Chairperson’s Corner

By Maria Zou

International News, March 2025

Sitting on the flight from Hong Kong to my hometown Qingdao for CNY, I couldn’t help pondering about the year of the snake and what the International Section Council (ISC) can offer to its members in 2025.

The global political and economic landscape is everchanging. One can argue not all changes will impact members of the ISC the same way, yet what we need to recognize is the interconnection amongst topics, markets, and stakeholders. Be it private or public sector, be it not-for-profit or commercial organizations, one thing we share in common is that we are global citizens or (at the very least) persons who share an interest in international matters.

As chairperson of the ISC, I encourage each and every one of you to embrace changes in life. The council executive members and friends will continue to dedicate ourselves in supporting you all via online webinars and offline networking activities. With the power of collaboration and the ability of connecting the dots, I believe we will ride through winds, turbulence, currents, and towards a brighter tomorrow for the actuarial profession and a more resilient planet.

Statements of fact and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the Society of Actuaries, the editors, or the respective authors’ employers.

Maria Zou, FSA, FCIA, is senior product manager and vice president at Swiss Re. She can be reached at maria_zou@swissre.com.