Christiane Bourassa, FCIA(1988)
Position: Director candidate
Province: Quebec
Primary Practice Area: Group benefits
Position statement
I am proud to announce that I am running for the position of Director on the CIA Board. During my career, I have worked as a consultant in the retirement sector and then in the group insurance field. In recent years I have been responsible for intellectual capital development and innovation, supporting my colleagues, employers and their employees in their Canadian group insurance initiatives. This has helped me better understand the issues surrounding well-being and financial health and, above all, the ways in which we, as actuaries, can play an active role in developing solutions and putting them in place.
Actuaries are professionals trained to collaborate with others in an effort to address the issues facing our society. We are equipped with analytical skills that help us solve even the most complex-seeming problems. And so, it is essential that the CIA remain active in the great debates of our day. Accordingly, it would be a privilege for me to work with the CIA Board and all members to ensure that we are contributing to these discussions as best we can.
As a CIA Director, my objectives would be as follows:
- Ensure that members receive the support they need to perform at the highest level.
- Encourage innovation and cutting-edge solutions to help us address the current issues.
- Support new actuaries so that they may contribute to the excellence of the profession and develop the talents we all need.
- Ensure active participation in social debates. Issues I care deeply about include well-being, inclusion and diversity, and financial security.
As a volunteer for the CIA, I have participated in three designated groups of the Actuarial Standards Board, whose mandates include post-employment benefit standards and general standards. I also chaired the Committee on Post-Employment Benefits, where I directed the group that developed the first educational note on health-care cost trend factors. Over the years I have sat on committees dealing with group insurance, post-employment benefit plans, consolidated standards of practice and elections, as well as certain working groups.
In light of my expertise and experience in the industry as a strategic consultant and innovation leader, I am convinced that I can make a positive contribution to the Institute’s success and that of its members.
2015-17 – Elections Committee
Actuarial Standards Board
- 2015-16 – Designated Group – ISAP 3
- 2011-15 – Designated Group – Development of General Standards for Reporting of Assumptions, Margins, Methods and Related Rationales
- 2014 – Designated Group – Crafting of an ASB Communication to the International Actuarial Association on ISAP 3
- 2010-13 – Designated Group – Review of Post-employment Benefit Plan Standards
2003-12 – Standard of Practice Editing Committee
2002-12 – Committee on Post-Employment Benefit Plans
- 2008-12 – Chair
- 2002-08 – Member
2007-11 – Task Force on Post-Employment Valuation Assumptions
2000-02 – Committee on the Consolidated Standards of Practice
2001-02 – Task Force on Actuarial Valuation of Employee Benefit Plans
1999-2000 – Group Insurance Committee
I have been privileged throughout my career to work alongside exceptionally talented colleagues who inspired me to be the best I can be. I would now like the chance to contribute as a member of the CIA Board and thus continue my 20-plus-year involvement with the Institute. The values that will drive and guide me in performing the tasks at hand are excellence, respect, innovation and collaboration.
Question: What do you think of the effectiveness and importance of the CIA in its core functions (e.g., qualification, continuing education, professional development, promotion of the profession, research, standard-setting and professional conduct)?
Answer: The CIA plays a fundamental role in ensuring that actuaries continue to provide very high-quality work in a professional manner. The current framework provides actuaries with the resources they need to do their work and provide oversight of the actuarial profession. For it to continue to be effective, the CIA must remain at the forefront of developments within the profession and in the business sectors affecting actuaries. In addition, communication with members should aim to raise awareness of the requirements and encourage active participation in the various activities and initiatives of the CIA.
At the same time, the CIA’s role is to share the views of actuaries and participate in discussions that affect the societal issues we face. We live in a world of rapid change. The CIA therefore wants to be able to respond in a timely manner to effectively fulfil its mission to all stakeholders. The CIA must also be innovative to remain at the forefront of sectors where actuaries are involved.