Alex Kigen is Corporate Vice President & Actuary at New York Life, where he currently leads Retail Annuity ALM, overseeing analytics & modeling, asset adequacy testing, regulatory capital work, and supporting risk management. Most recently, Alex led Variable Annuity pricing, modeling and analytics while supporting broader Annuity Pricing initiatives. He has also held roles in Life Financial Reporting & Projections, Institutional Life Products and Experience Studies. In his free time, Alex enjoys reading, the outdoors, travel and sport.

Alex holds a BSc in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a CFA/CERA charter-holder
 

Anu Ogunrombi is a Lead Actuarial Associate at Willis Towers Watson since 2020 and an Associate of the Society of Actuaries and has contributed to actuarial consulting initiatives within the firm’s broader global practice, specializing in global pension consulting. As part of Willis Towers Watson’s integrated and global solutions team, she advises clients —including Fortune 500 firms and international institutions— on risk management, forecasting, and strategy to help organizations plan and manage employee benefit programs.

Her work spans plan redesigns, divestitures, mergers & acquisitions, accounting/reporting, and actuarial experience studies.

A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), Anu co-led WTW’s Multicultural Inclusion Network, delivering impactful programs on inclusive leadership and talent development.

As Co‑Chair of IABA’s Boot Camp Committee, Anu partners with fellow leaders to design and deliver immersive pre‑conference training for Black actuarial students—including resume development, professional branding, mock interviews, technical onboarding, and networking opportunities at the IABA Annual Meeting. The bootcamp offers an experience that many attendees credit as transformative in launching their actuarial careers.

Her dedication to educational outreach and pipeline development reflects IABA’s mission to expand representation and support the next generation of Black actuarial professionals.

Alexis Marin is an Actuarial Associate at John Hancock, currently in his second rotation within the Actuarial Development Program. He began in Inforce Management – Life and now works in NAIC Asset Modeling, focusing on regulatory interpretation, financial reporting, and capital analysis.

Alexis holds a degree in Actuarial Science from CUNY – Baruch College. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, grilling, trying new foods, and playing video games
 

Becki M (Piper) Hall is a Chicago native growing up in the southside neighborhoods of Hyde Park/Kenwood and Bronzeville North/Douglas. Becki had an interest in languages and in her early educational years, she studied Latin and French, and self-studied in Mathematics.

She majored in Mathematics at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) where she obtained her undergraduate degree. It was her curiosity to experience and embrace diverse cultures and to do something different that led her to Montreal for undergraduate studies. It was the drive for professional development and growth, after graduation that led her to Hartford, CT., the Insurance Capital!

Becki’s actuarial professional life has been primarily in the Hartford, CT area for over thirty years; twenty plus years with insurance companies – global, U.S. domestic and state-based entities and approximately ten years with global consulting firms.

She specializes in healthcare and has in-depth financial actuarial experience. She served in various roles, including, but not limited to, as an actuarial leader for healthcare products and as a business actuarial consultant to regulatory agencies, insurance companies, and Fortune 500 companies. She is an expert in the Commercial and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) - leading product strategies from inception, bringing products to market, and sustainability. She also has expertise in the Massachusetts ACA healthcare market.

In addition to her undergraduate degree in mathematics, she has an MBA Finance degree. She is credentialed as an Associate of the Society of Actuaries and is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Becki has strong commitment to community and love for family – raised her three children.

Becki has volunteered and continues to volunteer with community service and professional organizations - International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA), YWCA Hartford Region, and the Hartford, CT chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.

Excitement and curiosity led her to Washington, DC in 1992 to attend the inaugural meeting of the National Association of Black Actuaries (initial name of IABA) and her passion to spread awareness and support others as she volunteered with IABA in various capacities to grow and strengthen the organization.
Becki’s more recent volunteer activities include economic wealth education and grant writing to obtain funds to support programs designed to combat food insecurity.

These organizations align with her passion to raise awareness and empower the community with knowledge to bring positive change and prosperity for future generations.
Becki enjoys sports photography, kayaking, sewing, museums, and storytelling through scrapbook documentation and ancestry research.

Seen on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, 2x #1 Best-Selling Author, Lifestyle & Procrastination Expert Chris Cooper is one of the most dynamic, engaging and accomplished speakers, trainers and coaches in the world. With three academic degrees, numerous professional certifications, book smarts and street smarts this young man of vision, passion and charisma has done it all! From being the youngest Senior Manager ever with a major Fortune 100 Company to starting three businesses, to running with the bulls in Spain and even Walking on Fire, Chris’ life has indeed been and continues to be an exciting adventure.

