w SAVE THE DATE w 36th Annual CAA Conference
“Bridging Islands, Building Trust: Collaborations that Strengthen Our Future” December 2–4, 2026 | Suriname
35TH ANNUAL CAA
CONFERENCE — JAMAICA RECAP
The 35th Annual Caribbean Actuarial Association Conference, held December 10–12, 2025 at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Jamaica, brought together actuaries from across the Caribbean and beyond for three days of compelling sessions, meaningful connections, and vibrant celebration of our profession.
Under the theme “Future-Proofing the Present,” delegates engaged with cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence in actuarial practice, emerging climate risks, health and wellness, longevity, and the future of Caribbean financial systems. The programme featured a rich mix of international keynote speakers alongside homegrown Caribbean expertise, a testament to how far our region’s talent has come.
Beyond the sessions, the conference was a genuine homecoming. The energy in the room, the full audience halls, the lively Q&A exchanges, the networking that spilled well beyond scheduled events was a reminder of why we gather. For many members, including students attending for the first time, it was an experience that reaffirmed their commitment to the profession.
Scenes from the 35th Annual CAA Conference, Jamaica, December 2025
A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | It was wonderful to see young actuaries and students make their voices heard at the Jamaica conference. One university attendee captured the spirit perfectly in a social media post that resonated widely across the actuarial community, a reminder that the future of the profession is already in the room.
If you missed the conference or want to relive the highlights, visit our Actuview page for session recordings and materials: actuview.com/partners/CAA_Caribbean
NEWS FROM THE CAA
new cbtt guideline: insurers and real estate activities
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) has issued its final Guideline for the Approval of Insurers to Engage in Real Estate Activities (April 2026). The Guideline, which takes effect upon issuance, applies to all insurers registered under the Insurance Act, 2018 and follows a review of industry comments received on an earlier draft circulated in June 2024.
This is a significant development for Appointed Actuaries and insurance practitioners across Trinidad and Tobago. The Guideline addresses:
• The application process for First Level and Second Level Approvals to engage in real estate
• Capital adequacy, liquidity, governance and risk management standards as principal considerations
• Requirements for Board-approved real estate investment policies and risk assessments
• Explicit adherence to ALM (Asset-Liability Management) standards
• New and enhanced roles for Appointed Actuaries in the oversight and reporting process
Insurers already engaged in real estate activities before the issuance date have a transition period of up to one year to update relevant policies and procedures, and must submit a Boardapproved action plan to the Inspector of Financial Institutions within four months.
Kyle Rudden, Chair of the CAA Technical Steering Committee, has flagged this development for circulation to Life Insurance, General Insurance, and Technical Committee members. Members are encouraged to review the full guideline documents available through the CBTT.
ifoa council elections 2026
The Institute and Faculties of Actuaries (IFoA) 2026 Council elections are open until July 7. IFoA Council members are responsible for setting the long-term strategic vision for the organisation and the wider global actuarial profession. Members are encouraged to vote.
IAA UPDATE: GLOBAL ACTUARIAL PROFESSION
• The CAA continues to actively monitor and contribute to strategic developments within the International Actuarial Association (IAA). Several important items are on the global agenda in 2026:AI Task Force moving to permanent status: The IAA’s AI Task Force which now has over 2,300 members in its online community is being assessed for upgrade to a permanent committee structure, with a decision expected following meetings in Ljubljana. The CAA’s Pedro Medford has been part of these international conversations from the outset.
• CPD requirements coming in 2030: The IAA has confirmed a new CPD membership requirement of 45 hours over a three-year period (average 15 hours/year), with a selfassessment pathway available for associations with limited CPD control. This takes effect January 1, 2030, giving member associations a four-year runway to prepare.
• ICA 2032 hosting call: A formal call for proposals to host the 2032 International Congress of Actuaries launches on June 1, 2025, with proposals due December 31, 2026. The CAA has submitted a proposal to host the 2030 Congress, a bold and exciting bid that reflects our growing ambition on the world stage.
