Robert Nix

Robert Nix [BCom(Hons)/48] walked into the University of Manitoba with the help of an Isbister Entrance Scholarship, and walked out with a degree from the newly formed Department of Actuarial Science. It was the beginning of a long and successful career in actuarial science, and an experience he never forgot.

Although he credits his career achievements to the education he received from the University of Manitoba, it was the guidance of Dr. Lloyd A. H. Warren, the University’s first professor of actuarial science, and the support that he received through student awards that inspired Nix to give back.

“Dr. Warren had me apply for scholarships each year thereafter, which, fortunately, came my way. He also made sure that I wrote a thank you note each time,” explains Nix. “This support was a tremendous help.”

To show his appreciation for the support he received as a student, and to encourage a new generation of scholars, Nix has included a bequest in his will toward the L.A.H. Warren Chair in Actuarial Science, named in honour of his mentor.

Part of the I.H. Asper School of Business’ Faculty of Management, the Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research continues the tradition of excellence that has distinguished the University’s actuarial program, while providing students with the educational breadth obtainable through access to business and management-oriented courses. The Warren Centre is the only Canadian actuarial program able to provide students with this powerful career advantage.

The Fish Dinner, an annual tradition, is hosted by the University of Manitoba Actuarial Club student group

Congratulations to the Actuarial students honoured with awards at the 54th Annual Fish Dinner on October 15. Hosted by UMAC (the University of Manitoba Actuarial Club), the Fish Dinner celebrates student achievement in the Asper School of Business’s Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program, the U of M’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Mathematics program and the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics joint program.

Xuemiao Hao, director of the Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research, presented the awards:

• Kathryn Qin Actuarial Scholarship: Margaret Krysko (Asper)
• William and Olive Humphrys Scholarship for Actuarial Mathematics: Eric Christianson (Science)
• Murray Segal Memorial Scholarship in Actuarial Studies: Yinan Wu (Science)
• Winnipeg Actuarial Club Scholarship: Cedric Gousseau (Asper)
• Direct Entry Scholarship in Actuarial Mathmatics: Molly Smyth (Asper)
• James C.H. Anderson Memorial Actuarial Aboriginal Scholarship: Dylan Allary (Asper)
• Great-West Life Actuarial Career Scholarship: Sergiu Buda and Neil Redpath (Asper)

The Fish Dinner, a distinguished tradition of the U of M’s actuarial programs, introduces students to potential employers in the actuarial profession. Over 100 students attended, along with 15 faculty members and 55 guests from industry partners and supporters, including Allianz, Aon Hewitt, Eckler Ltd., The Great-West Life Assurance Company, Manulife Financial, Mercer, New York Life Insurance Company, Sun Life Financial, Towers Watson and Wawanesa.

The event’s keynote speaker was Barry Franklin, FCAS, MAAA, CERA, Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer, Zurich General Insurance North America. Mr. Franklin spoke about the role pure data scientists and actuaries will play in the swiftly evolving world of predictive analytics, a component of the insurance industry.

Michael Benarroch, dean and CA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, Asper School of Business, and Ben Li, associate dean, Faculty of Science, brought greetings. The emcees were UMAC co-presidents Stuart Tisdale and Jordan Gerry, who announced the creation of a new UMAC case competition that will “give students a chance to develop some presentation and actuarial problem solving skills, to better prepare them for their careers.”

Event photos >>