Chris is the President/CEO of Execute Your Passion, LLC- an Atlanta based professional services firm that offers innovative ways to assist in the complete development of individuals and organizations through innovative coaching practices and techniques, best in class training solutions, and subject matter expertise focused speaking services.

Chris has a wealth of knowledge from two decades of experience working and consulting for over 75 Fortune 500 Companies and serving hundreds of organizations with a list of clientele spanning 5 continents. In addition, Chris is a former Tony Robbins Elite Peak Performance & Business Results Coach and served for 4 yrs. as an Adjunct & Corporate Instructor with Emory University's Center for Lifelong Learning teaching Professional Development and Communications Courses to adult learners of all ages serving in various capacities from entry level, to Senior Management to the C-Suite. Chris has given over 15,000 coaching sessions, and delivered over 4500 presentations and live events across the world.

Chris is an amazing father, coach, speaker, trainer, instructor, motivator, author and entrepreneur. He is committed to his lifelong aspiration of investing and assisting in the development of people. He is spiritual, fun, energetic and engaging. His mission is simple: To Ignite the Fire Inside!!

Claire Casey is an Actuarial Assistant in Long Term Care Inforce Management at John Hancock. She has been at John Hancock full-time since the beginning of 2024 and is working towards her ASA designation. Currently in her first rotation of the Actuarial Development Program. Claire is on the Health and Prevention team within LTC Inforce where she works on measuring the financial impacts of wellness programs offered to John Hancock's Long Term Care population. Claire holds a B.S. in Mathematics concentrated in Actuarial Science and Statistics and an M.S. in Statistics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Outside of work Claire enjoys hiking, thrifting, listening to music, and watching scary movies
 

Colin Heydorn is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and currently leads the All Lines Analytics team within Business Insurance at Travelers. He has worked at Travelers since 2012 in various actuarial roles across the organization. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children (ages 8, 6, & 3), playing volleyball, and cooking.

Dalesa Bady, Founder & CEO of Pursue What Matters, is a Career Coach & Strategist for high-achieving women in insurance. She has helped her clients secure Director and VP roles, equipping them to lead with influence and drive strategic impact across the industry. Over the last 3 years, she has supported her clients in landing Director and VP seats at large-scale organizations such as Chubb, ScotiaBank, UpBound, and Lemonade.

Through coaching, speaking, and workshop facilitation, Dalesa has worked with hundreds of insurance professionals. She has partnered with organizations like Genworth, Black Women of the Insurance Industry, and National African American Insurance Association (Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter) and remains an active volunteer with the Casualty Actuarial Society. Her work blends mindset, leadership development, and career strategy all in one, helping individuals fully own their power in the workplace and beyond.

Prior to launching her own company, Dalesa spent 15 years in the property and casualty insurance space as a credentialed actuary. She has led world-class actuarial and data analytic efforts for multi-million dollar portfolios across USAA, Pinnacle Actuarial Resources and GuideOne Insurance. Currently, Dalesa serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Black Actuaries.

Dalesa lives in the Dallas, Texas area and is a proud alumna of The University of Texas at Austin. She is a dedicated cat-mom, daughter, sister, and friend. Her mission centers on empowering women to lead their lives and careers with deep purpose, bold agency, and personal alignment.

Dan Watt is a Director & Actuary at The Hartford, a professor of Actuarial Science at the University of Connecticut, and an active volunteer on several CAS committees, affiliates, and the JCIED. At The Hartford, Dan co-runs the student program, leads actuarial training, and spearheads many other initiatives. He is actively involved in The Hartford’s Actuarial Culture Council, particularly focused on high school & college outreach, and internal initiatives related to gender equality and PRIDE. Dan lives in Storrs, CT with his amazing wife Emma and his two youngest daughters.

Darian Garner, ACAS is a Manager at Travelers. She joined Travelers in 2017 in the company’s Actuarial Leadership Development Program (ALDP) and has held pricing and reserving roles in both commercial and personal insurance. She currently works in Business Insurance Loss Analytics & Reserving, where she is responsible for reviewing the adequacy of reserves for specialty and runoff lines of business.  Darian is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.S. in Economics with an Actuarial Science concentration and minor in Mathematics.