Jun 14-16 2026 Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA)
Calgary | Mark Longman, CAA President-Elect and Angela Beckford, CAA Member
CAPS conference (Lto R): Lisa Wade, CAA Member and IAA President-Elect; Norbert Fullerton, CAA Member and IFOA Council Member; Sanya Goffe, President of Pension Industry Association of Jamaica; Nicolette Jenez, CAPS President; Tracy-Ann McIntosh; Derek Osborne, CAA Member and Chair of the CAA Social Security Committee.
Jun 22-23 2026 Caribbean Association of Pension Supervisors (CAPS) Belize | CAA’s Lisa Wade, Norbert Fullerton and Derek Osborne speaking
Jun 24-25 2026 Caribbean Association of Insurance Regulators (CAIR) Belize | CAA’s Kyle Rudden speaking
Jun 25-27 2026 Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) Guyana | Conference details: 2026 ICAC Conference
Aug 6-9 2026 International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA) Charlotte, NC | Conference details: 2026 IABA Annual Meeting
Oct 25-28 2026 Society of Actuaries (SOA) ImpACT Conference Pittsburgh, PA | Conference details: 2026 SOA ImpACT Conference
Nov 4-8 2026 International Association of Actuaries (IAA) Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, Japan | IAA Council and Committee Members
Nov 8-13 2026 33rd International Congress of Actuaries (ICA 2026) Tokyo International Forum, Japan | ICA2026
Dec 2-4 2026 36th Annual CAA Conference — SAVE THE DATE Suriname | “Bridging Islands, Building Trust: Collaborations that Strengthen Our Future”
���� CAA AT ICA 2026, TOKYO | We are exceptionally proud that six CAA members will be presenting at the 33rd International Congress of Actuaries in Tokyo this November. ICA is the premier global gathering of the actuarial profession, held every three years under the auspices of the IAA and expected to draw 1,500–2,000 actuaries from around the world.
Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean at ICA 2026: Nikita Gibson, Shubash Gosine, Britta Hay, Cathy Lyn, Pedro Medford, and Stokeley Smart. This level of Caribbean representation at the global congress is unprecedented and a source of immense pride for the Association.
Registration for ICA 2026 is open. Visit ica2026.org for details.
CARIBBEAN CLIMATE CORNER
hurricane melissa and the cost of inaction
For Caribbean actuaries, the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025 was not a distant news story, it was a stark, real-world demonstration of the risks we model, price, and advise upon. Melissa struck Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 hurricane, causing an estimated US$6–7 billion in damage, one of the costliest disasters in the island’s recorded history displacing up to 32,500 people and generating over 4.8 million tonnes of debris across western Jamaica alone.
Speaking at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Jamaica’s Minister Matthew Samuda put it plainly: “In the past four years, Jamaica has had its hottest day on record, its wettest day on record, its worst droughts, two tropical storms, a Category 4 hurricane and now what could be classified as a Category 6. That’s climate change in reality. That’s not an academic debate for us.”
parametric insurance and cat bonds: the actuarial toolkit at work Jamaica’s response to Melissa has drawn international attention precisely because of the innovative fiscal resilience tools the government put in place years in advance, instruments that actuaries helped design and price. A US$150 million catastrophe bond was triggered, and parametric insurance and disaster savings funds provided additional rapid-response financing. This pre-arranged architecture allowed Jamaica to move quickly where other nations would have faced months of damage assessments before any funds were released.
Yet analysts have been equally clear that even this suite of instruments falls far short of covering the true losses and that the burden of financing resilience should not rest solely on the premiums of small-island taxpayers who contributed negligibly to global emissions. The COP30 announcement to triple adaptation finance for developing nations by 2035 was a step forward, but Caribbean leaders widely described the summit as a “mixed bag”, progress overshadowed by inadequate urgency.
new research: caribbean climate finance
On a more constructive note, UWI researchers have secured funding to design a new islandsspecific climate finance framework, recognising that standard global models do not adequately capture the vulnerabilities and financing needs of Small Island Developing States. This research has direct implications for how actuaries model climate risk, structure parametric products, and advise governments in the region.
Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands is quietly building its environmental credentials, and the IAA has launched a new LinkedIn group, Actuaries Going Green as a community for members working at the intersection of the profession and climate action.
