Appointed Actuaries Forum 24 June – Auckland
June 24 at 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Shaping the Future — Regulation, Affordability, and Innovation
When: Wednesday 24 June, | 8.30am to 4.30pm (followed by networking drinks)
Where: Mövenpick Hotel, 8 Customs Street East, Auckland CBD
Who: AAs and delegates, NZSA members, government agencies, regulators, directors and executives of licensed NZ insurers, industry bodies
Forum Introduction
The 2026 Appointed Actuaries Forum one-day event brings together senior voices across from regulation, government, and industry to examine the issues that matter most—and to explore how actuaries can exercise greater influence in addressing them.
Structured around three defining themes—regulatory transformation, insurance affordability, and artificial intelligence—this one-day Forum is designed to support high-quality discussion, practical insight, and stronger alignment across the sector.
Why this one-day event is a must-attend attend
- Regulation is evolving — IPSA developments will reshape expectations and practice
- Affordability is under pressure — raising strategic and societal questions
- Technology is accelerating — AI is changing how decisions are made
This is a forum for informed, candid, and forward-looking discussion—and an opportunity to learn, evolve, and strengthen your influence at the highest levels of decision-making.
Who should attend
- Appointed Actuaries and delegates, and NZSA members
- Regulators and government
- Directors, executives, and industry stakeholders
Programme (subject to change)
8.30am – Coffee, Registration and Networking
A chance to connect early with peers, regulators, and industry leaders before the day begins.
9:00 AM – Welcome & opening remarks
NZSA President, Lee-Ann du Toit
Setting the scene: Appointed Actuaries and their teams are navigating an increasingly urgent set of challenges—strategic transformation, regulatory change, insurance affordability, and AI—key themes for the day ahead.
9:15 AM – Reserve Bank of New Zealand Regulatory update
David Wild, Head Actuary and Sarah Nash, Manager Risk Specialists
A forward-looking briefing on the Reserve Bank’s insurance regulatory priorities, how they connect to wider RBNZ strategy, and what AAs and their teams should expect next. A high-value session for anyone wanting clarity on the direction of travel.
Part 1: IPSA – a changing regulatory landscape
9:35 AM – RBNZ: IPSA update
Annette Crequer, Manager Policy & Regulatory Stewardship
A timely update on IPSA’s evolution, the policy intent behind key changes, and what the next phase of regulatory transformation means for insurers, Appointed Actuaries, and actuarial teams.
10:00 AM – NZSA IPSA working group update
Ben Coulter, Convenor and the IPSA Working Group
A concise briefing on the Working Group’s top-line insights, highlighting the most material issues emerging from the legislation and what they mean in practice.
10.15 AM – CRO & AA relationship: Two Lines, One Goal: CRO & Appointed Actuary in Action
Gavin Pearce, AA at Vero, Marco Welgemoed, AA at AIA and Ben Locklock CRO at AIA
Clarity, accountability, impact sit at the heart of effective risk management. Within evolving risk and regulatory frameworks, this session provides an inside look at how Chief Risk Officers and Appointed Actuaries work together at New Zealand’s largest insurers. The session brings real-world examples of what strong aligned risk and actuarial functions look like—and what happens when it’s missing. Expect candid insights, practical lessons, and perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else.
The discussion will cover:
• How CROs and AAs collaborate to drive strong risk management outcomes
• The evolving roles of first and second line functions
• Governance structures that support clarity and accountability
• Opportunities to strengthen alignment as regulatory expectations rise
11:00 AM – Interactive Q&A and Discussion
Panel discussion and questions from the floor to our Panel: Ben Coulter, Convenor IPSA Working Group, David Wild, Head Actuary, RBNZ, Gavin Pearce, AA at Vero, Marco Welgemoed, Chief Actuary & AA, AIA and Ben Locklock CRO, AIA. Facilitated by Ross Simmonds, AA Forum Committee.
The discussion will include a forward-looking view on how IPSA and subsequent standards could reshape the role of the Appointed Actuary—exploring key implications and the dynamic between the CRO and Appointed Actuary.
11:15am – Morning tea
Part 2: Insurance Affordability
12:00 PM – When Should Government Intervene—and How?
A practical framework for determining if, when, and how government intervention is warranted
Daniel Stoner, Convenor and NZSA Affordability & Accessibility Working Group
This session hosted by the NZSA Working Group provides an overview of its work to date on developing a practical, evidence‑informed framework for assessing government intervention in home insurance. The framework draws on international experience and real‑world policy applications, with the aim of supporting more consistent and transparent decision‑making across policy contexts.
The intention of the session is to outline the key concepts and design considerations and invite feedback to inform the next stage of the Working Group’s work. While the focus of the group is currently on home insurance, given the government review, it may subsequently consider affordability and accessibility of other insurance classes.
12:30 PM – Rising health insurance premiums — RBNZ case study discussion
A focused discussion on RBNZ’s review findings, industry responses, and what rising premiums mean for affordability, sustainability, and regulatory expectations.
1:00 PM – Networking Lunch
1:45 PM – Industry Panel – Issues and Priorities
Our panellists include:
- Kirk Hope, Chief Executive, Financial Services Council
- Kris Faafoi, Chief Executive, Insurance Council of NZ
- Facilitated by Cath Robertson-Hodder, NZSA Council member
A high-energy panel bringing together leaders from across the sector to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping general, life, and health insurance. Expect a wide-ranging conversation on resilience, long-term sustainability, regulatory direction, and the advocacy priorities that will shape the next decade.
Part 3: Artificial Intelligence in Insurance
2:30 PM – Actuary Optional? Thriving in the Age of AI
Adam Follington, Founder, Actuate | Will White, Director, Modelling AI, Aon
The machines can model. They can reason. They’re learning to communicate. So what exactly is left for the actuary?
This provocative session blends global insight with frontline experience. From building an AI-native actuarial consultancy to developing GenAI model-building tools, Adam and Will bring hard-won, frontline experience to the questions the profession can’t afford to ignore. Drawing on his recent role on the US Society of Actuaries’ Actuarial Mindsets for Leading in the AI Era panel, Will adds a global perspective on how actuaries should approach and use AI.
A must-attend, this session is about the mindset shift for actuaries who want to stay relevant, influential and ahead of the curve—and sets the stage for the Forum discussion that follows.
3:30 PM – Afternoon Tea
3:45 PM – AI: Chatham House breakout discussion
An interactive session, held under Chatham House Rule, will enable participants to explore the opportunities, risks, and challenges of AI in an open and candid environment. Sector-specific questions will surface insights that will help shape how the profession responds to AI—both now and in the years ahead.
4:10 PM – Plenary: AI Breakout takeaways
A fast-paced report-back session highlighting the most important themes, tensions, and opportunities emerging from the breakout discussions. This is where the collective intelligence of the room comes together.
4:20 PM – Close, Followed by networking drinks and canapés
Interested in sponsoring?
Please see our sponsorship prospectus and contact Helen Mexted for more information and to reserve your preferred package.