David is President and CEO of The Segal Group, which has more than 25 offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. Segal’s professionals are leaders in a wide range of consulting: actuarial, health benefits, human resources, investment, fiduciary insurance, communications and technology. They are all bound together by the common mission of providing trusted advice that improves lives.

David is responsible for setting short- and long-term strategy for every aspect of the business and leads the group’s Executive Team. In addition, he serves on The Segal Group’s Board of Directors.

David has been with The Segal Group since 1988. He specializes in working with and solving problems for multiemployer and international union health, defined benefit and defined contribution plans, but he has also worked with nonprofit single employer plans and public sector plans. As someone who is passionate about the work we do, he continues to serve as the lead consultant to several major clients.

David graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan with a BA in Philosophy. As a committed lifelong learner, he has done numerous continuing education programs, including courses of study at Harvard and the Center for Creative Leadership.

David is a frequent speaker at benefits conferences and other industry forums. He is a published author on both health care and retirement benefit topics.

David Scharf is a Consulting Actuary and Principal at Gallagher. With over 30 years of experience, he is a recognized leader in executive benefits, innovation, and M&A. His insights have been featured in numerous publications, and he was a key contributor to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) research study.

David is the Immediate Past President of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (CCA) and currently serves on their Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. Over the past 15 years, he has led various industry committees and taskforces, with a passion and commitment to advancing the actuarial profession.

Deborah (Deb) Mergens is currently a Senior Director of Actuarial & Analytics working on the Corporate Actuarial group at Travelers.  In her over 30-year career at Travelers, she’s spent most of her time within the Actuarial Reserving and Financial Reporting space, yet has also had roles within Finance, Business Intelligence, and Underwriting.  She recently became an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society.  Deb lives in St. Paul, MN. 

Efua Agape Arthur is currently a Manager of Actuarial & Analytics at Travelers Bond and Specialty as the Reserving lead for Private Non-Profit book of business. A graduate of the Travelers Actuarial Leadership development program, she has held previous roles in General Liability Claim Analytics and Small Commercial Auto Pricing in her five year career with Travelers. Having been a student member of IABA,  she now contributes as a mentor and participates in early career preparation volunteer opportunities with both IABA and the Actuarial foundation. Efua resides in Hartford, CT.

Efua Koomson is a Senior Pricing Analyst at The Hartford. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2022 and has since gained experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on personal and commercial lines. Her work includes ratemaking, trend analysis, and strategic support across various product areas.

Efua has a strong connection to IABA, having been actively involved as a volunteer with the IABA Hartford affiliate. She currently serves on The Hartford’s Actuarial Culture Council as a liaison for a mentorship program that aims to increase awareness of the actuarial profession among high school and college students, and to support them in their career journeys. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of Black actuaries and advancing initiatives that promote equity and representation within the profession. In her personal time, Efua enjoys traveling and photography—most recently combining both passions on a trip to Japan!

Fahim Hussain is a Senior Manager and Actuary at Travelers with over six years of experience in pricing across both commercial and personal lines. A Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), he is also an active CAS volunteer. Outside of work, Fahim enjoys weightlifting and playing volleyball.

25 years of experience in the property/casualty insurance industry.

Consulting focus in the application of analytics ideas and approaches to help solve insurance problems.

Over the past four years Gary has focused on the topic of fairness in actuarial modeling, researching the frameworks for defining fairness, and how to measure and mitigate for potential bias inherent in the predictive models.

Gloria Gilliam currently serves as Vice President of IABA. She brings years of actuarial expertise and a deep commitment to advancing diversity in the actuarial profession.

Gloria is VP & Reserving Actuary at Chubb. Prior to her current role, she held multiple positions at PwC and Deloitte, specializing in financial reporting, M&A, and risk advisory for P&C insurers and self-insured clients. Her work has spanned traditional reserving as well as emerging areas like ESG risk analysis.

Gloria holds a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Delaware. She is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Gunjan Saxena is a Lead Decision Scientist at Aetna, a CVS Health Company, with 11 years of experience across actuarial science and data analytics. She currently leads Government Healthcare marketing analytics initiatives focused on improving member retention. Her prior project work spans actuarial valuation, experience studies, data transformation, OCR and computer vision, and COVID-19 decision making research.

Gunjan is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Math and Actuarial Science from University of Connecticut. Based in the New York City area, she is actively involved in professional mentorship with other women in data & analytics. Outside of work, Gunjan enjoys reading and game nights with friends.

