New chair for Examinations Board

Richard Muckart FFA becomes chairman of the Examinations Board on 1 July, taking over from Mark Stocker. Richard has been involved with actuarial education since he qualified as a fellow in 1979, first as a tutor and then an examiner, later taking up positions on the ECPD Board and subsequently the Examinations Board.

“I envisage my chairmanship to be a period of calm as the 2005 syllabus continues to bed down,” he says. “But I’m aware that the Profession’s qualification syllabuses will need to keep pace with actuarial developments both at home and overseas.

“I’m also keen to encourage more volunteers to become involved in the examination process.”

His immediate focus will include:
>> Introduction of the revised CA1 syllabus for the April 2009 exams, which incorporates more risk management content
>> Ensuring that the proposed Board for Actuarial Standards’ processes are reflected in the qualification syllabus and professionalism courses when agreed
>> Liaising with the Professional Oversight Board to ensure that the Profession’s processes meet their oversight requirements
>> Ensuring that the proposed changes to CA3 (communications) and ST3 (general insurance) deliver improved pass rates
>> Agreeing a qualification in enterprise risk management
>> Recruiting more volunteers to become assistant examiners with a view to them stepping up to become examiners in due course.