→ Actuaries Going Green — IAA LinkedIn Group
→ SOA: Climate Resilience & Adaptation Essays (2026)
AI & THE ACTUARIAL PROFESSION
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of actuarial practice at a rapid pace. A few developments worth your attention:
Causal AI and Risk Modelling
A thought-provoking piece in The Actuary (March 2026) explores how causal AI is beginning to shake up traditional risk modelling approaches. Unlike conventional machine learning which identifies correlations, causal AI attempts to model cause-andeffect relationships — with profound implications for how actuaries understand risk drivers, build models, and explain results to stakeholders and regulators.
→ Read: Reshaping Risk
AI AND INSURANCE FRAUD
Longevity Rethought: AI and Life Insurance
A recent Actuview panel discussion brought together global experts to explore how medical breakthroughs and AI are fundamentally changing assumptions about longevity — with cascading effects on life insurance pricing, reserving, and product design. For Caribbean actuaries working in life and health, this is essential viewing.
→ Watch the Panel Discussion
| Another Actuview session examines innovative approaches to tackling AI-enabled insurance fraud, one of the fastest-growing challenges for the industry globally and a theme of growing relevance to Caribbean insurers. The session explores how actuaries can be at the forefront of both detecting and preventing fraud in an AI-driven environment.
AROUND THE PROFESSION
A curated selection of resources and news from the broader actuarial world:
• ASSA Magazine (Current Issue): The Actuarial Society of South Africa’s latest publication is available online, always a valuable read for global actuarial perspectives with developing-market relevance.
→ Read the ASSA Magazine
• CAS Launches New Digital Actuarial Review: The Casualty Actuarial Society has refreshed its flagship publication with a new digital format, more accessible, more visual, and easier to share. The CAS has also released updated Schedule P data as part of its sponsored research programme, offering valuable datasets for P&C actuaries.
→ CAS Digital Actuarial Review
• Young Actuaries Network: The Young Actuaries platform at young-actuaries.com continues to grow as a global hub for early-career actuarial professionals. An excellent resource to share with students and new entrants to the profession.
→ young-actuaries.com
• Innovative Actuaries Feature: The Actuary Magazine has published a feature on actuaries finding innovative applications for their skills outside traditional roles — a timely read for members thinking about where the profession is headed.
→ Innovative Actuaries — The Actuary Magazine
• CAA on Actuview: Did you know the CAA has a dedicated channel on Actuview? While our most recent webinars and the Jamaica Conference recordings are being processed, you can already access earlier content. Bookmark it and check back regularly.
→ CAA on Actuview
A LIGHTER NOTE
stokeley smart hosts t&t’s first world cube association event
Our own Professor Stokeley Smart FSA, Professor of Actuarial Science at UWI St. Augustine, recently made headlines in the Saturday Guardian, not for actuarial work, but for hosting the very first Rubik’s Cube speedsolving competition in Trinidad and Tobago to be sanctioned by the World Cube Association (WCA).
Held on April 25, 2025 at UWI’s St. Augustine Campus, the event drew 55 competitors across seven events and placed T&T on the global speedcubing map for the first time, with official world rankings now assigned to over 24 Trinidadian participants. The event had strong Caribbean flavour, with participants from Barbados and The Bahamas also competing.
While the connection to actuarial science may seem tangential, Professor Smart’s involvement is a lovely reminder that actuaries bring the same precision, problem-solving, and passion for structure to everything they do, whether modelling mortality tables or timing Rubik’s Cube solves.
Congratulations, Professor Smart, on putting Caribbean cubers on the world stage!
6TH ANNUAL CAA
CONFERENCE PREVIEW
36th Annual Caribbean Actuarial Association Conference
“Bridging Islands, Building Trust: Collaborations that Strengthen Our Future” December 2–4, 2026 | Suriname
Following the warmth of Jamaica 2025, we head to Suriname, the heart of the Dutch Caribbean for a conference that will explore the power of regional collaboration, cross-sector partnerships, and the shared future we are building together. More details, including registration, will be announced soon.