Henry Collie is an Assistant Vice President of Pricing at Lincoln Financial Group, where he leads a team that supports pricing strategy and quoting for defined contribution retirement plans. With a career rooted in actuarial science and a passion for building and leading small, high-performing teams, Henry brings collaborative, results-driven leadership to his company and to the retirement services industry. Prior to his current role, Henry held impactful positions at Assurant Group and The Hartford.

A proud graduate of Howard University, Henry earned his degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Actuarial Science. In 1992, as a student at Howard, he was honored to be included as a founding member and attended the inaugural meeting of the National Association of Black Actuaries (NABA). He credits several individuals connected to the organization for helping open doors that shaped his professional path. He fondly recalls the sense of purpose and momentum at Howard during that time.

Outside of work, Henry is a lover of “vintage” music, with tastes spanning from Bob Marley to Buju Banton, The Temptations to Boyz II Men, Charlie Pride to Marty Robbins—though his 18-year-old son remains unconvinced by his playlist. He’s also a passionate gardener who finds peace and renewal with dirt in his fingernails.

Hervey Abotsi is an actuarial leader with deep expertise in personal lines insurance, currently serving as Director & Actuary for Personal Lines Loss Ratio Planning at The Hartford. With a career spanning over 15 years, Hervey has held roles at Grange Insurance, USAA, and Liberty Mutual, where he led high-impact teams and initiatives in pricing and underwriting strategy, predictive modeling, and enterprise risk management.

He graduated from the Ohio State University with a Mathematics degree and holds the FCAS and CPCU designations.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Hervey is a committed industry contributor. He is a past president of the Southwest Actuarial Forum and mentor through the IABA mentorship program. He recently began volunteering as a writer for the Actuarial Review magazine.

Outside of work, Hervey lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and three children. He volunteers as a youth soccer coach and has previously served as a catechist through his church.

Jeffrey is a seasoned nonprofit executive with a strong background in philanthropy and branding. Prior to joining IABA, Jeffrey held key leadership positions in various nonprofits across Metro Atlanta. As the Chief Marketing and Development Officer at STE(A)M Truck, he provided visionary leadership, effectively communicating the organization's impact to donors, school and community leaders, students, and parents. Jeffrey's dedication to community service spans the breadth of his professional career. As the former Vice President of Development and Marketing for the Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV), he played a pivotal role in leading fundraising initiatives and amplifying PADV's mission through strategic marketing efforts. Prior to his time at PADV, he held various roles during his 7 years at the Northeast Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America.  Outside of his professional commitments, Jeffrey is an engaged community leader. He currently serves as the Past President of UGA’s Black Alumni Leadership Council, his alma mater. Jeffrey is an active member of the Sigma Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. His dedication and impact were recognized in 2019 when he was featured in Georgia Trend Magazine's 40 Under 40 and in 2020 when he received the University of Georgia Alumni Association's 40 Under 40 award.

Jeffrey Johnson is Vice President of Regulatory Actuarial Policy at Global Atlantic, where he leads engagement with insurance regulators on capital, actuarial, and systemic risk issues. With more than three decades of experience at major financial institutions, he’s recognized for his leadership in shaping regulatory strategy and advocating for industry-wide reforms. Jeffrey plays a leading role in shaping regulatory responses through direct engagement with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and international supervisors, particularly on evolving solvency standards, macroprudential oversight, and group capital frameworks.

He has served in leadership roles across industry groups and professional organizations, including as a former Board member of the American Academy of Actuaries and Chair of the Actuarial Foundation. His work bridges U.S. and global regulatory regimes, supporting the company’s strategic growth and alignment across jurisdictions. Beyond his technical contributions, Jeffrey is a respected voice in the actuarial community, frequently advancing industry dialogue on regulatory modernization. As a founding member of the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA), Jeffrey is passionate about building a more inclusive profession and championing the next generation of actuarial leaders.

Jiahui Zhou, ASA, is a Manager in PwC’s Health Actuarial & Economics group, where she provides specialized actuarial consulting services to help healthcare clients navigate complex challenges. Her work focuses on product strategy and performance management across multiple lines of business, combining analytical depth with strategic insight.

For the past three years, Jiahui has led the development of PwC’s Behind the Numbers report, a flagship publication offering forward-looking insights into healthcare cost trends. Each year, she and her team engage with actuaries from over 20 major health insurers and conduct deep-dive research on emerging industry issues to identify key drivers shaping the future of healthcare costs.

