governance enabling actuaries to collaborate more effectively across disciplines and manage new risks with confidence. Rather than focusing on tools alone, the episode offers practical insight into how culture and learning by doing can turn upskilling into a catalyst for real transformation.

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What does real transformation look like when AI becomes a core part of how organisations operate and how do leaders embrace that change without introducing new risks?

In this episode of Risk Reimagined: How Actuaries lead transformational change without losing control, Steve is joined by Jennifer Jaben, a transformation leader with deep actuarial roots, to explore how technology and AI are reshaping business models across insurance and financial services. The conversation goes beyond incremental improvements to examine what it takes to redesign organisations in a way that is both innovative and resilient.

Together, they discuss why actuaries are uniquely positioned to lead this shift, how talent and mindset shape successful transformation, and where the real risks lie, whether from moving too slowly or adopting AI without the right governance. This episode offers a practical, risk-aware perspective on how leaders can rethink transformation in the age of AI while maintaining control, trust and long-term value.

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What happens when actuarial science meets applied AI at scale? 

In this episode, Steve is joined by Lisa Wardlaw, a long-time industry leader and innovator, to explore how technology is beginning to fundamentally change the way insurance and risk are modelled. Moving beyond surface-level AI use cases, the conversation dives into why real transformation won’t come from incremental efficiency gains, but from rethinking core business models and decision-making. 

Lisa shares a provocative view of the future, where real-time, dynamic risk modelling becomes possible and where organisations that fail to adapt risk being left far behind. The episode also examines the evolving role of actuaries in managing emerging AI risks, from governance to subtle, hard-to-detect exposures, and offers practical guidance for executives ready to move from experimentation to meaningful action in a rapidly changing landscape.

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In episode 1, Steve explores how actuarial science and modern technology are coming together to reshape the future of insurance. John Johanssen, a senior technologist with decades of experience, shares why actuaries are uniquely positioned to lead this change and why they have become some of his favourite partners in innovation. 

From real-world examples of more granular catastrophe underwriting to lessons learned from projects that took longer than planned, the conversation offers a candid look at what works and what does not. We dive into how AI and modern development tools are dramatically speeding up software delivery, where the hype around AI falls short, and why narrowly focused use cases deliver the most value. The episode also tackles governance, security, and what business leaders, technologists, and actuaries can do today to prepare for a rapidly changing, platform-driven future.

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The days of actuaries working quietly behind spreadsheets are over. Today’s actuaries are shaping strategy, building models at scale and solving real-world problems. Welcome to Risk Reimagined, where we explore what it really means to be an actuary of the future. Together with my guests we discuss how technology, data, and actuarial thinking come together in practice. Whether you’re studying, practicing or simply curious about the future of the profession, this is where actuarial thinking meets what’s next!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

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