Watch this space: www.caribbeanactuaries.com
Thank you for reading our newsletter. We welcome your feedback, story ideas, and contributions for future editions. If you have news to share, career milestones, member achievements, or research in progress, please reach out to the Communications Team. CAA Communications Team
from internship to impact: a career milestone
One of the most inspiring stories this quarter comes from the journey of Dayanand Moonoo, who transitioned from the CAA Guy Carpenter internship program into a newly created fulltime role as an Actuarial Analyst supporting both actuarial and analytics functions in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) team based in London.
Dayanand said “My deepest gratitude goes to…my mentors Norbert Fullerton, Andrew Long, and Stokeley Smart, for your unwavering support and guidance through my professional actuarial career thus far. I extend a very special thanks to Ms. Nicola Barrett and the Caribbean Actuarial Association, whose crucial introduction to Guy Carpenter through the Internship programme in 2025 opened this opportunity. Sincere gratitude to my manager, Ms. Sabrina Sprissler for trusting and believing in my capability to deliver in this new role. Finally, Ms. Angie Navarrete for her leadership and guidance as my supervisor and mentor on the job.”
This milestone speaks to something larger than a single achievement—it highlights the power of intentional opportunities. When industry and profession come together to invest in emerging talent, the results are transformative.
Dayanana’s journey is a testament to what is possible when mentorship, exposure, and opportunity align—and serves as encouragement for young actuaries across the region. He is a graduate of UWI St. Augustine and Bayes Business School in London, and is a past FullertonLong Scholarship recipient.
knowledge in action: mortality research goes public
Continuing its commitment to thought leadership, the CAA has facilitated the publication of Stokeley Smart’s Mortality Series on our website.
spotlight on caribbean expertise in global mortality research
The International Actuarial Association Life Section (IAALS) continues to highlight leading actuarial insights through its global interview series, organized by Martin Oymanns in collaboration with international contributors. Over the past two years, the series has explored key industry themes—focusing on climate and sustainability in 2024, and shifting to mortality and longevity in 2025.
As part of this global initiative, a Caribbean perspective has been proudly featured. Stokeley Smart, Director of the Actuarial Science Programme at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, was invited to share his team’s pioneering work on regional mortality. His inclusion reflects the growing recognition of Caribbean actuarial expertise on the international stage.
In this featured episode, Mr. Smart discusses longevity trends, mortality dynamics, and the critical importance of developing indigenous mortality tables tailored to the Caribbean and similar regions. The conversation underscores the value of locally grounded data in strengthening actuarial practice and policy development.
CAA members are encouraged to view and share this.
Second Episode of Season 2 of the IAALS Interview Series via Actuview. Promoting this work across our platforms helps amplify Caribbean contributions and supports continued international engagement with our region. Stokeley Smart was also named Speaker of the Month June 2026 by Actuview.
The SMART Tables project was also featured in the 29th March 2026 edition of the UWI Today newspaper in Trinidad & Tobago.
raising the bar: educational excellence recognized
A significant achievement this quarter is the recognition of the University of the West Indies Insurance Society (UWISA) achieved the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Universities & Colleges with Actuarial ProgrammeAdvanced Curriculum (UCAP-AC) status.
This accreditation represents alignment with internationally recognized standards in actuarial education—an important step forward for the Caribbean.
Editorial expansion:
Recognition at this level signals that regional educational initiatives are not only keeping pace with global expectations, but actively contributing to them. For students, this enhances credibility and mobility. For employers, it reinforces confidence in the quality of locally trained talent.
It also reflects the long-term investment being made in building a sustainable actuarial pipeline within the Caribbean—ensuring that the next generation of actuaries is both globally competitive and regionally grounded.
standing together: supporting our communities
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the CAA community united in support of relief efforts through a dedicated donation of $10,000 USD in addition to the over $5000 USD donated at the CAA Conference in December 2025 in Jamaica.
This moment underscores something fundamental: while actuarial work is rooted in analysis, its impact extends far beyond numbers. It is in moments like these—when we come together to support communities—that the true spirit of the profession is most visible.
