As 2018 gets off to a positive start, I would like to share with you some reflections on the CERA Global Association’s (CGA) achievements over the past year and our vision to ensure the continued success of the CERA credential in the years to come.
The CGA has recently refreshed its marketing strategy, setting the direction in which the credential will move over the next five years. In determining the next steps to take, the Board considered three key areas: Wider Fields, Employer Engagement and Key Messaging. The outputs of these discussions will become clear over the coming months as we create material and look for buy-in from our Member Associations.
We need and want your help to promote the CGA’s messages to as wide an audience as possible using all channels available to you. Our website (www.ceraglobal.org) is undergoing a refresh and I would ask all associations (Acceding party or Award Signatory) to contribute content to this resource, thereby cementing its role as a relevant and useful display window for the CGA and its work.
My target, as Chair of the CGA, is that 10% of the global actuarial population will obtain the CERA credential and I am pleased to report that the figure currently stands at 6.49%. This, combined with annual growth in CERA holders of at least 20%, puts us on track to meet this goal in the next few years.
In August 2017, we celebrated John Plonka as the 4,000th global CERA holder. John is a member of the Society of Actuaries (USA) and works as a manager on the Integrated Care Partnerships team at DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita Inc. His role is an excellent example of CERA holders working and using their actuarial skillset and CERA credential in Wider Fields.
Whilst it is pleasing to note the steady growth in the number of CERA holders amongst the larger member associations, I am delighted that the Institute of Actuaries of India has awarded its first CERA credential to A V Karthikeyan and congratulate them both on this achievement. May he be the first of many CERA holders through this association.
The CERA Global Association has not just seen growth in terms of CERA holders but also in the number of actuarial associations that have joined as Acceding party members or Award Signatories.
| Acceding party | Award Signatory |
| Institut des Actuaires en Belgique/Instituut van Actuarissen in België (Belgium) | Suomen Aktuaariyhdistys (Finland) |
| Instituto de Actuarios Españoles (Spain) | Aktuarvereinigung Österreichs (Austria) |
| Istituto Italiano degli Attuari & Consiglio Nazionale degli Attuari (Italy) | Col·legi d’Actuaris de Catalunya (Catalonia, Spain) |
| Den Norske Aktuarforening (Norway) |
It is gratifying to see the number of actuarial associations based in Europe that have joined the CERA Global Association. However, if we are truly to be a “global” association, it is important that we reach out and impart the relevance of the credential to associations all around the globe.
Following re-election for a third and final year as Chair of the CGA, I would like to thank you for your faith in me and the Treaty Board members for theirs. There is much to look forward to in the year ahead. The CGA will be on prominent display at the ICA 2018 in Berlin and hopes to capitalise on this opportunity to reaffirm its commitments to current holders and members and present an attractive package to prospective holders and associations. I look forward to welcoming new Acceding parties and Award Signatories and expanding the global reach of the CGA.
We have a lot of work ahead of us in order to guarantee the continued success of the CERA credential. Nevertheless, I am confident that, with your help and support, we will reap the rewards of what we sow.
I remain, as ever, sincerely yours,
Ron Hersmis
Chair, CGA
