Area(s) of interest:

• The design, development, financial engineering, execution and management of financial products (such as investment bonds) or wholesale transactions, carried out by financial institutions that involve derivative or derivative type assets for over a decade.

Current work:

• Actuarial and financial consultancy specialising in derivatives.

Other comments:

• I joined an investment bank when usage of derivatives by the insurance industry was very low outside of the fund management arm. It was felt that this was a large market but it could only be tapped by someone with an intimate knowledge of insurance companies (reinsurance, product development and pricing, taxation and regulations) such as an actuary. Given the flexibility of derivatives, I believed that there was a huge opportunity for individuals with knowledge and working experience in both fields (and there still is).
• Previous employment within the industry and the actuarial exams was scant preparation for the management style of investment banking and the jargon that goes with it (at the time derivatives were not even mentioned in the actuarial syllabus for example!)