Jiahui holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, with majors in Financial Actuarial Mathematics and Philosophy, and a minor in German

Relevant Experience/Specialization

With over 20 years of consulting experience, Kezia partners with clients on their employee benefit offerings with a focus on employee wellbeing. She has worked on a variety of clients including Fortune 500 companies, multinational firms and international financial institutions.

Kezia provides strategic and actuarial advice to clients on the design, management and financing of their postretirement medical and pension plans. Kezia consistently shows innovative thought leadership by helping re-design pension and retiree medical plans; working on divestitures, mergers & acquisitions, and considering accounting issues and required financial reporting.

Kezia has experience developing programs to drive meaningful changes throughout the organization. She collaborates with clients on financial inclusion and reviewing benefits and retirement plans from a wellbeing perspective. Using data analytics and benchmarking information, she helps clients enhance employees’ financial resilience and improve employee outcomes.

Kezia was the North American co-lead of WTW’s Multicultural Inclusion Network which aims to attract, retain and develop diverse colleagues at WTW. Kezia has developed and delivered an inclusive curriculum including Unconscious Bias & Inclusion, Managing Up and Having Brave and Inclusive Conversations.

Education and Credentials

Kezia is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and an Enrolled Actuary. She received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Professional Award

2018 Leadership Center for Excellence 40 Under 40 honoree, recognized as one of the 40 emerging leaders under the age of 40 who demonstrate impact personally and/or professionally through their exceptional leadership in the DC metropolitan region.

Blog posts/ features

• How to Have Conversations on Race with African American and Black Employee (Oct 2020)
• Plansponsor: Hispanic Workers Continue to Lag in Retirement Saving (Aug 2023)
• PlanAdviser: Retirement Planning for Diverse Population (Apr 2024)
• Breaking Boundaries: A Leadership Conversation (Mar 2025)

Khue Bui is an ACAS and currently Senior Director of Small Commercial Actuarial and Analytics at Travelers. Khue has over 10 years of actuarial experience in both small commercial and personal lines. Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring and volunteering with youth programs locally. Khue lives in Alexandria, VA.

Lindsay Allen is an Executive Director Data Science at Aetna, a CVS Health company. Lindsay has 15 years of experience in health insurance, actuarial science, and data science. Lindsay leads a product, data science, and engineering team that helps employers find plan designs that best meet their needs. Her prior experience includes group health underwriting analytics, medical economics, and Medicare Advantage pricing and risk adjustment.

Lindsay is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA), and holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Michigan State University. Lindsay is based in the New York City area, enjoys distance running and cooking new recipes.

Lisa Slotznick, the Immediate Past President of the American Academy of Actuaries, retired in 2021 after 42 years as a practicing actuary and over 33 years as an auditing and consulting actuary within the Property Casualty Actuarial Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

As a practicing actuary, Lisa provided advisory and audit services for various types of entities-insurers and self-insurers-specializing in many property and casualty insurance exposures. These exposures included core coverages such as automobile liability and workers’ compensation, as well as warranties, asbestos exposures, both old and new environmental exposures, such as remediation costs and insurance products. Her areas of expertise include financial reporting, loss reserving, and actuarial opinions.

Lisa graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Greek.

Lisa continues to be an active volunteer for the American Academy of Actuaries previously serving as Chair of the Climate Change Joint Committee and Vice Chair of the Committee on Qualifications. She formerly was Vice President Casualty and chaired the Academy’s Committee on Property Liability Financial Reporting

Lucretia Hydell is an accomplished consulting actuary with a diverse background in the healthcare industry. With a focus on value-based Care (VBC) risk arrangements, Medicare and Medicaid pricing, as well as traditional actuarial functions such as forecasting and valuation, she has been instrumental in driving financial insights and providing strategic support to various organizations.

Prior to joining Wakely Consulting Group, an HMA Company, Lucretia was the Director of Senior Product Valuation at Point32Health, where she led a team responsible for managing the Senior Product P&L across multiple legal entities and valuing provider risk arrangements. Her expertise includes reserve setting, forecasting, actuarial memorandums, estimating provider risk liabilities, developing provider risk reporting capabilities, and high-cost member value-based care arrangements. Additionally, she collaborated with contracting, accounting, and pricing teams to ensure alignment with long term organizational goals.

