What we learned in Liverpool: Rafaela Fakhre's reflections from the GIRO Conference

It was a pleasure being at last week’s IFoA GIRO Conference 2025 in Liverpool, along with the rest of our general insurance actuarial team. We enjoyed three days of insight, innovation and connection with clients and candidates at the must-attend event for people shaping the future of the industry. Here are my key takeaways from the event.

High demand for hx

I couldn’t believe the sheer number of people asking how to gain hx experience. It came up far more than I expected! In particular, contractors and candidates looking to move into the contracts space were very open about wanting a route into hx and were actively asking whether we knew the right contacts, whether we could facilitate an introduction, or what the first step looks like. A few even said they’d be willing to work for free just to get hands-on exposure, which really shows how valuable hx is perceived to be in the market right now.

Making the transition

What struck me is that while there’s huge interest, there’s clearly very little clarity on how someone actually transitions into an hx-focused role. The demand is there, the motivation is there, but the pathway feels opaque – especially for contractors or those coming from more traditional pricing or modelling backgrounds. It reinforced just how influential hx has become in the actuarial landscape, and how much appetite there is from candidates to align with it as part of the next step in their career.

Non-qualified actuaries looking for opportunities

There was also a significant proportion of more junior professionals in attendance, with many non-qualified actuaries wanting advice on finding roles. I guess this is a reflection of how challenging the market is right now. For general insurers, I’d emphasise that there’s a lot of talent out there and it’s important that you demonstrate to prospective actuaries that you can offer them the right working environment.

Our Actuarial UK Skills and Workplace Attitudes Survey showed that in-person relationship building is really important for more junior respondents. Time in the office gives them the chance to increase their profile and build their network, as well as getting training and guidance when they need it. Time away from the office can help with the more analytical side of the role – so offering them the right balance is really important.

Get in touch with us

It was great catching up with so many professionals from our network, meeting some new faces and getting a feel for the sentiment in the actuarial profession right now. These events are so important in helping us understand the key topics on actuaries’ minds and we’re already looking forward to next year’s conference.

If you’re a hiring manager looking to bring in actuarial talent, are an actuarial professional looking for your next role, or you’d like to request a copy of our Actuarial UK Skills and Workplace Attitudes Survey, please contact me now.