This donation emphasizes an important principle: that the profession’s responsibility extends to the well-being and resilience of the societies it serves. The CAA is proud to stand alongside those affected and to play a role in rebuilding and recovery.
in memoriam: honoring cynthia potts by bertha pilgrim Cynthia started her actuarial career in Toronto at Royal Insurance Company, which at the time was one of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurers, where she developed her valuation and product pricing skills. In 1986 Cynthia became a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA). She then began her long career as a consulting actuary on property casualty insurance matters in 1988, joining MLH+A Inc. She joined Eckler Ltd. in 1993 where she was a leader in the firm’s P&C practice until she retired in 2021. Cynthia specialized in appointed actuary work representing some of Eckler’s largest clients, in addition to mentoring junior staff members and being the chief architect of the valuation software and financial condition testing software used by Eckler for its P&C clients.
Service to the actuarial profession was very important to Cynthia. She joins a long list of Eckler actuaries who throughout their careers have made significant contributions to the CIA, to the CAA and the actuarial profession internationally. Cynthia served on many of the CIA’s committees and task forces throughout her career. She served on 33 different CIA groups (Committees, Task Forces, etc.) serving as either the Chair, Co-Chair, Vice Chair or member and in 2023, Cynthia received the CIA’s President’s Award to mark her commitment of service to the profession. Cynthia joined the CAA in 2016 and following her retirement in 2021 resigned from the CAA in 2024. She served on the P&C Committee and presented at several CAA conferences. The highlight of Cynthia’s service to the actuarial profession in Canada was undoubtedly her leadership in developing guidance for P&C actuaries on implementing IFRS 17. Cynthia was instrumental in obtaining material, on IFRS17, from the CIA and getting permission from them to share that material on the CAA’s website.
All of Cynthia’s work was marked by her integrity. She was a steadfast colleague and friend. She was an energetic, hard worker who always seemed to be able to make time to help a colleague. We mourn Cynthia’s passing but are most grateful for her friendship and the significant impact she had on the actuarial profession.
The CIA has shared a tribute very similar to this one with its members. Cynthia will be posthumously awarded the CIA Lifetime Award in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the profession.
We extend our deepest condolences to her husband, Nigel Potts, and her surviving family members: a brother, two sisters, seven nieces and nephews, a great niece and a great nephew.
Here’s more about Cynthia’s Celebration of Life which took place on February 21, 2026.
cynthia potts
council and committee meetings: nov 4 – 8, 2026 & international congress of actuaries: nov 8 – 13, 2026 | tokyo
Schedule-at-a-Glance (subject to change)
Accommodations: The venue for the meetings will be at the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba Hotel. Full details—including pricing and inclusions, the booking link, and hotel policies—are available on the accommodations page.
The International Congress of Actuaries will take place at the Tokyo International Forum directly following the IAA meetings. Those planning to attend should note that the super early bird registration deadline is April 15th. Visit the ICA2026 website for full details and registration.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
progress, people, and purpose
As we reflect on the first half of 2026, we are reminded that the strength of the Caribbean actuarial profession lies not only in technical excellence, but in our shared commitment to growth, collaboration, and community.
Across the region, we continue to see the actuarial profession evolving in our ability to influence, support, and uplift the communities we serve. This half year’s highlights demonstrate the breadth of that impact: from advancing research and strengthening education pathways, to supporting one another in times of loss and hardship.
Each of these stories carries a common thread—connection, between:
• Experienced professionals and emerging talent,
• Institutions and global standards, and
• Our work and the communities that depend on it.
looking ahead
The CAA remains focused on strengthening its role as a hub for professional excellence and regional collaboration.
Key priorities continue to include:
• Expanding opportunities for emerging actuaries
• Supporting research and publication initiatives
• Deepening collaboration with global actuarial bodies
• Enhancing engagement across member countries
These efforts will help ensure that the Caribbean actuarial profession remains dynamic, connected, and forward-looking.
from the desk of the president
Nicola Barrett, FSA, MAAA
CAA President
CAA Membership Committee Chairperson
CAA Common Standards Committee Chairperson