As the Principal and Actuary of Analytics at Cityblock Health, Lucretia managed a dedicated team responsible for supporting value-based care negotiations, specifically: condition and spend analytics; financial modeling; regression and opportunity assessment. She played a significant role in developing financial models aligned with Cityblock's value-driven approach, identifying impactable member cohorts and valuing savings opportunities. She also supported the vetting of new business ideas.

During her tenure as the Director of Actuarial Services at Johns Hopkins Healthcare, Lucretia led a team of actuaries providing invaluable financial, analytic, and strategic support across various lines of business, including Johns Hopkins Medicine’s (JHM) accountable care organization (ACO), Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and employee health plans. Her contributions included building out robust forecast models, participating in an executive Medicare strategy committee, aligning IBNR logic and analytics across the organization and developing strategic financial analytic dashboards.

At Evolent Health, she served as a Senior Director of Actuarial Services where she managed Medicare bid development for all clients, supported risk negotiations from the health system side, trained and supervised a team of analysts, and collaborated on business development opportunities for Medicaid. She also served as the Medicare actuarial SME across the organization.

Lucretia hails from Ama, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, and regularly goes back to her hometown. Her hobbies include various outdoor activities such as hiking and roller skating, traveling and taking ballet classes and is also a passionate volunteer and delivers meals to the elderly.

Lucretia holds a Master of Science in mathematics from Southern University/A&M College, a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Louisiana State University. She is also an associate member of the Society of Actuaries.

Mallika Bender is the Staff Actuary for Strategic Community Outreach at the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). In her role at the CAS, she leads initiatives to inform students and their influencers about the actuarial profession, and she oversees a major research initiative exploring bias and fairness in insurance algorithms.  Prior to joining the CAS, she spent thirteen years in traditional Property & Casualty actuarial roles at GEICO in Washington, DC, Suncorp Insurance in Sydney, Australia, and QBE Insurance and Willis Towers Watson in Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics from American University and lives in Philadelphia, PA. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Mike Opare-Addo is a Manager in Risk Modeling Services at PwC, where he specializes in Finance and Actuarial Transformation and Modernization. His work focuses on enhancing financial architecture, integrating actuarial insights into enterprise strategy, and enabling scalable solutions for insurance and financial services clients.

Prior to joining PwC, Mike was a Retirement Benefits Actuarial Consultant at Aon, where he advised clients on pension plan design, funding strategies, and regulatory compliance.

Mike is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and an Enrolled Actuary (EA). He holds a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science from Illinois State University.

Monica Estrada, is an Actuary in U.S. Life Product Pricing at John Hancock, where she develops innovative insurance products that help customers live longer, healthier, and better lives through Vitality®! Her journey with John Hancock began as a summer intern in 2015, and she joined full-time in 2016. During her time at the company, Monica has gained broad experience in Pricing, Model Risk Management, Variable Annuities Modeling, and Life and Annuities System Transformation. 
 
Beyond her core responsibilities, Monica is engaged in GenerationNEXT, an employee resource group (ERG) at John Hancock that empowers young professionals to become the next generation of leaders. She leverages her analytical expertise to support the pairing algorithm for the ERG’s Cross Generational Learning program helping to foster meaningful mentorship and collaboration across the organization. 
 
Monica earned her FSA in 2022 and holds a degree in Actuarial Science from Robert Morris University.
 

Nikaya Smith, FSA, is an accomplished actuary with deep expertise in healthcare analytics, risk adjustment, and pricing strategy. Currently a Senior Associate Actuary at PwC, she provides strategic recommendations on cost containment, payment integrity, and medical policy for leading health plans and carriers. Her work spans evaluating premium deficiency and IBNR reserves, analyzing Medicare Advantage performance by demographics, and advising on disability benefit reserves. Prior to this role, she served in various actuarial capacities at The Cigna Group, where she enhanced financial forecasting models, automated claims analysis tools, and partnered across business units to deliver impactful insights for Medicare Advantage and ACA markets.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Mathematical Decision Sciences, Nikaya was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with distinction. Beyond her professional achievements, she is passionate about community and industry engagement. She serves as the Marketing and Communications Co-Lead for the International Association of Black Actuaries and volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. With a robust analytical skill set in tools like SAS, SQL, and Excel, Nikaya combines technical proficiency with leadership to drive meaningful outcomes in healthcare and actuarial consulting

Nikiya is the Head of Data Operations, US, a role in which she leads Club Members through the onboarding and reporting process. Nikiya is a seasoned pension/pension risk transfer manager with over 20 years’ experience within Defined Benefits administration and risk transfer solutions. In her prior role as a Pension Risk Transfer Manager, she managed the process of plan sponsor buyouts/lift-outs within the PRT market at Legal and General Retirement America

Kenge Blue is currently a 2nd VP & Marketing Actuary at Munich Re. Prior to her role at Munich, Kenge was Head of Actuarial at Assured Allies, a health and wellness Insurtech start up in the LTC space. She has also held various product development and pricing roles at Haven Life and New York Life.

