Ryan Wilkins, FCAS

New York City, USA

Education

  • Bachelor of Mathematics2016

    University of Waterloo

    Honours Statistics & Actuarial Science, Economics Minor - Co-operative Program

  • Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society2019

    Casualty Actuarial Society

Work Experience

  • Actuary, Cyber Reinsurance2022 - Present

    Gallagher Re

    I joined Gallagher Re in 2022 as the first Actuary in the newly formed US Cyber hub, reporting to the UK based Global Head of Cyber Analytics. I lead the cyber reinsurance analytics offering for our US based clients, managing a growing team of actuaries. As part of a rapidly developing cyber division, I work closely with our cyber reinsurance brokers on new business generation.

    I am not content to take a black-box approach to analysis, and strive to understand the underlying assumptions of the models we work with through hands-on experience and interrogation of their assumptions. I highly value projects which push the boundaries of the cyber knowledge landscape and actively seek opportunities to contribute through conferences, research papers and industry events.

  • Actuary, Business Risk & Insurance2021 - 2022

    Google

    I had the privilege of working on Google's inwards insurance team in their Manhattan based offices. My main mandate consisted of actuarial analyses for Alphabet's Hawaiian based captive insurance company, and was given the opportunity to take a leadership role in the administration of the captive for an interim period.

    Google actively encourages creative ideas, and insurance is no different. Outside of the captive responsibilities, I had the opportunity to work with several Alphabet divisions on insurance related projects. Through these programs I developed bespoke insurance products to push innovation in unexpected areas of the business.

  • Actuary, Assistant Vice President2019 - 2021

    Guy Carpenter

    As a member of the Guy Carpenter Global Analytics team I lead or contributed to multiple reinsurance placements classed within the largest in the industry. These high pressure placements required a close partnership with the placing brokers and strict attention to analysis quality. My discussions with carriers and markets required deep knowledge of the underlying data and structures.

    Outside of placements, I actively sought projects that would bring more efficiency into processes. I targeted outdated VBA tools to modernize in R or Python, and identified workflows which could be automated in DataBricks or Alteryx.

  • Actuarial Analyst, Reinsurance Broking2016 - 2019

    Acrisure Re

    My full time career began at Acrisure Re's (f.k.a. Beach & Associates) Toronto offices, reporting to the Managing Director & Actuary. Being part of a small broking team afforded me many opportunities to accelerate my career growth, and I quickly learned the ropes of reinsurance broking.

    Through generous career development opportunities by my managers & mentors I was seconded to London, England and spent four months developing my knowledge of the UK market. I was then sent to New York City where I worked closely with the MD and CEO of the US branch, eventually relocating entirely.

Tech Stack

  • Programming Languages

    R, Python, Javascript

    I am proficient in utilizing R, Python, and JavaScript to enhance actuarial analysis, streamline processes, and data driven decision making. In actuarial roles, I have leveraged my expertise in R to develop statistical models, perform complex data analysis, and conduct risk assessments. I have also utilized Python to automate actuarial calculations, manipulate large datasets, and create predictive models. Additionally, my proficiency in JavaScript has allowed me to develop interactive web-based visualizations and user interfaces for actuarial dashboards.

  • Development Frameworks

    React, Node.js, git, Django

    I create dynamic web applications for personal projects, including insurance and actuarial work, using industry leading frameworks like React and Node.js. I develop intuitive interfaces with React to visualize complex data, while building scalable server-side applications and APIs with Node.js. Prioritizing growth, I eagerly embrace new frameworks to expand my technical repertoire.

  • Data Manipulation & Visualization

    ggplot2, d3.js, PowerBI, SQL

    Recognizing the significance of great visuals in communicating complex actuarial concepts, I strive to deliver impactful visual representations that engage and inform clients and stakeholders.

  • Automation

    ETL Development, Cloud Infrastructure, AI Tools

    I am committed to automating routine tasks and processes in my role as an actuary. By leveraging my programming skills and embracing innovative technologies, I aim to reduce the likelihood of errors, enhance accuracy, and optimize productivity. Automating repetitive tasks not only frees up valuable time but also enables me to focus on more strategic and innovative initiatives that drive value for the organization.

Further Reading

  • Research & Speaking Engagements

    For a comprehensive list of my past actuarial publications and speaking engagements please refer to the link below.

  • Project Portfolio

    Selected coding projects, personal research and written articles can be found on the relevant sections of my site.