Kenge is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and holds a BS in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Kenge has held various positions within IABA, including NY/NJ Affiliate Lead and Friend of the Board.

Nykosi Hollingsworth is a Senior Decision Scientist at Aetna, a CVS Health Company, with 8 years of experience across actuarial science and data analytics. He currently leads machine learning initiatives that enhance actuarial methodologies and drive financial performance in Pricing Analytics. His prior project work spans pricing strategy, medical cost forecasting, high-cost claimant detection, and renewal quoting and analytics.

Nykosi is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA), a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), and holds a master’s degree in Data Science and Analytics from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Saint Peter’s University. Based in the Greater Hartford area, he is actively involved in professional mentorship and industry leadership through the International Association of Black Actuaries. Outside of work, Nykosi enjoys discovering great local pizza and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Ollie L. Sherman, Jr. made history in 1984 as the first Black actuary to earn Fellowship in the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), breaking a 70-year barrier in the property and casualty profession. He began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond before joining Travelers Insurance, where he spent a decade and ultimately held responsibility for countrywide workers’ compensation pricing. He later joined Towers Watson, where he served as a Managing Principal for over 25 years, functioning as both a consulting actuary and practice leader in the firm’s property and casualty division until his retirement in 2010.

A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics, Mr. Sherman brought deep technical expertise and leadership to the actuarial profession, while also mentoring future generations of actuaries and advocating for greater representation. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Sherman served on the Board of Directors of James River Group Holdings from May 2016 through April 2025, including roles as Lead Independent Director, and later as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board. His board service reflected not only his actuarial and industry knowledge, but also his strong governance experience and insight into strategic leadership.

Sherman’s legacy is defined by perseverance, excellence, and impact—laying a foundation that continues to inspire Black actuaries and industry professionals today.

Peter Ott is chairperson of the Academy’s ACI/ACRI (Actuaries Climate Index / Actuaries Climate Risk Index) Work Group. He is vice chairperson of the Research Committee, co-vice chairperson of the Climate Change Joint Committee, and a member of the P/C Extreme Events and Property Lines Committee. Ott received an Academy Rising Actuary Award in 2023, and has taken part in the Academy’s annual Hill visits, holding meetings with federal lawmakers and their staffs on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ott is a Senior Pricing Officer, Property, with Swiss Re.

Platini is an actuarial professional with about a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in value-based care, risk-sharing models and healthcare economics. Throughout his career, Platini has worked at the intersection of data analytics, financial modeling, and population health to support organizations transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based payment systems.

Currently serving as Director of Data Insights, Valuation and Performance at CINQCARE, Platini leads initiatives focused on performance measurement, shared savings calculations, and actuarial support for ACO REACH and other population-based payment models.

Seong-min Eom was the Academy’s vice president, risk management and financial reporting, from late 2021 to late 2023. She is chairperson of the Climate Change Joint Committee and previously served in a variety of volunteer roles, including chairperson of the Risk Management and Financial Reporting Council’s ERM/ORSA Committee and Liquidity Risk Work Group. Eom received a 2019 Academy Outstanding Volunteerism Award for her work on the latter two. She is also past vice chairperson of the Data Science and Analytics Committee and served on the Performance Committee, the Solvency Committee, and the Prudential Regulation Committee. Eom is Chief Actuary, Life and Health, with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

Shantel leads global experience analysis and pension risk transfer analytics at Club Vita. Based in Toronto, she plays a central role in Club Vita’s Canadian and international research initiatives, contributing to thought leadership in the field. With over 9 years of experience in longevity research, Shantel brings a diverse background in actuarial science and statistical analysis. She has authored several research papers and is recognized for her contributions to the evolving understanding of longevity risk. Shantel holds a Master of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

Over 9 years experience in the actuarial space at Travelers, including 3 years as an intern. Graduated from the 5-year Actuarial Leadership Development Program (ALDP) and currently work in Workers’ Compensation Pricing and Analytics doing benchmark pricing for small commercial businesses. Prior experience in Bond & Specialty Reserving, General Liabiility Pricing, Small Commercial Analytics, National Property Pricing and Commercial Auto Reserving.

Stacia Brown is currently the Head of Health and Wellness Life Product at MassMutual. Prior to this, Stacia has held various roles at MassMutual including heading up product development in the Life Product Org, leading efforts to launch various Term Life, VUL and Whole Life product initiatives. She also worked in the CFO Org in financial and capital forecasting. Prior to MassMutual Stacia worked as a retirement consultant at Towers Watson.

She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and holds a BS in Actuarial Science from The University of the West Indies in her home country of Jamaica. Stacia has held various positions within IABA, including Delaware Valley Affiliate Lead and Chair of the newsletter Committee.

Stafford L. Thompson, Jr. is Corporate SVP and Chief Actuary at Globe Life, Inc. In this role, Stafford leads a talented and diverse group of actuaries responsible for reserving, reporting, management insights, data science, experience studies, and life and health product management.

Before joining Globe in 2024, Stafford was SVP of Life Product Management responsible for product development, pricing and business development for individual Life Insurance and executive benefit products at Lincoln Financial Group a Fortune 400 insurance company. During his career, Stafford also held executive and actuarial positions domestically and internationally at SCOR Global Life Americas, Transamerica Reinsurance, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Cigna.

Stafford is a founding member and former President of the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA). During his tenure as President of the IABA, he connected the corporate and educational communities to increase professional awareness and support the careers of Black actuaries. He is also a Board member of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and the Investment Committee Chair of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc.

Stafford is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He holds a BS degree in mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science from Florida A&M University.  He is married to Michelle Thompson and they have a daughter Mikayla.

Stephen is a Senior Vice President, Key Account Manager within Swiss Re’s US L&H division. In this role, Stephen is responsible for building business relationships, driving strategy and delivering results in partnership with US-based L&H insurance carriers and serves as the primary point of contact for reinsurance pricing, treaty negotiations, and mortality consulting work.  Stephen started his career with PwC’s Ghana office, within their audit and assurance line of practice, where he focused on audit across banking, insurance, and mining companies across the West African sub-region. Stephen holds a doctorate degree in Applied Economics, is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He currently serves as the Vice President of the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA) and joined its Board of Directors in 2017.  He is also a contributing editor of the Society of Actuaries ‘The Actuary' magazine.

Taryn N. Brown is an actuarial professional at MassMutual and a graduate of Georgia State University. She’s building her career through an actuarial development program, with hands-on experience in investment management, supplemental health, and dividend analytics. Passionate about giving back, Taryn has been involved with the IABA Bootcamp as both an attendee and a two-time facilitator, helping to support and inspire the next generation of actuaries.

Tenesia McGruder, FSA, MAAA is a Senior Actuary at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Her roles prior to Blue Cross include Senior Actuarial Consultant at Optum, Actuarial Analyst at Anthem, and Pension Consultant at Towers Watson. Tenesia graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science and received the designation of Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in 2014.

She is a dedicated volunteer serving as a Past President and Board Member of the International Association of Black Actuaries and on several committees of the Society of Actuaries. She is also an avid traveler and has been to all seven continents

Dave Dowrich is Chief Financial Officer, responsible for TIAA's financial management and planning, actuarial, tax, accounting and financial reporting for the organization.

Prior to TIAA, Dave served as CFO, International Businesses at Prudential Financial, Inc. He was responsible for all financial aspects of Prudential's non-U.S. businesses.

Previously, he was at American International Group (AIG) and served as interim CEO of International Life and Retirement; Chief Financial Actuary, CFO of AIG Japan and Asia Pacific; and CFO and Chief Financial Actuary of Institutional Markets. He has also held senior roles in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, advising life, non-life and financial guaranty insurance clients. He has reinsurance and structuring experience from Swiss Re and Canada Life Reinsurance and began his career as a pension actuary at one of the predecessor companies of Willis Towers Watson.

Dave is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He serves on the boards of Scotiabank, The Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) Habitat and the Industry Advisory Council of the Business School at Medgar Evers College. He previously served on several insurance and non-insurance operating and holding company boards.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics from the University of Toronto and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.